City Council Public Services Committee.

Exerpts from official minutes of last week’s meeting.

"Consider and discuss bids for park drainage project-Mr. Bull presented the latest bids for drainage work in Municipal Park. Mr. Bull stated the bids were not over the budgeted amount but unfortunately they were over the amount of funds remaining. This was because all engineering fees and advertising fees had to come out of that line. In fact, Mr. Bull expected to be about $4,000 short once all the bills came in. Mr. Bull stated he and Mr. Short had discussed the issue and were looking to see if any funds could be switched around to complete the project. Mr. Bull reported the City Engineer had recommended accepting the base bid plus alternate bid number one and two. The low bidder was Alumbaugh Construction, which was the recommended bidder. Mr. Short asked that the Committee accept the low bid and allow he and Mr. Bull to approach the Budget Committee the following Monday with possible plans to fund the project. Ms. Sharits moved to recommend to Council accepting the bid of $27,835.18 ‘from Alumbaugh Construction for drainage work in Municipal Park contingent on funds being approved through the Budget Committee. Motion carried.

STAFF REPORTS

City Administrator-Tom Short

Mr. Short reported the Sesquicentennial Committee had been looking at using some Precious Moments property for a re-enactment but the deal seems to have fallen ttlrough. There is some talk of the possibility of doing something on the square, but it is just in the planning stages. There was discussion regarding where a re-enactment could be held and how much property was needed. Also discussed was how many people are involved and how many people come to re-enactments. Mr. Short stated he would probably attend the next meeting to see where they were at the re-enactment plans.

Mr. Short reported to the Committee a promoter has put a deposit down for an event at the Hall. Mr. Short stated the Committee had the right to look at events and make recommendations on them. This event would be a wrestling event and the promoter was not sure yet about selling beer. Mr. Short went through the criteria that must be met, insurance and security being the two big items. The Committee had no problem with the event if all criteria are met.

Mr. Short handed out spread sheets showing where the golf course was compared to what was budgeted Rounds and carts are actually up and income was very close.

The Committee once again discussed the debt service of the golf course and the need to secure a grant or other funds to take up the debt payments as the Stead ley money ends in 2010. Mr. Short stated he and Mr. Bull had talked about this and would be preparing a grant request in the very near future.

Park Director-Alan Bull

Mr. Bull reported he and Mr. Short and f0r. Peterson had met and discussed the park and golf budgets. The park was a little under fifty percent at the half way point and the golf course was just over fifty percent. Mr. Bull also stated all the golf cars had been serviced and checked out, they will be going one more season before new ones would be needed. Mr. Bull asked Mr. Peterson to explain to the Committee his ideas on the carts. Mr. Peterson stated the need to budget for new cars in the next fiscal year. His idea was to retain the eight best carts and then buy fifty new ones. Theses extra carts would allow the course to host more teams in tournaments and have a cart always available for a marshal. Mr. Peterson explained we would be seeing the benefits of purchasing gas carts at trade in as it looked like we would be receiving about four hundred dollars more per cart than if they were electric. Mr. Peterson and Mr. Bull both pointed out that golf was not recovering yet and this year had been projected by some to be worse than last year. But it was pointed out that Carthage seemed to be in a better position than some other area courses, partly due to good advertising and a lot due to good maintenance of the course.

Ms. Sharits asked the Committee if they would be willing to meet at an earlier time as she felt it would be better than having to get back out. The Committee talked about four thirty, five or five fifteen as possible meeting times. Mr. Short and Mr. Bull both stated a concern about citizens coming to the meeting but not getting off work until five.

Ms. Sharits moved to change the Public Services Committee meeting time from 7:00 P.M. to 5:15 P.M. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:59 P.M."

MINUTES OF THE

MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF

CARTHAGE, MISSOURI JANUARY 26,2010

The Carthage City Council met in regular session on the above date at 7:30 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers with Mayor James G. Woestman presiding. The invocation was given by Fire Chief John Cooper and the flag salute was led by Police Chief Greg Dagnan.

The following Council Members answered roll call: Brent Greninger, Dan Rife, Claude Newport, Wayne Campbell, T. J. Teed, Mike Harris, John Studebaker, Diane Sharits, Larry Ross and Bill Welch. City Administrator Tom Short and City Attorney Nate Dally were present.

On a motion by Mrs. Sharits, seconded by Mr. Teed, minutes of the January 12, 2010 meeting were approved.

Andy Marmouget, CPA of Davis, Lynn & Moots, P.C. provided details on the City of Carthage Financial Audit for fiscal year ending 6/30/2009. Mrs. Sharits made a motion, seconded by Mr. Harris to accept the audit for fiscal year ending 6/30/2009. Motion carried. Mrs. Sharits noted the audit was an unqualified opinion, the best opinion possible.

Mr. Newport reported the Budget Ways and Means Committee was between meetings.

Mrs. Sharits reported the Finance and Personnel Committee met on this date in Council Chambers and reviewed the proposals submitted by UMB Bank. No action was taken by the Committee on the proposals. Mrs. Sharits noted the auditor, Andy Marmouget, CPA, provided details on the City’s financial statements.

Reporting for the Public Services Committee, Mr. Ross stated the last meeting had been cancelled.

Mr. Welch reported the Public Safety Committee met January 18, 2010 and heard a proposal from Dale Howell on an event at the Saddle Club. Mr. Howell later removed his request due to insurance costs. Mr. Welch reminded everyone about the retirement reception for Battalion Chief Allen Duckett set for January 27th at the Fire Department. Mr. Welch made a motion, seconded by Mr. Greninger, to accept a Command Bus from Jasper County 911 at no charge. Motion carried. Prior to the vote, the following officials discussed the bus: Mrs. Sharits, Mr. Newport, Chief Dagnan, Mr. Welch, Mayor Woestman, Mr. Campbell and Robert Williams. Mr. Short had reservations on the future maintenance costs associated with the bus. Mr. Welch made a motion, seconded by Mr. Studebaker, to accept a stimulus/recovery grant to upgrade the Police Department’s computers for a total project cost of $15,350.00 with funds of $13,801.00 to be received and a match of $1,549.00 to be paid by the City. Motion carried. Mr. Harris, Mr. Short, Chief Dagnan, Mrs. Sharits and Mr. Welch discussed the grant project.

Mr. Rife reported the Public Works Committee met January 19, 2010 and discussed the lack of bids for the Over 60 Center’s awning project. The project may be rebid according to Mr. Rife. Mr. Rife noted the City and MoDOT are reviewing the guardrail issues on the highway near McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital.

Special Committee and Board Liaison Reports were given by the following: Mr. Newport for both the Carthage Water & Electric Plant and the Search Committee for the Chamber of Commerce President/Economic Development Director’s position and Mr. Welch for the Carthage Humane Society.

There was no report given by Mayor Woestman.

Mr. Short reported on the following: the rebidding process for the awning at the Over 60 Center; an overview of the proposed tax legislation at the State level; highlights from the City Manager’s Workshop; concerns over next year’s budget numbers; talks with Golf Pro Mark Peterson and Alan Bull on the golf revenues; talks with Ron Peterson Jr of the Historic Preservation Group on grant possibilities; future agendas of the Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission with regards to the Historic District; the changing of management at the License Bureau in Memorial Hall and the Region M Board meeting on glass recycling grants.

Mr. Dally reported on the change of venue request by KAMO on the lawsuit with the City regarding the easement at the skate park.

Chief Dagnan introduced Justin Bull, the City’s newest Police Officer. Chief noted Officer Bull had been tazed in training earlier that day. City Clerk Lynn Campbell administered the Oath of Office to Officer Bull.

Chief Cooper invited all to attend the retirement celebration for Allen Duckett at the Fire Department. Chief Cooper noted the ongoing Fire Academy has been a success.

Public Works Director Zeb Carney announced the Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission’s next meeting would be February 17, 2010 due to the holiday on the 15th . Mr. Carney added that on Friday, January 22, 2010, Chad Wampler’s widow, Holly, gave birth to Lila Pearl Joy Lynn Wampler.

The Claims Report was given showing claims against the following funds: General Revenue $71,765.80; Public Health $102,489.68; Public Safety $399.00; Parks/Stormwater $4,625.00; Golf Course Fund $2,532.71; Park & Recreation Fund $5,066.73; Powers Museum $2,229.17; McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital $1,450,000.00; Carthage Water & Electric $2,000,000.00 and Payroll $170,524.46. Mrs. Sharits made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ross, to accept the report and allow the claims. Motion carried.

During the Citizen’s Participation Period Tish Bentlage, Director of the Carthage Humane Society presented her annual report.

Under old business C.B. 10-01, an Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Midwest Wholesalers, Inc. for hauling and recycling of E-waste from the Carthage Recycling Center was put on second reading followed by a roll call vote of 10 yeas and no nays. Bill passed.

C.B. 10-02, an Ordinance changing the E-Waste section of the Public Health Fee Schedule to amend fees for Monitors, Televisions and Microwaves was put on second reading followed by a roll call vote of 10 yeas and no nays. Bill passed.

In closing remarks, Mr. Harris commended City Staff for the successful audit.

Mr. Welch made a motion, seconded by Mr. Harris, to adjourn the regular Council Meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 P.M.

I can remember the conversation with my older brother, prob’ly twelve or thirteen at the time. I don’t know what it was about, but he was agreein’ with my folks about somethin’ that I didn’t agree with.

I made some statement about ‘em gangin’ up on me. Why couldn’t anyone see things the way I did?

He said somethin’ about takin’ a minute to at least consider the possibility that if ever’one was agreein’ but me, maybe, just maybe I was wrong.

Like I said, I don’t ‘member what the topic of conversation was, but most likely he was right and I was wrong. It happened on occasion. I doubt that I ever admitted that to him though. I would have never heard the end of it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

---

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Macular

Degeneration and Cataract Surgery

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Is it possible to get wet macular degeneration from a scratch on the left eye during cataract surgery, or could it have been a cyst that caused wet macular degeneration? I am 85, and my right eye is perfect. I had cataract surgery on that eye also. -- C.

ANSWER: A scratch on the eye isn’t likely to cause macular degeneration. The possibility of cataract surgery leading to macular degeneration is a remote one. More than 6,000 people who had had a cataract removed were followed for five years after the operation. Slightly more people who had the operation developed macular degeneration, dry or wet, in the operated eye than did a similar group of people who had not had an operation.

This isn’t proof that cataract surgery leads to macular degeneration. The same risks that cause cataracts also cause macular degeneration. The numbers that do develop it after cataract removal are small. A cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven.

I am not clear what you mean by a cyst causing the degeneration. In what part of the eye was the cyst? I have not seen a link between cysts and macular degeneration.

The retina is the back layer of the eye, the layer that converts incoming images into nerve signals that can be transmitted to the brain so we can see. The macula is a small, round area of the retina where there’s an aggregation of cells that are essential for central vision -- the kind of vision needed to read a paper, watch TV and drive.

Dry macular degeneration, accounting for 85 percent to 90 percent of cases, is a wasting away of macular cells. Wet macular degeneration results from a sprouting of blood vessels in that region. Those newly formed blood vessels leak fluid and destroy macular vision. Procedures are available that can halt the progression of wet macular degeneration.