Today's
Feature
Approved EEZ
Memorandum.
The Carthage City
Council during Tuesday’s meeting approved a
resolution entering into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the City of Joplin for
Joplin’s proposed Enhanced Enterprise Zone
(EEZ). The proposed area encompasses not only
land inside Joplin but also property in several
other communities including Carthage.
Inside an enhanced
enterprise zone a city government may offer
incentives for the creation of new industry and
the expansion of existing industry. These
incentives may include tax credits or tax
abatement.
The memorandum of
understanding outlines that Carthage will have
control over the EEZ areas inside Carthage City
limits, Carthage R-9 school district, and future
planning areas.
City Administrator
Tom Short, in previous discussions about the
proposal, said that if the EEZ is approved
Carthage would reap the benefits without having
to do the work required to establish it.
In order for the
zoning to be approved by the Missouri Department
of Economic Development, all communities impacted
by the zoning must submit resolutions of support,
an item which was in its first reading at
Tuesday’s meeting.
Council also voted
against a motion to allow the installation of
2,100 feet of post and cable at Kellogg Lake
Park. The item was brought before Council by the
Public Services committee, who met at the park on
Monday. Committee chairman Claude Newport
reported that the Kellogg Lake Nature Center and
Preserve board had secured funding to purchase
and install the post and cable as method of
deterring driving on the grass at the park.
Mayor Jim Woestman
initiated a discussion by speaking against the
post and cable. Woestman said that he had
previously spoken against rock barriers which
keep people from driving down to the river,
saying that it would only cause people to find
alternative routes such as driving through the
lawn.
Woestman said he
was against the driving restriction.
"I think this
should be a family-friendly park," said
Woestman.
Council member
Mike Harris said that upon hearing the proposal
for the post and cable originally he had
recommended a paved walking path and steps to
encourage access to the river. Harris said he
felt that it was a good compromise, and as the
paved area was not in the plan, he intended to
vote against it.
Council member
Larry Ross said that part of the incentive to
block automobiles from driving directly to the
river was the issue of littering. Ross said that
before the rocks were placed there had been
incidents of people dumping mattresses and bed
springs in the river.
"I don’t
like to see cars going down there," said
Ross, adding that he was not opposed to
Harris’ idea of a paved walking path.
City Administrator
Short added that the plans included a 5’
break in the post and cable to allow for
pedestrian access to that area.
Council members
Tom Flanigan, Cynthia Curry and Diane Sharits all
raised concerns about ongoing maintenance of the
post and cable, which would fall to the City
after installation.
Newport said that
the City was responsible for the maintenance of a
number of improvements which have been donated
over the years, including the pavilion at Kellogg
Lake. Newport said he didn’t think the
maintenance burden outweighed the benefit of the
donations.
The Council vote
was tied 4 to 4. Those in favor of the post and
cable included; Claude Newport, Larry Ross, Bill
Welch and Bill Fortune. Those against included;
Tom Flanigan, Diane Sharits, Cynthia Curry and
Mike Harris. Mayor Woestman broke the tie by
voting against the post and cable.
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