Possible Incentives to be Discussed.

The Public Works Committee is scheduled to discuss the possibility of expanding the City’s current curb and gutter incentive program during their regular meeting this afternoon at 5:15 p.m. in City Hall.

For the last several years an incentive has been in place for residential developers to recoup a portion of the cost of installing curbs and gutters in new developments. The purpose of the incentive has been to encourage new construction, but typically the amount set aside for the program has not been expended during any one year.

Some Council members have noted that it seems unfair to offer such incentives to new construction and not make it available to long time residents who don’t have curb and gutters. At the request of the Public Works Committee, Director of Engineering Joe Butler has put together a list of considerations that will need to be addressed if such a plan were to be implemented.

One concern is the number of property owners that might be involved in such a program. Butler is recommending that an entire city block of curb and gutter on one side be the minimum size of a project to qualify for the incentive. A method for determining a consensus of those property owners affected would need to be developed. Butler also suggests that all work on any approved project be completed by one contractor.

The incentive would mirror the developer’s plan in that all projects would be subject to the availability of funds and meet all applicable city codes. Projects would be approved on a first come, first serve basis.

The current developer incentives are limited to a maximum of $20,000 per year for any project by one developer. Some type of limit per property owner would be likely. The amount and conditions would have to be considered.

Rough estimates for the cost of curb and guttering are between $9 and $12 per foot. An average block length of 300 foot would mean a project cost of around $3,000. This would not include added site work required to bring the curb to grade. Developers are reimbursed at a rate of $9 per lineal foot.

Some limitations, such as new construction as opposed to repair of existing curbs, may also be considered.

The program would compliment the sidewalk repair/replacement incentives recently passed by the Council. Over 60 individuals have requested consideration for that program.

Bids For New Fire Substations Opened.

Three bids for the construction of the new fire substation in the base of the south water tower were opened yesterday at 4 p.m. in City Hall. The bids will be reviewed and then submitted to the Council for approval.

Sprouls Construction of Lamar submitted the low bid at $183,000. Branco Enterprises of Neosho was next at $247,000. G&G Construction was the high bidder at $253,572.

CORRECTION.

The article in yesterday’s Mornin’ Mail incorrectly stated that the figures for building permits were for the month of August. The numbers were year to date totals for the months of January 1999 through August 1999.

Commentary

Martin "Bubs" Hohulin

State Representative District 126

Maybe I have just gotten used to losing. On the first day of this year’s Veto Session, we overrode Gov. Carnahan’s veto of the bill banning partial birth abortion and I have to admit to being very surprised. I have taken part in nine Veto Sessions and usually the Governor or the Speaker can twist enough arms or make enough promises to sustain the vetoes.

Sometimes the Speaker has to hold the board open a long time to get the votes he needs, but I have very rarely seen them fail to get what they wanted.

This issue was more of an emotional one than most. Of course, the procedure we were attempting to ban is very gruesome and brutal, but we failed to override the veto two years ago. It still amazes me that anyone could be against banning this procedure. With two kids of my own, it makes it especially hard to think about.

There was an attempt to override a line item veto in an appropriation bill at the start of the Session. That attempt failed. Then we got right into the abortion bill override attempt. The debate went on for several hours, but I doubt if anyone’s mind was changed. The biggest surprises to me were the legislators that are planning for running for statewide office that voted to sustain the veto. Keep in mind that a vote to sustain the veto is a vote in favor of keeping the barbaric procedure legal. Speaker Steve Gaw, Rep. Gracia Backer, and Rep Brian May are running for Secretary of State, Lt. Governor, and Treasurer respectively. They all voted to sustain the veto. The final vote was 127-34. All the republicans and a little over a third of the democrats voted to override the veto.

I have never seen this Capitol under the intense security we had this week. There were Highway Patrol and Capitol Police everywhere. They even had the bomb sniffing dogs go through the Capitol. On a disturbing note, there was a bomb threat called into the area schools and they were let out early. There are whackos on both sides of this issue and I have no use for them no matter which side they are on.

The override motion now goes to the Senate and the outlook there is unclear at best and shaky at worst. There has been talk of a week long filibuster to defeat the motion. The House of Representatives is done and adjourned, we’ll see what happens in the Senate.

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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Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I still expect to hear a bell ring when I pull up to the gas pumps. ‘Course there is little reason to announce your presence these days since there is no one rushin’ out ta wash your windshield.

I do find myself tryin’ to avoid passin’ by the pumps when I’m just stoppin’ for a coke. I feel a little silly when I realize I’m tryin’ to avoid ringin’ the non existent bell.

I suppose anyone under the age of 18 doesn’t have any idea what I’m talkin’ about. Talk to your parents, they should be the ones to explain such things.

I’d think some marketin’ savvy chain of convenience stores would put the bell back. It would make your customers feel important to know they are bein’ announced.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune Brooks Hospital

Health Notes.

BLOOD SAFETY: How safe, really, is our blood supply? Are there risks involved either in donating or getting blood, and do those risks involve not only AIDS, but hepatitis and other conditions?

According to the American Medical Association, a blood transfusion may well be one of the safest procedures in medicine today.

Harvey Klein, M.D., Chief of the Department of Transfusion Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, told participants in an AMA conference that more Americans are likely to die from eating bad chicken than from a transfusion-transmitted disease.

Klein notes the change from a partially paid to an all-volunteer blood donor supply is an important factor in the improvement in blood safety. He points out that offering "incentives" (money) to donate blood caused some (people) to be less than totally candid about their histories.

However, the plasma industry continues to rely on paid donors. While this could raise the chances of finding infectious agents in plasma greater than in donating blood, Dr. Klein explains, "The concern about infection is less troublesome with plasma because, unlike blood, (plasma) can be treated to inactivate viruses."