Today's Feature

Committee Did Not Commit.

The City Council Public Safety Committee met Monday evening in a regular session. Items of discussion included the possible location of a fire department sub-station on the grounds where the new McCune-Brooks Hospital is being built.

McCune-Brooks Hospital CEO Bob Copeland was present at the meeting and spoke to the committee about the benefits of locating the sub-station in the same structure as the hospital ambulance service. Copeland presented the committee with a rough draft of a 4-bay building that could be built to house both departments.

Locating the ambulance and fire department station together is advantageous, according to Copeland, because both respond to the same calls. Other primary reasons included less expense in the construction of one building instead of two, easy access to the highway from the hospital location, and improved patient care at the hospital. Copeland said he felt the two services would work well together.

"We have a wonderful relationship with the fire department," said Copeland.

When this combination of services was originally discussed, a capital lease agreement with the City was proposed by the hospital. Copeland said that he felt that this type of arrangement might not be in the best interest of either party at this point, adding that a different lease arrangement could be worked out if the committee would give an indication of whether or not this plan would be acceptable. $500,000 was the cost estimated for the construction of the building when the hospital plans were drafted. Copeland said that this cost might have increased since that time.

Committee Chairman Mike Harris said that his primary concern with the proposal would be the cost. Harris said that there would be no way to work within the hospital construction timeframe, because there has been no money budgeted for the project. Harris added that a smaller two-vehicle substation just for the Fire Department would cost less to build because it could be made without matching the hospital. A simple metal utility building with a rock front would work, according to Harris.

The committee discussed the location of the hospital with regards to the new developments and expansion of Carthage. Fire Chief John Cooper said that the location of the new high school building would take the City further East and that the hospital would still be at a distance from that side of town. The committee agreed that with current and upcoming developments the City layout would be changing.

Committee member Cynthia Curry said she agreed with Copeland about the advantages of housing both services in the same building.

Committee member Tom Flanigan said he felt the hospital was "up against a rock," and that it would be necessary to move the ambulance service regardless of the City’s participation in the process.

"They’re going to build it," said Flanigan.

Committee member Bill Welch inquired about the City’s possession of land donated by Precious Moments for the purpose of a substation. The ownership will revert on the property in 2007 if no substation is constructed on the land. Mayor Jim Woestman said that he felt that property should revert ownership and be sold as commercial property due to the large development in the area.

Harris proposed the idea of requesting that Copeland proceed with the ambulance building, with the possibility of expanding in the future. Mayor Woestman said this would let Copeland know that the City has not ruled out the possibility of locating a fire substation in the same structure as the ambulance service, and the City would then have time to discuss the project during next year’s budget hearings.

The committee approved a motion to this effect, adding that the City would make no commitment about the location of the substation.

Stench Report:

Tuesday,
9/19/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

He explained it was someone who was a "true believer", do anything necessary for the cause.

I then understood the term as bein’ in reference to the cult group led by Jim Jones that all committed suicide drinkin’ poison Kool-Aid back in the 70’s I believe.

He’d never heard of the incident.

I suppose we all use terms and words ever’day that we don’t know the origin of. I felt a little smarter after the conversation, but not very Kool.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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