The City Council held their regular meeting Tuesday evening in City Hall. The agenda included the approval by Council for a Certificate of Need for McCune Brooks Hospital. McCune Brooks Hospital CEO Bob Copeland addressed the Council and ask for their support.

Copeland explained that an application for Certificate of Need with the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee was needed to build a replacement facility.

"We believe our need is well thought out and justified," said Copeland.

The Council agreed and approved the hospital’s Certificate of Need.

The Council also approved a Resolution dedicating 4 on-street parking spaces and 7 parking spaces in the City’s free parking lot on the corner of Howard and Fourth Street to the Drake Hotel for the exclusive use of its occupants.

Economic Security Corporation Chief Executive Officer John Joines stood before the Council and explained their plan for renovating the now vacant Drake Hotel into affordable housing for seniors.

Joines explained that the ESC along with Springfield developer Carlson Gardner needed to have adequate parking for its residents before applying for grants and local, state and historical tax credits.

The Council went beyond the request for parking and voted in favor, at Mayor Kenneth Johnson’s request, of submitting a Letter of Support from the City of Carthage.

During citizens participation, the Council listened as Kellogg Lake Spring River Development Board member Jo Ellis explained the Board’s need for a "letter of intent" from the City for the $20,000 for an 80/20 match grant from the Department of Natural Resources.

Ellis stated that $20,000 was needed to apply for a DNR grant. And if the grant were approved, DNR would match that with $80,000 in funds needed to finish walking trails, parking areas and permanent rest rooms.

Several member of the Council expressed their positive thoughts on the proposal but said the City simply has no funds to help out on this short of notice.

The Board just recently brought this issue to the Public Service and Budget Committee’s asking the City for $20,000.

Council member Ronnie Wells stated that he had done some research in the budget Tuesday before the Council meeting.

"I love your proposal," said Wells. "But to be honest, I don’t think we have it."

Council Member and Kellogg Lake Board member Jim Woestman stated his desire to help by volunteering some of his time to help research grants available.

"The organization at its grass roots," said Woestman, "needs to do some more research to begin with."

Council member and another Kellogg Lake Board member Jackie Boyer apologized to the members of the Board for encouraging them to continue with asking the City for the funds.

"It’s a worthwhile project," said Boyer. "But the money is not there."

The issue was dropped at that time before Council had a chance to vote.

In other business the Council voted in favor of an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to sign a contract for the sale of 8.7 acres in Myers Park for $700,000 to Young and Jung Lim of Carthage.

Public Forums Being Held.

According to a media release by Carthage R-9 Superintendent Gary Reed the R-9 Campaign Committee (community funded action committee) will host two public forums to provide information and answer questions regarding the schools operating tax levy proposal.

The meetings will be held Thursday March 11th at 7 p.m. in the Mark Twain Multipurpose Room and Monday March 29th at 7 p.m. in the Pleasant Valley Elementary Multipurpose Room.

Annual Sale and Clean Up.

Carthage Chamber of Commerce Director Max McKnight announced during the City Council meeting Tuesday that the City Wide Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 1st.

McKnight stated that garage sale permits were needed by citizens who wish to participate. He requested and the Council approved that the permits for the City Wide event not count toward the usual limit of two garage sales per year.

Public Works Committee Chairman Bill Fortune announced that the annual City Wide Clean Up Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 8th.

Fortune stated that there will also be extra dumpsters that weekend at the landfill but the cost for using them was unknown.

Public Works Director Craig Menees stated that they were still negotiating with American Disposal on the use of extra dumpsters.

There are some things ya just gotta figure out for yourself.

Like catchin’ a baseball. Now the coach can tell ya to open up the glove and reach out and grab the ball, but as far as makin’ the ball stick, it’s up to you.

Same with throwin’ darts. Ya just gotta do it ta figure it out. Try a couple a different methods and figure out what works for you.

‘Course the first ingredient in figurin’ somethin’ out is ya gotta be willin’ to learn somethin’. The second ingredient is to accept the fact that ya might not be very good at it at first. The third is persistence and bein’ able to stick with somethin’ long enough to really learn it. The fourth ingredient is bein’ able to accept the fact that there are some things ya just shouldn’t be tryin’ to do. It just ain’t gonna happen.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I recently bought a "pre-owned" 2002 Honda Civic LX. Unfortunately, it only came with one key, so I am in the midst of trying to get a copy of my car key made. The only thing is that the dealer keeps telling me there’s a computer chip in my key that acts as some kind of anti-theft device, but all the key people I talk to think that he’s lying to me. The dealer wants to charge me $37 to copy, install and program the key, whereas a simple key copy is only $5. So, my question is whether there really is a chip in my key. And do I really have to go to the dealer to get a copy? — Sabrina

RAY: The dealer is telling you the truth, Sabrina. As part of the effort to stay one step ahead of car thieves, lots of manufacturers are embedding high-tech chips in their keys. In theory, the car won’t start unless it "sees" the proper chip in your key.

TOM: So, that limits the thieves’ choices. They either have to settle for stealing your car stereo and air bag, tow your car all the way to the chop shop or break into your house and steal your keys, first.

RAY: If you get a $5 key at your local hardware store, it should let you open the door and trunk. It’ll even fit in the ignition and turn. But it won’t start the car.

TOM: So you do need to take your existing car key to a Honda dealer.

RAY: You’re actually lucky, Sabrina. We’ve seen some high-end car makers charge well over $100 for a new key with a chip in it. Honda is actually letting you off easy. If I were you, I’d hurry in, before they read this and raise the price.