Contracts May Be Reviewed.

A state statute allowing county officers to contract with municipalities within the county to perform the same type of duties as performed for the county has come under scrutiny recently. The statute requires that all such contracts be approved by the County Commissioners and apparently official approval may have been overlooked.

The statute allows that any county officer under any such contract may retain compensation for such services in addition to all other compensation provided by law.

In most instances the compensation is placed in a fund as a reserve for such things as training or equipment for the particular county office.

A review of the various contracts has been suggested to make sure that the county is being adequately compensated for the use of any county facilities or personnel used in fulfilling such contracts.

The City of Carthage currently pays just over $4,000 annually for various property tax assessments, recording for tax books, and printing tax statements. A contract for tax collection may also be considered.

Official Minutes:

Thursday, February 5, 1998 -10:30 a.m. -Leggett and Platt Board Room

Attendance: Members Ray Grace, Bill Johnson, Tom Short, Max McKnight, John Cuaderes and Art Dunaway. Others, Mayor Don Riley, Dick Rhine and Clayton Cristy.

The Mayor called the meeting to order at 10:30 and began by making introductions of those in attendance. The Mayor then led a brief discussion on the purpose and charge of the committee.

The Mayor then opened nominations for Chairman. Art Dunaway made a motion that Tom Short be appointed Chairman. Bill Johnson seconded. No other nominations were made. Motion carried.

Bill Johnson made a motion that Max McKnight be appointed as Secretary. Art Dunaway seconded. There were no other nominations. Motion carried.

Tom then stated that he would begin compiling a packet of information for each committee member which would include a copy of the Airport Master Plan, a copy of the Ordinance that established this committee and a copy of the Grant Application on file with the Missouri Department of Transportation. Upon compiling this information and adequate review time, another meeting would be scheduled.

Art Dunaway made a motion to adjourn. John Cuaderes seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 11:25.

Land Transactions

William & Dorothy Estes sold property at 523 Belle Air to Patrick & Mary Jane O'Neil. The transaction was handled by Linda Bailey and Karen Perkins of RE/MAX Carthage.

Betty Graves & Carey Murphy sold property at 1621 S. Maple to Ignacia Ortega & Raquel Ortega. The transaction was handled by Linda Bailey of RE/MAX Carthage.

William & Doris Gray have sold property at 9468 Glen Hollow Lane. The transaction was handled by Linda Bailey of RE/MAX Carthage.

Erin Hornbrook sold property at Rt. 4, Box 543 to Robert Hartless. The transaction was handled by Elwood Fisher of RE/MAX Carthage and Ron Ford of Morton Company Realtors.

Mary A. Reber sold property at 714 W. Chestnut. The transaction was handled by Linda Bailey of RE/MAX Carthage.

Gegory & Roberta Colyer sold property at 1005 Lyon to Gerald & Peggy Huff. The transaction was handled by Elwood Fisher of RE/MAX Carthage and Joyce Liggett of Curry Reality.

Clarence & Gaylin Hall have property at 905 Market, Diamond, to Dale & Terri Alford. The transaction was handled by Linda Bailey of RE/MAX Carthage.

Sherrill Ladd sold property at 307-307½ S. Orner. The transaction was handled by Linda Bailey of RE/MAX Carthage.

letter from Ma

Pa and I think we may be getting into the "senior citizen" category. Here's why:

Pa had to add another shelf in the bathroom for all our pills.

The telephone rings more times than it used to before we answer it.

I no longer look for the sandals with three-inch heels when I shop for shoes.

Our birthday cakes have room for just one candle per decade.

The waitress in Dairy Queen gives us the senior discount without our asking for it.

Pa buys shoes with Velcro fasteners so he doesn't have to bend over to re-tie his oxfords during the day.

People who haven't seen us for awhile tell us we're "looking good."

We keep magnifying glasses by the reading lamp.

We've installed a rail on our front porch steps.

We watch the obituaries to see if those who passed away were older than we are.

Our grandkids have to explain their slang.

We detest "rap."

Martin "Bub" Hohulin

State Representative, District 126

One of the things we commonly hear is that Republicans are good at criticizing, but what is their alternative? I’m pleased to announce that today several of us filed a bill that truly does what Gov. Carnahan claims his plans do; benefits children and families.

During his State of the State address, Gov. Carnahan unveiled his plan to spend millions of dollars on daycare in Missouri. He said it was for the benefit of children and families. No one disputes that parents want to be assured of safe, dependable daycare for their children, but what about the families where one parent chooses to stay home with their kids. His plan conspicuously left them out. This is not surprising. You see, if the kids are raised at an early age by their parents, this completely disrupts the Clinton-Carnahan plan of womb-to-tomb control of our kids. I harken you back to Hillary Clinton’s "It Takes a Village" nonsense. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, It Takes a Mom and a Dad.

With a bill filed by Reps. Jim Howerton, R-Chilhowee, and myself, Bubs Hohulin, R-Iantha, some of the slight will be corrected. What we are proposing to do is financially reward families where one of the parents stays home with children up to the age of six. This only makes sense. Let’s look beyond the obvious; that parents are the best choice to raise their kids. The overlooked point is that tax credits for daycare only subsidizes families where both parents work at the expense of those that choose to forego that new car or bigger house so one of them can stay home and raise the kids. Many of the families where one parent stays home don’t do it because they are independently wealthy and can do so, but instead make great sacrifices to be able to raise their kids.

We are proposing an earned income tax credit of $1,250.00 annually to these families with kids up to age six. There are some provisions of the bill that aren’t perfect, but we have to balance what we want with what has a reasonable chance of success. Also, every bill is just a starting point and can be amended throughout the entire process. One of the provisions I have concern about is that the parent that stays at home would not be allowed to earn any money other than inheritance or from interest or dividends from investments. I realize there are many housewives, (or husbands) that earn extra income through home based enterprises such as Home Interior, Pampered Chef, and the like. This usually doesn’t amount to more than a few thousand dollars per year and it is not our intent to discourage entrepreneurship or punish achievement. We have a fine line to walk between maintaining the intent and integrity of the bill and using common sense as to what constitutes staying home with the kids. Stay tuned, hopefully we can make something really good out of this.

As usual, I can be reached at House Post Office, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or 1-800-878-7126, or mhohulin@services.state.mo.us for your questions, comments, and advice.

Ever keep bumpin’ into the same person over and over again? I don’t mean a friend or acquaintance, but a complete stranger.

Sometimes it’s out on the interstate. Ya pass a car and later in the trip, ya pull out from gettin’ gas and there that same car is. Ya end up passin’ again and somewhere down the road, here he comes, passin’ you. Then slows for some reason so ya have ta pass ‘em again.

It happens in the grocery store some too. Ya stop and let someone pass by, and a couple a rows down, ya almost run into ‘em for the second or third time.

It just seems that two random folks are for some reason on the same wave link or somethin.’ The only way I’ve found to get around the situation is to break the rhythm of whatever it is you’re doin’. Pull off the side of the road for a few minutes, or stop and get a can a pop. There are some things ya just can’t fight.

This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.

by

McCune Brooks Hospital.

Health Notes

AIDS remains a frighteningly serious epidemic infecting millions of people around the world.

Recently, scientists working on ways to treat the most prevalent type of AIDS in the United States were jolted by news that another strain, one considered far more virulent, and found mostly in Africa and Asia where it’s spread mostly through heterosexual relations with an infected partner, had shown up in six soldiers stationed on the West Coast who had served in either or both of those two areas.

The emergence of this new strain in the U.S.A. is expected to add to the already huge costs of research for finding a vaccine and a cure for AIDS, as well as the mounting costs for treating already infected persons.

According to the research, young folks think they’re immune to AIDS because they’re "straight" (that is, heterosexual). As we’re learning, being straight or gay is not a factor in avoiding or getting the HIV infection. We need to do more to educate young people about the risks of unprotected sex. While abstinence would be the best way to prevent infection, it’s probably not a realistic option.

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