The Public Safety Meeting was held Monday evening at the fire station. Police Chief Dennis Veach discussed with the committee the possibility of buying a Ford Explorer, the liquor control compliance checks, the yearly budget and the concerns of employees being on military alert. Fire Chief John Cooper discussed a retirement, promotions and a leaky roof.

Friday night the police department conducted a liquor control compliance check to see which stores that sold liquor were checking I.D.’s and not selling liquor to minors. Eight of the stores passed three called police to report the minor and five failed. According to Veach this compliance check was much better than the last one where no one called the police and many more failed. Veach was pleased with the results and said the city was making "clear progress" reducing liquor sales involving minors.

Veach explained that there were vehicles the police department could use if needed due to bad weather or rough terrain but that they were not easily accessible and they were not equipped. According to Veach if the police department had an Explorer, they could keep it already equipped and use it more conveniently. The purchase of a new vehicle is already in budget. The committee is going to advise the council of the proposal and recommend that they approve a bid for the Explorer purchase.

Veach mentioned to the committee that the police department was over budget for this year. He explained that this was due mainly to vehicle maintenance and building maintenance. He brought up the police car being rammed and a couple kicked in windows as examples of some of the costs.

The Police Department and the Fire Department both have one person on military alert. Both departments are in a position where under the right conditions they could be suddenly shorthanded. Veach mentioned that Joplin was hit hard and is now recruiting. Cooper said that weekend drills have been pushed up to every other week as well. The departments can hire, however they have to hold the job for any person who is called by the military.

Cooper is also loosing people due to retirement and transfers. Battalion Chief Donavan Whitman is going to retire from the police department. Roger Williams is being promoted to Battalion Chief. He will assume duties March 21. Cooper said there were more people leaving as well but did not give any names or dates.

Cooper also discussed the leak at the fire station. He had raised concerns at the last Public Safety meeting that the roof over the fire station had a leak that was going to need to be addressed soon. He reported that after the last snow storm in Carthage the roof did not leak.

"Maybe we have a self healing roof," joked Cooper.

He is going to watch for a leak when the snow begins to melt from the current snow storm.

Sunday was a great "snow ice cream" day. Lots a pure white fluffy stuff to choose from.

As a kid, Mom used ta make us wait until there was a few inches of snow on the ground ‘fore we could gather the ice cream makin’s. Her thinkin’ was that if there was any nuclear particles floatin’ in the atmosphere, the first couple of inches of snow would clear the air.

As a kid I felt it was a pretty silly rule, but I was never patient waitin’ for ice cream.

We’d finally wade out into the yard with a large pan and a big spoon and gather a couple of inches off the top until the pan was full. Once inside, any thoughts of danger vanished as we blended the eggs, milk and sugar and savored the treat ‘round the warmth of the kitchen table.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

HERE'S A TIP

Returns Next Week. . .