| Today's Feature Bill Moves Parks Under City Control.
The Council Bill that would
eliminate the Parks and Recreation Board and
place the operation of the Carthage Parks and
Recreation system directly under the control of
the City Council is scheduled to be heard in
first reading during this evening's regular
Council meeting. The Council four member Special
Services Committee would be charged with the
responsibility of overseeing the department.
The current Park Board has
voiced some concerns about the plan, but no
opposition has been presented to the Council.
The bill also would create the
City office of Parks Administrator. The
Administrator would be appointed by the Mayor
with the Council's approval. The position,
technically now under the control of the Park
Board, has been filled by Alan Bull since 1990.
City Administrator Tom Short says there are no
plans to change any personnel in the Parks
Department.
Bull says the Department has
followed City guidelines for all benefits such as
health insurance, salaries, and retirement plans
for the last several years and the transition to
direct City control will not cause any undue
hardships. The property tax levy that is
earmarked for the parks will not be affected.
The Council Bill outlines the
duties of the Special Services Committee to
"provide for and carry out in general, the
establishment and maintenance of a variety of
leisure opportunities for all citizens and for
the supervision, improvement, care and custody of
the same (parks property) which are accessible,
safe, uncrowded, physically attractive, and well
maintained. The Committee shall make
recommendations and plans for the use,
development and maintenance of any lots, tracts,
parcels of ground acquired and used for the
purposes aforesaid, including parks and other
recreational grounds, playgrounds, recreational
centers, swimming pools, and any and all other
recreation areas facilities and activities."
The Special Services Committee
also has general oversight of the Memorial Hall
building and the Civil War Museum.
The Parks Administrator shall
have the "responsibility to plan, organize,
direct, coordinate, maintain and evaluate the
parks and recreations programs, including the
golf program, of the City including but not
limited to program effectiveness and demands for
expanded or new program offerings as well as
recommendations and implementation of appropriate
changes."
The Council meets at City Hall
on the second and fourth Tuesday at 7:30.
Main Street Morning Coffee.
Main Street Carthage will host
its Morning Coffee tomorrow morning at the Fix
Coffee Shop on the southeast corner of the Square
starting at 7 a.m. Jim Krudwig, Director of the
Small Business Development Center with Missouri
Southern State College, will discuss
"Business Plans Made Easy."
"This is an excellent
opportunity to pick up a few tips on how to
develop an easy and effective business plan
whether you are a brand new business or seasoned
veteran," says Main Street Director Diane
Sharits. "Jim brings many years of business
experience with him. He works closely with both
Main Street Joplin and the Joplin Chamber."
Reservations are requested as
seating is limited. For more information call
358-4974.
Christmas Light Tours.
Main Street Carthage is
sponsoring two evenings of Light Tours of
Carthage on the double decker Red Bus. Santa will
meet the bus on Friday December 11 and Friday
December 18 and will be available for Polaroid
pictures ($3). Santa will also roam the Square on
those evenings visiting those retailers that
choose to remain open. Reservations are
requested.
Mike Tichenor, Main Street
Mercantile, to fill a vacancy on the Main Street
Carthage Board of Directors. Sherry Allan was
elected for a three year term.
Commentary
Martin
"Bubs" Hohulin
State
Representative District 126
This week
marked the start of the Freshman Tour for new
legislators. Every two years, after the Nov.
election, the newly elected legislators take a
tour of the various state facilities as well as
meet with staff, veteran legislators and various
cabinet officials. Things like legislative
process, living in Jefferson City, the budget
process, what each department does, etc. are
covered.
When I took the tour back in
1990 it covered fifteen days over three weeks.
Two years ago it covered ten days over two weeks
and this year it will be thirteen days over three
weeks. Another thing that has changed is that
republicans will be allowed to send along a
representive on the tour.
When I took it, there were
actually more republican freshman than democrat,
but it was entirely controlled by democrat
legislators. Republicans were shut out of sending
along a veteran as a mentor.
That has changed a little this
year. There will be a member of both parties
along on the tour this year. The democrats are
still controlling the information sessions and
the schedule for the Tour, that is why MSSC in
Joplin is once again being left off the schedule,
but at least we will have someone there to try to
present both sides. Whether we like it or not,
our political system is set up to function by
having civil disagreement on issues and debating
and working them out to a conclusion that will
hopefully be of benefit to the citizens. If we
all agreed on every issue, we might as well just
have a king. It still mystifies me why lawmakers
that don’t go along with everything are
successfully portrayed in the media and public
image as being partisan and just generally evil.
We had better hope for more folks to stand up for
what they believe in rather than those that go
along with everything because they want to be
liked by the powers that be.
Once again I am getting off the
subject. I will be joining the Tour the last two
weeks except for two days when I need to be home
to be at my son’s Christmas program at
school. I spent parts of two days with them this
week and it sounds like I have my work cut out
for me. I found out that at the session dealing
with the legislative process, there was a panel
of veteran legislators, all democrats and no
republicans, to tell them how the process works.
That was fine until they got to the part about
where one of the legislators told the freshmen
that they should always vote with the committee
chairmen because if they don’t it makes them
mad. Excuse me?!
I, nor anyone else, should cast
a vote one way or another because the chairman
does or doesn’t like it. I tend to listen
more to my constituents wishes than those of a
committee chairman. Besides, the way the House is
run, republicans don’t get to move
legislation anyway. If I have something I want
passed, the best way to accomplish it is to
either amend it onto another bill or get a
democrat to carry it as his own bill. There have
been many times that a republican would introduce
a bill that went nowhere, only to be reintroduced
by a democrat and it passed with flying colors.
It has been things like that that have
underscored the need to have someone from both
parties along. There are some things that need to
be taught that aren’t learned from handouts.
As usual, I can be reached at
House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City,
MO 65101 or 1-800-878-7126 or
mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions,
comments, or advice.
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