Hall Funding Uncertain.

Funding for the proposed $1.2 million renovation of portions of Memorial Hall is still uncertain according to City Administrator Tom Short. The proponents of the project suffered a blow when bids for the renovation came in nearly 30 percent higher than the architects estimate of just over $800,000.

Short reported to the Budget/Ways and Means Committee that the Missouri Veterans’ Commission grant for approximately $370,000 could be expected to increase to a little over $400,000, but additional funding was uncertain. The Council initially budgeted about $400,000 to match the grant and applied for $200,000 in grants from the Steadley Trust and the Boylan Foundation to offset that amount of the City’s portion.

The initial plan was therefore to match the Veterans Commission grant with $200,000 from the City, and $100,000 each from Steadley Trust and Boylan Foundation funds.

Another obstacle was also brought up by Committee member Larry Ross. The construction company of Dalton/Killinger submitted the low bid for the construction portion of the project at $1,007,000. R.E. Smith submitted the next lowest bid of $1,038,000. Ross favored accepting the bid from R.E. Smith. Ross stated various reasons for his position. He noted that Dalton/Killinger was the contractor for the City Hall when it was built and was the contractor for the Steadley Elementary School.

Short said that the architect cannot give any reason for the apparent underestimate. Bids were submitted as a complete project and there was no information about particular aspects of the project. Until the City accepts a bid, said Short, the City cannot ask to look at any bid calculations to ascertain what, if any, portions of the project could be modified to lower cost.

The Steadley Trust has committed $100,000 to the project contingent upon that grant being matched by the Boylan Foundation.

Bids are good for 60 days, according to Short, but the Boylan Foundation Board will not meet until August. The Missouri Veterans’ Commission will also not meet until August, and, said Short, it will have three new members. There is no way to anticipate how that will effect the Commission’s attitude toward the Memorial Hall project he said.

Committee Chair Jackie Boyer stated that Memorial Hall was critical to future economic development efforts as a way to attract small conventions to the community. Although she did not elaborate on the basis of that conclusion, the subject of Memorial Hall was raised by her at a former Lodging Tax Committee meeting.

At that meeting, various members present expressed the opinion that Memorial Hall was "very important" to the development of overnight stays in Carthage.

We have a $120,000 annual revenue stream already in place with the Lodgin’ Tax. Why not use that revenue to pay off a revenue bond for a couple a million for a solution to the Memorial Hall dilemma.

The bond would have ta be passed by the voters, but they have already put their stamp of approval on the Lodgin’ Tax. Shouldn’t be a hard sell to allow it to be used for improvin’ the chances of bringin’ in more trade shows and small conventions.

Course the move would put some pressure on various organizations that rely on the tax for operatin’ expenses so there would have ta be some adjustment in thinkin’ there.

The main problem with this idea is that it just may be a long term solution without any direct short term benefit to any one particular interest.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

Catch the wind with this simple, colorful windsock you’ll enjoy making with your children.

The bits and pieces for this activity use easy-to-find materials, ideal for that recycling project your kids may be doing at school.

You’ll need a plastic margarine tub with lid, plastic shopping bags in a variety of colors from apparel and grocery stores, 18-inch-length of string, glue and scissors.

Let your school-age child make streamers by cutting the plastic bags into five strips about 1 inch wide and 2 feet long.

Meanwhile, an adult should cut the center out of the lid, leaving the outer ring. Then cut the bottom out of the margarine tub. (An X-Acto knife works best. Please keep away from children’s reach.)

Set the tub upright on a table. Lay one end of each streamer over the rim of the tub so the streamers hang down around the outside of the tub.

Carefully snap the lid over the rim of the tub to hold the streamers in place. Tuck two ends of the string under the lid to form a hanger. (For durability, squeeze glue around the lid before finally snapping it to the rim, if you wish.)

Hang your windsock outside. On a windy day, you’ll see which way the wind is blowing by the direction the streamers move.