Today's Feature
City
Departments Budget Requests.
The Budget Ways and Means
committee met Wednesday evening in City Hall for
a fiscal year 2005 budget hearing with City
department heads. The City Taxi Service,
Municipal Golf Course, and Public Health Fund are
the areas that are expecting a decrease in
expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year. Parks
Department Manager Alan Bull reported that
advertising and travel are the largest increases
for the golf course, due to the increased
marketing for the course.
"I tried to hold the
line," said Bull, "where ever I could,
on the other budget items."
The largest budget increase of
48.64% comes from the Parks Department, mainly
due to the Capitol Outlay projected at $217,000
compared to the current budget of $42,000
resulting in a 416% increase. Bull reported that
$68,000 equipment storage building was needed at
Fair Acres. He stated that tractors and equipment
are sitting outside in the weather and that
perhaps the boy’s baseball league could use
part of the building for the storage of their
equipment.
"Maybe they can
participate," said Bull, "in some of
the construction costs."
Bull also reported that
utilities are up for the Parks Department.
"Utilities have killed us
this year," said Bull. "We have more
utilities than any other department, with
irrigation, street lights, tennis and basketball
courts."
Bull stated that restrooms
needed to be replaced at Griggs and Carter Park
that would cost $45,000 each and that the Central
Park bath house needs the roof repaired.
"We could save a lot
money," said Bull, "by going with ADA
(handicap accessible) porta potties. We have had
a lot of vandalism to the restroom at Griggs
Park. If they turn over the porta potty the
company will come out and replace it, plus we can
have it taken out in the winter. It’s a lot
cheaper to rent porta potties than to build
permanent ADA restrooms."
Carthage Fire Chief John Cooper
was present to submit the organizations budget.
The Fire Department’s budget came in at
6.35% above the current year and Civil Defense
with a 11.54% increase. Cooper stated that the
Fire Department needs to replace bunker clothing
and boots for all the men.
"We really need
this," said Cooper. "It is a safety
issue and are to be replaced every 5 to 7 years.
They cost about $1000 each."
Cooper also reported that a new
pumper truck was needed because the current one
is a 1985 model and uses up a lot of vehicle
maintenance funds. Cooper stated that ordering a
new pumper truck now, would take 10 to 12 months
for delivery and that the first lease purchase
payment would not be due until the fiscal year
2006 budget.
Police Chief Dennis Veach was
on hand at the meeting to discuss the departments
budget requests. The police Department’s
request came in at 5.22% higher than the current
year. Veach reported that the overtime of
officers, gasoline and capitol items needed are
up. Veach stated that a dispatch and phone
recorder system was needed for the approximate
cost of $24,000.
"The system we have,"
said Veach, "just doesn’t work. We have
to have the new system. I would give up a car for
this one. We have to be able to prove the
information that was given, this will end up
saving the City money in the long run."
The fiscal year 2005 budget
request by the Street Department has a 1.61%
increase, street and engineering projects with a
4.26% increase, and the Public Works Department
has a 2.35% increase.
City Administrator Tom Short
reported that the health insurance category for
all City Departments are up.
"There has been a 10%
increase," said Short, "on insurance
premiums, that will increase the City’s
budget by approximately $63,000 this year. We
decided this year not to pass the increases on to
the employees, but we will next year."
Brushstroke
Review.
By Lee Sours, artCentral
The Brushstroke Review Art Show
and Sale will take place on May 1-2 at the
Hometown Bank in Neosho. A number of
artCentral’s artists will be involved. From
looking at the list of artists, it looks like
pastels, acrylics, watercolors, pottery,
sculpture, and fiber will be represented.
Show times are Saturday, May 1
from 6-8pm and Sunday, May 2 from 1-5 pm. There
will be a silent auction and refreshments in
addition to the show and sale.
Now showing at the Main Gallery
at artCentral are the works of wildlife artist,
Kevin Guinn. He has a beautiful display of
original artwork hanging on the walls and his
prints are popular items so come take a look
before they are all gone. The exhibit continues
through May 21.
The plans for the Traditional
Arts Fair are well under way. Flyers are being
mailed out and people are signing up for the
workshops. This event includes workshops in stone
carving, blacksmithing and this year we’ve
added wheel thrown pottery. The Arts Fair takes
place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 4-6.
On the opening night, Friday,
June 4, there will be a cookout and live acoustic
music. The music will feature traditional
American folk music and its Celtic roots. The
gallery exhibits at that time will include work
from numerous local artists and an exhibit of
stone sculpture.
If you would like to receive a
flyer, call 358-4404 and give us your address or
even better, drop by, look at the great exhibits
and pick up a flyer.
HOURS: T – F 11 - 5
Sunday 12 -5 • Closed Mon.
and Sat.
1110 E 13th • 358-4404
ozarkartistscolony.com
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