Tiger Mascot & Artist Bob Tommey Home Safe.

Local artist Bob Tommey seemed to be relieved to be home with the Carthage Tiger Mascot in one piece Sunday evening. The sculptor said there was snow everywhere on his trip to the Texas foundry and 10,000 wrecks, or so it seemed. He said he spent 2 1/2 hours going 10 miles in Dallas.

"It was a harrowing trip, but we made it, and the tiger looks good," said Tommey.

The bronze statue is scheduled to be placed at the Carthage High School.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

CITY OF

CARTHAGE, MISSOURI

MARCH 9, 2010

STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY

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. Participating Carthage Senior High School Student Council members and their appointed positions for Student Government day are listed at the end of the minutes.

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

On a motion by Mr. Studebaker, seconded by Mr. Teed, minutes of the February 23, 2010 meeting were approved.

Mr. Newport reported the Budget Ways and Means Committee met March 8, 2010. Mr. Newport made a motion, seconded by Mr. Harris, to approve up to $8,000.00 in Capital Improvement Funds from the General Fund to go toward the purchase of an automatic ticketing system at the Police Department, contingent upon any payment being made to the vendor only after installation and successful operations with the INCODE and SMART Systems. After discussion and questions, motion carried. The currently allocated funds in the Capital Improvement’s budget were originally designated for an Airport Drive/River Street Improvement that would not be done this year.

Mrs. Sharits reported the Finance and Personnel Committee met on this date in Council Chambers. Mrs. Sharits made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ross, to allow the use of Council Contingency Funds in the amount of $100.00 to pay a restitution case in the Municipal Court. Motion carried. Mrs. Sharits reported on Group Health Insurance premium increases expected in the next fiscal year.

Reporting for the Public Services Committee, Mr. Ross made a motion, seconded by Mr. Campbell, to accept the sign donated by the Kellogg Lake Committee. Motion carried. Mr. Ross made a motion, seconded by Mr. Welch, to accept a 1997 Ford Ranger truck donated by Carthage Water & Electric to be used for the Golf Course. Motion carried.

Mr. Welch reported the Public Safety Committee would meet March 15, 2010 at the Fire Department at 6:30 PM. Mr. Welch noted the minutes from the February 22, 2010 meeting are in the packet.

Mr. Rife reported the Public Works Committee met March 2, 2010. Mr. Rife made a motion, seconded by Mr. Harris, to allow the recycling center to host a free electronic waste drop off April 22-24, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Motion carried.

Special Committee and Board Liaison Reports were given by the following: Mrs. Sharits, Carthage Public Library Board; Mr. Welch, Carthage Humane Society; Mr. Studebaker, Kellogg Lake Committee and Mr. Greninger, Police and Firemen’s Pension Committee. Mr. Studebaker announced Kid’s Fishing Day is scheduled for June 5, 2010.

Mayor Woestman reported on the Student Government events of the day and expressed appreciation to the City for the opportunity to participate.

Mr. Dally gave an update on the Haz-Mert bankruptcy case. Mr. Dally noted the trustee feels there may be enough assets to cover the cleanup of the site in Arkansas.

Mr. Short reported on meetings he had attended since the last meeting and provided details on the following: the revenue/expenditure report as of the end of February; the most recent sales tax report; the probable increase in Police and Firemen’s Pension contributions; the cancelation of the controversial wrestling event at Memorial Hall; a review of the City’s liability insurance; the upcorning selection of Region M Directors; the reclassification of highways within the city limits by MoDOT to help with obtaining grant funds; the latest on the mega-tax bill under consideration in the State Legislature and the progress on the awning project at the Over 60 Center.

Chief Dagnan and Chief Cooper had no reports but gave thanks for the opportunity to be with City Officials today.

Public Works Director Zeb Carney announced the hiring of Gary Sheets as our new building inspector. In other reports, Mr. Carney noted he had received a letter from ADEQ suspending the deadlines from all previous letters and meetings; the bankruptcy trustee has a proposal that would clean up the site. ADEQ had questions about the proposal and if answered satisfactorily, the ADEQ would move forward, clean the site and clear the City of any problems.

Parks Director Alan Bull reported the largest Post Oak tree in Jasper County, located in the fair barn area, has a very large crack running the trunk. The Missouri Department of Conservation Urban Forester examined it and recommended it come down due to structure failure. Mr. Bull announced the annual Arbor Day celebration would be April 30,2010.

The Claims Report was given showing claims against the following funds: General Revenue $53,932.05; Lodging $6,250.00; Park and Recreation Fund $52.26; Library $32,278.38; Public Health $1,668.97; Golf Course Fund $4,970.81; Powers Museum $3,760.41; McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital $1,655,000.00 and Payroll $199,331.87. Mrs. Sharits made a motion, seconded by Mr. Teed, to accept the report and allow the claims. Motion carried.

No one spoke during the Citizen’s Participation Period,

Under old business, C. B. 10-05, an Ordinance rezoning certain property at the NEC of Central and N. Francis in the City of Carthage from "B" Second Dwelling and "0" Local Business to "E" General Business as requested by Casey’s Marketing Company was placed on second reading followed by a roll call vote of 10 yeas and no nays. Bill passed.

There was no new business.

Under Resolutions, Mr. Ross made a motion, seconded by Mr. Campbell, to approve Resolution No. 1597, a Resolution of the City of Carthage, Missouri, authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with American Legion Baseball for use of Carl Lewton Stadium during the 2010 Legion Baseball Season. Motion carried. Prior to the vote, Mr. Ross provided more information on the agreement.

Mr. Ross made a motion, seconded by Mr. Teed, to approve Resolution No. 1598, a Resolution of the City of Carthage, Missouri, authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with Carthage R-IX School District for use of various park facilities. Motion carried. Prior to the vote, Mr. Ross provided more information on the agreement.

In closing remarks, Mr. Welch announced a Spare Cat Rescue program on March 18th and 25th organized by Kaylene Cole to offer greatly reduced fees for neutering and spaying of cats. Mr. Newport encouraged everyone to vote at the April election. The Council Members, alias the Student Council Members, thanked everyone for the opportunity to participate in Student Government Day.

Mr. Newport made a motion, seconded by Mr. Welch, to adjourn the regular Council Meeting. Motion carried and meeting adjourned at 8:03 P.M.

James G. Woestman, Mayor

Sometimes after the new wears off, we have a tendency to take things for granted.

I can remember gettin’ a pair of "engineer" boots as a kid. Wore ‘em ever’where. I soon learned, however, that my mother felt the same pride in the new couch. My boots, and especially the shinny buckle they bore, were expressly denied from bein’ worn while I was sittin’ on the couch watchin’ the Mickey Mouse Club. If I wanted to sit on the couch, I had ta take off the boots. I soon learned the advantages of stretchin’ out on the floor in front of the tv.

Like most kids, I prob’ly outgrew those boots ‘fore they wore out. I’d have ta guess there were a few times they made it on the upholstery, after time, and did some damage ‘cause I never got another set a footwear with buckles.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

---

To Your Good Health

By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

Enlarged Prostate Puts Squeeze on Urine Flow

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: For men with BPH, would you recommend the Prolieve System for treatment? It involves reducing the prostate with heat. Must it be done periodically to maintain symptom improvement? Any information will be appreciated. -- Anon.

ANSWER: BPH -- benign (not cancer) prostate hypertrophy (overgrowth) -- is a common condition of older men. The urethra -- the bladder’s drainage tube -- runs through the prostate. A large gland acts like a vise, squeezing the urethra and making it impossible for the bladder to completely empty. Large glands make men get up many times during the night to visit the bathroom. They make it difficult to start the urinary stream, and they can reduce the stream to a dribble.

Minimally invasive procedures, many done right in the doctor’s office, pare the gland so that a free urine flow is re-established. The Prolieve System (a trademark name) delivers microwaves to the gland to shave the excess growth. In this and in similar techniques, instruments are inserted into the urethra by way of the penis and passed upward to the level of the prostate gland, where the microwaves are then activated. Yes, I can recommend it. Quite often, the procedure need be done only once. However, it is possible that a repeat will be necessary to trim the gland again should it regrow to the size where it compresses the urethra.

Other procedures include the Green Light laser, in which a laser beam reduces prostate size in a similar manner. TUNA -- transurethral needle ablation -- is another minimally invasive procedure, done in a like way. It employs radio waves to reduce prostate size. All of these methods work. The most important element in making a choice is the doctor’s skill in the technique.

Medicines are another possible route for handling an overgrown gland. Drugs can relax tight muscles in the prostate and in the outflow tract of the bladder to permit better urine flow. Flomax and Uroxatral are two examples. And medicines like Proscar and Avodart shrink the gland, but they can take months to work.