Budget Requests Heard.

The Budget/Ways and Means Committee completed the presentation stage of the annual budget hearings this week in City Hall. The Committee heard clarifications of requests from all City Departments and outside entities in the Tuesday and Wednesday meetings that each started at 6:30 and lasted to 10 P.M.. or later.

According to a summary of the activities by City Administrator Tom Short, all requests could be met with the current projected revenue, but to do so would drain reserves to a bare minimum. That assessment assumes that the full Council approves a reduction in mandatory minimum reserve from the current 33% of operating revenue down to 25%. The Budget committee seems to favor lowering the mandatory amount, but indicated Wednesday that most are uncomfortable with actually spending down to that level. The mandatory reserve has traditionally been considered as an "emergency" fund that is not to be used except in catastrophic circumstances. The Committee will meet next Monday evening to begin trimming the requests to a comfortable level.

The most energetic discussion so far has been over the request for a $250 per year increase in uniform allowance for plain clothes police personnel. The total expenditure would be $1,500 per year.

Asphalt Contractor Change Recommended.

The Public Works Committee voted at their meeting Tuesday night to recommend Masters Jackson’s bid for the City’s annual asphalt paving contract. Two very comparable bids were opened earlier this month and taken under consideration by Street Commissioner Tom Shelley.

Masters Jackson’s bid was $21.00/ton laid of asphalt and $.79/gallon for emulsion applied. Blevins Asphalt was the other bidder at $21.25/ton laid and $.75/gallon. Shelley expects to use approximately 5100 tons during the contract period and calculated that Masters Jackson was the low bidder by about $900-$1000.

Although Blevins’ bid was slightly higher, Shelley recommended Blevins to the Committee because of their proximity to Carthage and because of the good working relationship the City has experienced with Blevins.

Blevins Asphalt is the current contract holder and has been for many years. This was the first time Masters Jackson has bid for the contract. Masters Jackson is based in Springfield and operates in this area out of Joplin. Shelley said that during the five years he has been handling the asphalt bid, Blevins has been the only bidder.

David Roling, Division President of Masters Jackson, spoke at the meeting on Tuesday. He stressed the company’s commitment to the area and the competitiveness of their bid. He pointed out that possibly because of their entry into the bid process, the bid submitted by Blevins was lower than the City’s current contracted prices. Roling explained that they had not bid for the contract in the past because the company has only established a permanent operation in Joplin in the past year.

"We would like to have the opportunity to prove how good we can be," said Roling. "If we get your contract and a year from now you’re unhappy with the way we handle it, then I wouldn’t have the right to ask you to award the low bid. You would have a reason to base your bid on something else....The last thing I’d want to do is come down here, obtain the low bid and not do a good job."

"I personally am very much in favor of accepting the lowest bid," said Committee Member Trisha Burgi-Brewer.

Burgi-Brewer made that motion and it passed with Committee Member H.J. Johnson and Committee Chair Bill Fortune voting with Burgi-Brewer. Committee Member Charlie Bastin opposed the motion.

Jane Kleindl Reception Tonight.

A Mother's Day: Superheroes, Cowboys and Hula Babies.

by Robin Putnam, artCentral

Ahhhh....spring.....don't you just love the way the grass gets all lush and green. Of course someone has to mow all that lushness...but hey..it's better than shoveling snow!! We are lucky enough to have someone else do all the mowing around here!!

A reminder...our Annual Membership meeting will be on May 18th, here, 1110 E. 13th, at 7 p.m. All members are invited and encouraged to come.

We want to hear your thoughts and suggestions. You also get a chance to vote on new Board members. Members can also nominate someone for the openings on our Board.

There are two members whose term are up and have reupped if voted on favorably by the membership. Those two are Don Knost and myself.

We are looking for two individuals who would like to help our humble little organization. We meet once a month, the third Tuesday at 7 p.m. Our terms are for three years. Think about it.

Tonight is the opening reception for Jane Kleindl's show. Everyone is welcome and as usual refreshments and hors d'oeuvres are served. The Ranch House is sharing their chef with us for this evening's goodies...can't wait to see what he's serving!!

Jane has quite a unique array of artwork for this show. There are very large oil paintings, very large dog tables, a couple of houses she built, a wall clock she made, a painted floor cloth which we decided to hang as well as a collection of some of children's drawings to show where she got her inspiration for her work!!

It's really a fun cheerful show. Jane hopes all mother's will come out and take a look and see if there aren't a few memories stirred up!!

Again, we are open Sun. 12-4, Mon. 9-3, Tues. 9-3, Wed. 12-8, Thurs. 9-3, Fri. 9-3 and closed on Saturday.

Have you heard about the Ozark Artist Colony? The little bit I know is it is a web site through the Joplin Globe that will put artists and their work on a web page. They have a Web Master!! Whatever that is. Or whoever. Anyway for more information any interested artists should contact Trisha Courtney at the Globe.

The weather is getting warmer which means it will be a more pleasant chore to work on the pottery room. Any volunteers? We need to get stuff cleaned out so the new windows can be installed and so we can hit it with a fresh coat of paint.

Then comes getting all the pottery stuff back in and put on shelves where it belongs. We are really looking forward to getting this project under way!! It will be soooo nice to have a space for clay work!! See you tonight!!

More....................next week!!

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

The presentations by the "outside" agencies, the Chamber, Main Street, Victorian Carthage, Carthage Historic Preservation and others to the Budget Committee was very relaxed compared to past years. The approximate $70,000 in lodging tax revenues has eased the strain somewhat on the City funding of these entities.

Although the Budget Committee represents only four of the ten member Council, it appears that the combined requests pretty much matched the amount available and will be recommended.

There are also some general fund requests that will no doubt be balanced against cuts made of other department requests. The only question now is how much will be slashed from the overall requests to reach a comfort level for the uncommitted reserves.

Next week or two should tell.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.

by

Oak Street health & herb

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

Spring has sprung, but don't let your guard down to colds and flu. Many people come down with serious cases of spring colds and sinus infections.

The following are a few ways to increase your resistance.

1. Drink plenty of liquids. Fluids support the body by preventing dehydration of the respiratory tract. Soups, warm bever- ages and water are the best choices.

2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Most people catch a virus by rubbing their nose, eyes or mouth after touching something handled by a person who has a cold. There are convenient

antibacterial lotions/soaps available which require no water. Excellent choice for those times when you are shopping or other times when washing is not convenient.

3. Increase your intake of Vitamins A, C and Zinc.

4. Increase your calcium intake. You get aches and pains when lack of calcium in the white blood cells causes calcium

depletion in the bones.

5. Get plenty of rest and sleep, and defend your health with good food based

supplements, minerals and vitamins.

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