Today's Feature

Council Approves Lease.

The Carthage City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance authorizing the lease of property by McCune-Brooks Hospital to Crosslands Construction for the purpose of constructing an Emergency Medical Services Building. This item was brought before the Council for reconsideration after being rejected by Council during the previous meeting. A special Council session was also held between the two meetings to allow McCune-Brooks Hospital CEO Bob Copeland the opportunity to explain the Hospital’s stance on the matter.

Those Council members who had earlier opposed the proposal did so on the grounds that the project seemed too expensive.

The arrangement will have Crossland Construction build a 4,283 square foot structure on the hospital property that will be leased to Crossland. Crossland will then lease the building to the hospital for a term of 29.5 years and will allow the hospital to purchase the building at five year intervals. The lease amount will be $81,377 per year for the first five years with a five percent increase at each five year interval. In year six the building can be purchased for $1,068,075.

Alternative options that were discussed included the possibility of the City financing the project by means of Certificates of Participation.

Copeland stressed during the special work session that it is intended for the EMS building to be completed at the same time as the Hospital building, which is currently projected to be finished in December of 2007. For the reason of potential delays inherent in the issuing of Certificates of Participation Copeland was not in favor of the option.

During Tuesday’s Council meeting another option was made available by Lean-Two Management LLC owner H.J. Johnson. Johnson proposed to finance the construction of the building at a lesser rate which would save the hospital approximately $300,000.

The option was discussed at some length by Council members, but again Copeland questioned whether the proposal would delay the project deadline.

Council unanimously approved the original ordinance, allowing the lease through Crossland Construction.

The Council also unanimously approved the Capital and Operating budget for the fiscal year 2007-2008.

Mayor Jim Woestman was not in attendance of the meeting due to his attendance at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Odor Workgroup meeting which was held in Jefferson City. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Flanigan assumed mayoral duties during the meeting.

It also functioned as the ultimate "bushwhackin’ machine." It was especially suited for back roads with its high ground clearance, heavy duty suspension and a spotlight mounted on the drivers side.

A buddy and I used ta drive down the hedgerows that lined the roads, sweepin’ from side to side with the light.

Come ta think of it, I don’t remember ever actually findin’ anyone parkin’ on those adventures. Could be that the stories that were circulated about the spotlight kept such activity to a minimum.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom and Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I’m a sales rep handling six states in the Midwest. I drive about 36,000 miles a year. I’m concerned about the amount of garbage cars spew. I’m thinking about finding a cleaner car, but the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight are not options. How can I find not only the most fuel efficient vehicles, but the ones that also spew the least amount of pollution? - Christian

TOM: Well, generally speaking, they’re one and the same, Christian. The less gasoline a vehicle uses, the less pollution it expels.

RAY: Right. There might be some small differences between cars that get the same mileage, because of specific engine technologies and different pollution-control systems. But broadly speaking, the better your mileage, the less you’re polluting.

TOM: You say that the Prius and Insight are not options for you, but you don’t say why. I’m guessing that you’re either a big fella, or that when traveling 36,000 miles a year, you want something a little bigger and more comfortable in order to cut down on your chiropractic bills.

RAY: If that’s the case, take a look at the Toyota Camry Hybrid or the new Nissan Altima Hybrid, both of which are pretty spacious cars that get about 40 mpg. Honda also makes the Accord Hybrid, but we don’t recommend it because its mileage is mediocre.

TOM: If you’re skipping the Prius and Insight because you’d rather buy American, unfortunately there are no large American-company hybrids on the market at the moment. But just make high mileage your top priority when you’re shopping, Christian, and you’ll be saving money and helping to save the planet. What a deal, huh?

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Danica Patrick: Winner or Whiner?

Q: How do you think Danica Patrick is doing these days? She still hasn’t won a race, and I’m wondering if she ever will. The television shows and some of the drivers are portraying her as a spoiled brat, especially after her run-in with Dan Wheldon at the Milwaukee race. Do you feel Andretti-Green made the right choice in putting her behind the wheel? -- Karen L., Indiana

A: Karen, at this point in time, I believe Danica Patrick is poised to win her first race. Her performances at Indy and Texas this year were both strong and credible, regardless of any gender talk. I’m talking strictly ability behind the wheel.

As for her confrontation with Dan Wheldon, I can’t really admonish her for confronting Wheldon for what she felt was his "cutting down" on her in the corner at the Milwaukee Mile. Both Patrick and Wheldon have addressed the situation, and Danica supposedly apologized for grabbing Dan’s arm after the race.

Still, I’ll give Danica Patrick credit for her desire to win. She now carries the credentials to score that first win, as I believe her performance at Texas, where she finished third and ran wheel-to-wheel at 215 mph with the "boys," is just the tip of the iceberg in her win curve.

Finally, I feel Andretti-Green Racing made a great choice in adding her to the roster of drivers because she is for real, and as I mentioned after her great run at Indy a few years back, it will take time for her to win.