| Today's Feature Commission Faces Stand Off.
The Jasper County Commissioners
and County Assessor Jim Willis are in what County
Attorney Jim Spradling called a "stand
off" over the question of who will prepare
tax books for various cities within the County.
For several years Willis has
been paid directly by four Jasper County cities
to prepare tax books. According to state statutes
the Assessor is allowed, if approval is given by
the Commissioners, to personally receive the
income from such activities. The Commissioners
told Willis during their Thursday morning regular
meeting that they will not approve such contracts
any longer. The agreement presented by the
Commissioners requires all funds received to go
directly to the County General Revenues Fund. A
line item account would be established to pay any
salaries and overtime for employees working to
complete city tax books, but, Willis would not
receive any of the income. Willis initially said
he would not do the work unless he received the
income.
"Then I don't want to make
the books," said Willis.
Presiding Commissioner Danny
Hensley acknowledged the response.
"Well, we wanted to give
you first chance to make the books," said
Hensley. He said the County had other options.
"No law says I have
to," said Willis, "I don't want to do
that with no pay Danny."
Hensley said the Commission
thought the expenses to the County would be
around $4,000 to pay employees for the work.
Willis agreed that was a close estimate.
"So you're going to cut
down my pay some more," said Willis.
"I'm already the lowest paid man in the
County. (You want to) take that away from me too.
You want my pants?"
"Well, Jim," answered
Hensley, "if it makes you feel any better,
you can have my raise. It don't bother me any.
I'd rather do what's right, but if you want my
money, you can have what raise I've got."
Willis said he didn't want
Hensley's money. "I won't do them,"
Willis repeated.
"We're not asking you to
do any more than anybody else is doing,"
said Hensley. "You have a salary, you knew
what your salary was when you were elected to
your position. As far as taking money from
anything pertaining to the County, we feel it's
not fair. All money should go to General
Revenue."
Commissioner Mike Cloud told
Willis that this arrangement would at least mean
his employees would continue to receive payment
for their extra work. Willis said he would
consult with his employees and his attorney
before making a final decision. Hensley asked for
a response by Monday.
Willis generated just over
$16,000 last year for these services. Out of that
the County received $1155 as rent on County
equipment and supplies.
Hensley told the Mornin'
Mail that he thinks the cities served can
save at least half using the Commission's plan.
He said the County would only charge enough to
cover the actual expense of the service.
Capital
Campaign Chairs Selected.
For many years
The Salvation Army in Carthage has needed a new
building in which to deliver its services to the
community. A Capital Funds Drive to raise
$994,000 has begun and it is hoped will be
concluded prior to Christmas.
Heading the
campaign is Mr. Richard Campbell of Trees
Unlimited and Ms. Nancy Perry of Grace Energy
Corporation. Both Co-Chairs are life long
residents of the Carthage community and are
personally commited to the campaigns success.
The new facility will house an
expanded Soup Kitchen for the hungery, a new
welfare to work program to provide skills
training to the unskilled, a youth recreation
center with gymnasium, and expanded assistance
programs to provide emergency food, shelter and
clothing to those most in need.
The Salvation Army Advisory
Board, headed by Chair Denise Robertson of
Carthage Water and Electric, is fully committed
to this effort as well. The Board has already
made its finacial commitment with the hope that
the community will follow its example very soon.
Various foundations, business
and individuals will be approached for
significant contributions to this effort. No
solicitations will be initiated, however, during
the upcoming United Way Campaign. "The
Salvation Army is a proud member of the Carthage
United Way and we would not want to conflict with
their fund raising efforts," said Envoy Gary
Laws of the Carthage Salvation Army.
"However, it is important that we approach
this campaign with a view toward receiving all of
our pledges by Christmas," Laws added.
The Salvation Army has been
serving the Carthage community since 1942 and in
the last 12 month period served over 1700
individuals with some type of assistance. Most
notable is the Soup Kitchen which began in July
of 1996. The program just celebrated it's second
anniversary and to date has served over 35,000
hot meals to the most needy of Carthage. This
program has been enthusiastically welcomed by the
community and it is expected to continue for many
years to come.
artCentral Available For
Holiday Gatherings.
release from
artCentral
Ahhhh..these eighty-something
days are great..aren't they? Could be summer is
truly over..could be. It does happen around this
time doesn't it. Now...if we can just get some
rain!
Our flowers have done so well
this summer. All the beds are full of color...you
should see the north side of the building..the
Impatiens are knee high!! And the colors! Eda
gave us an assortment of colors from coral and
lavender to raspberry and pink..they are mixed
together in a beautiful swirl of colors!! It's
worth the trip out here just to see them!! Again
we'd like to thank Steve and Eda Eissinger for
their donation of all of our lovely flowers.
Our next board meeting will be
Sept. 15th at the Geranium House, at 7 p.m.
Anyone interested in what's going on with us is
welcome to come by and sit in. Guess we don't
have a full board after all.
By now most everyone around
here has heard that Lowell is having a big
auction. The end of what we know as Red Oak II.
Some remember it as Foxfire Farm..either way..
it's an ending. That means there will be a new
beginning....for Lowell, for us and hopefully
R.O. II!!
NOW would be a good time to
join our humble little organization as we have a
very limited number of Lowell's 8x10 prints
(offered with the $10 & $15 memberships!!).
They (the Davis') said they will destroy any
prints left after the signing..that means these
will be hard to find!!
We would like to let everyone
know (early) that the Geranium House will be
available for your HOLIDAY get-togethers!! For a
nominal fee you can have our beautiful galleries
as a backdrop for your company or personal party.
The art will be none other than Jerry
Ellis...November 20th until after the first of
the year. We have a fully operational kitchen
complete with place settings for 24. Valet
parking can be arranged and we will gladly work
with any caterer or party organizer you hire. The
cost ($25-$50) will depend on how much you want
artCentral to do..such as set-up and clean-up. We
are soooo excited about this..it could be such
fun!!
We already have the Art Forum
group booked for early November. They usually
have about 25 show up each month. And later this
month a local investment club, W.I.N.(Women's
Investment Network), will be having cocktails and
hor's doeuvres out here for their quarterly
social. A big thanks to there social committee,
Sheri, Judy, and Nona for thinking about us.!!
Heard they have quite an impressive portfolio
considering they are only 2 1/2 years old! Way to
go girls! We look forward to seeing all of them.
To book the Geranium House or
just for more information call us and we'll be
see if we can work something out!!
We are also looking for
volunteers for half-days, once a week? or
bi-monthly.
More.....next week.
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