Renovation Plans.

The Public Safety Committee met Monday evening for their regular meeting in the Carthage Fire Station. Executive Director of the Economic Security Corporation John Joines spoke to the committee on plans for the historic Drake Hotel. Joines explained that the Economic Security Corporation along with Springfield developer Carlson Gardner Inc. made negotiations with Drake owner Harry Baum of Kansas City to purchase the building for the use as affordable housing for seniors. The plans are to restore the building to its original condition and keep the architectural design in place. The two signed a contract with a 90 day clause to first see if the project will first be feasible.

The plans are for 14 two bedroom and 18 one bedroom senior apartments. Joines stated that each will have its own kitchen. The housing would be for persons 55 years old or older and a yearly income not to exceed $18,900 for singles and $22,600 for couples.

Joines stated that before state grants for senior housing and state and local tax credits are applied for, adequate parking needs to be in place.

"Parking could kill the deal," said Joines. "We will need 32 parking spaces."

Joines reported that the current Carthage City Code for apartment complex parking calls for 1 space per unit.

Joines said that he had been speaking with Felix Wright of Leggett and Platt for the use of the land directly east of the Drake.

"Felix assured he’d make the land available to us," said Joines. "That will give us 21 spaces of the 32 needed. Can we enter into a long term lease agreement with the City for the others?"

Joines asked the committee for the 7 public parking spaces across the street from the Drake on in the City lot on the west side of Howard Street. He also requested the 3 street parking spaces on the east side of Howard Street directly in front and 1 to the north of the building on Forth Street.

"Can we take down the two hour parking signs," asked Joines, "and assign them to Drake residents only?"

City Administrator Tom Short stated that the renovation of the Drake would benefit the City.

"I think we could justify designating spaces for the Drake," said Short.

Public Safety Committee member Diane Sharits shared her thoughts on the renovation of the historic Drake Hotel.

"I’m thrilled to death," said Sharits. " I move we do whatever it takes to make those spaces available for the Drake."

Carthage Police Chief Dennis Veach explained that while he thinks the plans for the Drake are good for the City and downtown he stated that taking out public parking needed to be addressed.

"Every resident downtown wants their own parking," said Veach. "I’m not sure the Council saying so is enough. We may need an ordinance for this and it needs to be made clear that we’re making an exception and why."

Carthage Fire Chief John Cooper stated his concern was with the Drake’s sprinkler system. Cooper said he would like the entire sprinkler system replaced.

Joines reported that the plans do call for the replacement of the sprinkler system. 

The committee unanimously agreed to recommend to City Council designating the 7 spaces on the lot and 4 on the street be assigned to residents of the Drake.

Mornin'

Stopped by the political shelter set up on the Courthouse lawn Monday evenin’. There were three occupyin’ the cozy structure with a candle lit for warmth.

It was still fairly early in the evenin’ and I didn’t check later, but I thing the three were the only ones to brave the chill of the evenin’ to be first in line for declarin’ their candidacy.

The County Administrator looks like the most popular office so far. ‘Course the Western District Commissioner race will no doubt be an energetic one.

Those of us on the Eastern half of the County will have a lot of interest but no say in that race.

As usual there are numerous rumors circulatin’ about who will eventually be runnin’. There’s still time for the late filers.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

HERE’S A TIP

By JoAnn Derson

• I got tired of always looking for the dustpan, so I put a magnet on the back of it. It sticks right on the side of the fridge, right next to the broom." — Larry M. in Lexington, Ky.

• Towels will lose absorbency over time when washed with fabric softener. Skip the softener or run them through a cycle with a cup or two of vinegar to bring back the fluff.

• "This is a great tip that I got from my friend up north, and I just had to share it right away. When you change the clothes in your closet by season, put them all in with the hangers facing the opposite direction — with the open end facing out, not toward the wall. Then, when you wear clothes, turn them around as normal. At the end of the season, you can see what clothes you never wore and then decide if you want to keep them or not. It even works down here in Florida, where we really don’t have a lot of ‘seasons.’" — Frances D. in Jacksonville, Fla.

• "I have a lot of photos, and there are really too many to put all of them in albums. I took the best and put them in display albums, and the rest were sorted and put into photo boxes. This way, I can feel free to take a few from the photo boxes to send to friends, and the kids can use them for art projects or whatever. I know I have the best pictures preserved in an album." — Alicia L. in Billings, Mont.

• Avoid eyestrain by making sure your computer monitor is in the correct position. It should be placed directly in front of you, at least an arm’s length away. If you have trouble seeing the screen, you can adjust the resolution to make the screen items bigger.