| Today's Feature Memorial Hall News.
The Public Services Committee
voted unanimously Monday night to pursue grants
for the renovation of Memorial Hall. City
Administrator Tom Short presented members with
copies of the Boylan and Steadley
Foundations’ application forms.
"We could start this
process at any time," said Short. "We
have all the information from the
architects."
Committee Member Jackie Boyer
suggested that the Public Services Committee
request a meeting with the Steadley Memorial
Trust committee in Springfield to make a
presentation rather than just submit the required
paperwork.
"I think we need to do
more than just submit two pages on a project this
size that’s going to have a significant
impact on the community," said Boyer.
"We need to show them that we are very
serious, we are organized and we have a specific
program we want to submit."
"Without these funds
we’re not going to be able to do it,"
said Committee Member Larry Ross.
The Committee heard two other
matters pertaining to the use of Memorial Hall
sparking discussion about the new fee structure.
Tom Haggerd, representing the
Cerebral Palsy Support Group, asked that the
Committee allow the group to continue to use
Memorial Hall for their annual square dance at
the old rental rate of $150 rather than the new
rate of $300. He stressed that they are a
non-profit organization providing a service to
the Carthage community.
Short cited a 1993 letter from
then-City Attorney David Dally saying it would
not be legal to differentiate between for-profit
and non-profit groups in rental rates at Memorial
Hall.
No vote was taken on the issue
since both J.D. Whitledge and Committee Member
Don Stearnes said they would have to abstain from
any vote due to previous connections to the
Center. Whitledge said he would bring the request
to the full Council with no recommendation from
the Committee.
Former Council member and
current Council candidate Lujene Clark, attending
the meeting, suggested that the CP Support Group
approach the City during budget time to request a
grant to pay the new rental rate.
Clark pointed out that this
would not alter the rental policy or fee
structure and that other groups already make
similar requests.
"This comes under the
category that we let organizations use our parks,
and, in fact, we give them money so that they can
provide services....Softball, soccer, all
those," said Boyer. "They use City
property and do not pay us.
"In more than one case we
actually, through our budgeting process, support
these organizations so that they will provide
recreational opportunities."
"Then let’s make
Memorial Hall part of the Parks," suggested
Ross.
"That’s kind of the
other option," said Short. "To not have
a fee on the Hall at all, just schedule it and
eat [the cost] as part of the general fund."
Ross pointed out that he and
others who rent the hall for profit should pay a
fee.
The Committee suggested that
the CP Support Group pursue the grant option and
closed the discussion on Memorial Hall fees.
The other use request was by
Diana Fortune representing the Golden Reflections
group at McCune- Brooks Hospital. She would like
to offer a walking club as part of the
group’s activities and asked that they be
allowed to walk the perimeter of the auditorium
in Memorial Hall on weekday mornings when it is
not in use.
After some discussion of
whether this would constitute free use of the
Hall, the Committee agreed to recommend that the
Golden Reflections group be allowed to use the
Hall as a walking circuit when it is not
otherwise in use.
July 4 "A Day in the
Park."
Plans are underway for
Carthage’s fourth of July celebration. City
Administrator Tom Short told members of the
Public Services Committee that he will be ready
to put the fireworks job out to bid on March 15.
According to Short, $15,000 has
been allocated in the budget for fireworks this
year up from last year’s $12,000. The City
actually spent between $9,000 and $10,000 last
year.
"Spend it all," said
Committee Member Jackie Boyer.
"Make sure that they have
more than one person trying to load it,"
said Committee Chair J.D. Whitledge.
"Tell them this year, not
to send a novice who has never loaded," said
Boyer.
These comments from Committee
members reflected the problems last year with the
fireworks. The timing of the show was very slow
with several fireworks not going off at all. The
City received a small refund because of the
problems.
Parks Department Head Alan Bull
said that since the City is committed to
fireworks in Municipal Park as the annual
celebration, he would like to coordinate a day in
the park to supplement the show. Bull suggested
involving the community band and vendors.
"I think we can really
make a neat day out of it," said Bull.
The Committee gave Bull
permission to contact the Chamber of Commerce and
other parties for the "day in the park"
plan.
Soccer, Swim Contracts.
The Public Services Committee
reviewed contracts for the Youth Soccer League
and Swim Team on Monday night. The Committee had
no problems with the contracts as presented by
Parks Department Head Alan Bull, but will require
each organization to secure liability insurance
before approving them.
In previous years, both
organizations have operated under the Parks Board
and were told they did not need liability
insurance because they would be covered under the
umbrella of the City’s insurance.
The Committee voted to
recommend the Soccer League’s contract for
approval pending the resolution of the insurance
question. Representatives of the organization
expect approximately 350 participants, and the
first game of their spring league is March 20.
Action on the Swim Team’s
contract was delayed while they research the
insurance question since their start date is not
until after school is out. Over 100 swimmers
participated in the program last summer.
Both organizations plan to
contact state and national associations to see
what insurance options might be available through
those larger organizations.
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