Possible Litigation Over Police Station.

The Public Safety Committee voted to ask City Attorney David Mouton to contact the architect of the Police Department building to try and resolve on going problems with the structure. City Engineering Department Director Joe Butler attended the meeting and outlined a long list of roof, window and water supply leaks throughout the building. Butler said that three years of trying to solve the problems with contractors and building supply companies have not been satisfactory.

Another major problem is some type of iron aggregate in the building blocks used for the facility. During rainy periods, the building seeps rust and stains the exterior walls of the building.

A letter from Steve Lett, representing Tri-State Engineering, Inc., recommended that the City Attorney be authorized to contact the contractor and architect notifying them of all the problems and informing them they have 90 days to correct the problems or face possible litigation.

Lett noted that some of the contractors involved with the project have made an effort to repair or correct problems.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin

State Representative, District 126

The days are shorter, the nights are longer, there is a chill in the air, (well, not really, but there should be), so you know what that means; that’s right, it is time to send you back some of your money that never should have been taken in the first place.

In what has become a yearly experience, the Hancock refund checks are going out in the mail. This has happened every year since 1993 and 1999 will be no exception. I have written basically the same column each year and, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, this year will be no exception. I want to be sure that you understand there should be no glory given to politicians that take too much of your money, keep it for a year interest free, and then send it back to you while crowing like they did something great.

In Missouri there is an amendment to the Constitution known as the Hancock amendment. It is so named for the man that pushed it through, former Congressman, Mel Hancock of Springfield. While it is a little more complicated, what it essentially does is limit the amount of government spending growth to the same growth as personal income of Missourians.

Anything above that amount either has to be returned by check or by reducing tax rates. It is best to reduce tax rates for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that it costs almost a million dollars to issue the checks.

What has been particularly frustrating is that all this could be avoided if Gov. Carnahan would just use realistic figures when submitting his budget. This has been a yearly fight. When we start the budget process in the fall for the upcoming year, one of the things we have to look at is how close we are to the Hancock limit based on personal income growth. At the risk of sounding immodest, we conservatives in the House, have usually hit the figure pretty close.

However, like most liberals, Gov. Carnahan can’t stand the thought of having his ability to spend your money limited, so he uses an unrealistic figure to base his budget on. The result has been the same every year since he took office. We have been over the limit and a refund needs to be issued. What is particularly galling is that he then makes a big deal of sending your money back to you. There is nothing generous about taking your money and then giving it back to you a year later.

We are getting ready to start the budget process again and I imagine we will face the same fight. You would think that after 6 years Gov. Carnahan would catch on that his figures are flawed. My guess is that he knows, but can’t accept the fact that his ability to spend your money is limited by the Constitution. It is a very good thing we have that limitation in our state.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 64759, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, or advice.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I don’t have an opinion. Figure that.

Nobody I talked to knew any specific facts about the basketball coach vs. player confrontation. From the news release from the school yesterday, apparently the player was not allowed to play ‘cause he missed off season practices. Again, accordin’ to the release, ya can’t boot a player if they miss those particular sessions. From all the fuss over the last few days, I’d have ta guess sides were taken and words were exchanged.

Accordin’ to the release the coach says he made a mistake and will fix it. The School board took no official action durin’ its closed session discussion.

I’ve seen similar situations from both sides and usually nobody wins, but the game goes on.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

My three kids are at it again, arguing about whose turn it is to tackle household chores. But when it’s time to dole out a few privileges, such as sitting in the front seat of the car or picking an evening television show, they don’t miss a beat. Suddenly it’s everyone’s turn. Sound familiar? So far, this chore/privilege board I came up with a couple of months ago is a winner at our house. It’s not an incentive system like most charts; rather, it’s a simple way to keep track of who’s who in the job and privilege categories of day-to-day family life.

For a sturdy chore board, we use the following:

• 1 piece of white foam board, cut in an 18-inch-wide by 9-inch-long rectangle (available at art and discount stores)

• 6 adhesive-backed plastic hooks in bright colors

• 6 metal rings (available at stationery stores)

• several plain index cards, cut in 1-inch by 5-inch strips with a hole punched at the top of each strip (one strip for each child for each chore and privilege). If you have, say, two children and six categories, you will need 12 strips.

• 4 one-inch magnet strips

• Markers and ruler

Before you make the board, discuss chores and privileges for a typical week, such as "set dinner table," "vacuum stairs," "choose Saturday bike route," etc.

Use a black marker to print the six categories across the top of the board. Draw vertical lines down the board to separate them. Under each category, attach a hook. Glue magnets to the back of the board.

Print names on each strip. You may want to color-code each name. For example, all of Scott’s strips would be printed in blue.

On each ring, attach strips for each child in the family. On each hook, hang a ring with strips. The name appearing on top of each ring is responsible for the task-privilege in the category. For example, if Jennifer’s name is on top under "water the plants," it’s her turn. When she completes the job, she flips her name over the ring and the next child’s name appears.