Fire Substation Bids Possible.

Efforts to move ahead with the proposed fire substation to be built in the base of the south water tower were addressed by the Public Safety Committee Monday evening. According to Fire Chief John Cooper and Director of City Engineering Joe Butler there have been numerous problems with the project.

According to the discussion, Allgeier Martin and Associates of Joplin were originally expected to provide plans for the substation in coordination with the water tower construction for CW&EP. A recent estimate of costs for the construction provided by Allgeier Martin was nearly $200,000 more than the $180,000 budgeted for the construction. The firm has never officially contracted with the City for the project and delays in obtaining adequate plans for the project prompted Committee member H.J. Johnson to move that Allgeier Martin be notified to cease any further work on the plans. The Committee voted 4-0 to take the recommendation to full Council.

Butler recommended using the City’s contracted engineer, Tri-State Engineering, to complete the project. He felt site preparation could be completed as part of the George Phelps Boulevard project.

"It will be cheaper than if it’s done alone," said Butler.

At an earlier Public Works Committee meeting Cooper said the preliminary plans Allgeier Martin submitted included an "acre of concrete." Monday night Cooper said he felt the actual amount of concrete needed outside of the building had been "pared down considerably" after consulting Butler.

Committee Chair Charlie Bastin recommended that the project be halted and that a stand alone site in a different location be considered. Chief Cooper recommended that the construction not be delayed any longer. No motion was entertained.

Committee member J.D. Whitledge then moved to recommend to the full Council that bids be let for the substation interior, with site work to be dealt with at a later date. The motion passed 3-1, Bastin dissenting.

Butterball Director of Human Resources Bill Travis addressed the Committee concerning traffic congestion at the Main Street plant. He requested an expansion of the no parking zone on the east side of the facility. The Committee agreed to visit the site before making a recommendation.

Citizen Glynn Evans spoke to the Committee about the intersection of Highland and Pearl. He was under the impression that a traffic light was being considered and he opposed that. When he was told the Committee was not considering that option, he replied, "I guess I can go home." The options of changing the location of the current stop signs, or changing the intersection to a 4-way stop were discussed.

"There have been 2 accidents at that location since 1991," said Chief Veach. "I’m not a fan of putting stop signs up all over the place."

Amotion to leave the intersection as it is currently was approved.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

One a the disadvantages of livin’ in a community where storm water is directed out quickly is the lack of tadpole trainin’. Not trainin’ the tadpole, they know ever’thing they need to. I’m referrin’ to the trainin’ of kids to the nature of tadpoles. Mainly the fact that they somehow turn from the fish lookin’ critter to a frog.

Amazin’ stuff, especially to kids gathered around a mud hole on a summer afternoon. Nothin’ like a catchin’ a tadpole with the bare hands and takin’ a close look at those little beady eyes fore ya turn it back to the natural habitat. Then actually watchin’ over a short period of time the legs startin’ to appear and eventually a full fledged frog croakin’ (vocally) on the bank. ‘Course I always was a curious little mudder.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

School is out, but reading is in! Use the relaxing weeks of summer to build your children’s reading skills through ordinary and not-so-ordinary ways. Check out these fun-filled activities and choose several that fit your children’s reading level for rewarding experiences all summer long.

• Visit your local library, get library cards and make regular visits part of your summer routine. Let your children choose books to check out. At home, designate an easy-to-reach shelf or basket for the borrowed materials.

• Inquire about volunteer opportunities at the library for your preteen or teenage children. As volunteers, they may be asked to read aloud at story hour, assist with crafts and puppet shows, monitor summer reading programs, search for titles on the computer and even check out books.

• Arrange 10 summer family photos in a row on a table and use them to create a story.

• Declare your home a television-free zone for one night and read a story you’ve never read before. Even older kids enjoy a story read to them now and then.

• Read the first half of a favorite storybook aloud with your children, then invent a new ending.

• Enjoy poetry. Select short poems at first, geared to your children’s interests. Try writing an original poem about a shared experience and recite it together.

• Hang a regional, national or world map on the wall and locate your town, then find and read names of cities you have visited.

• Press a pretty flower and tiny leaves between the pages of a heavy book. Glue them on the top of a strip of cardboard for a personalized summer bookmark.

• Use shaving cream to write a cheery message on the bathroom mirror for your children to read in the morning.