Budget Hearings End.

$7.7 Million Proposal Goes to Full Council.

The Budget/Ways and Means Committee completed its scheduled budget hearing meetings Wednesday evening in City Hall. The Committee will forward their $7,750,098 FY1999/2000 expenditure recommendations to the full Council for final review. The first reading of the document is scheduled for the June 8 regular meeting.

Total projected revenue for the year is $6,248,092. This amount covers the projected City operating expenses of $6,076,798 but proposed capital improvements of $1.6 million will require pulling from general fund reserves. These numbers include the set aside of $464,000 for a proposed airport, a $100,000 set aside toward the rebuilding of Civil War Road, and a $100,000 set aside toward the proposed interchange at Fairview and Highway 71. The projected revenue includes a proposed return to 95 cent property tax, up from the current voluntary reduction to 85 cents.

According to documents provided to the Committee by City Administrator Tom Short, it is estimated that the City will end the 1999/2000 year with approximately $2.2 million in reserves. The tax rate would not approved by the Council until later in the fall of this year.

Proposed appropriations for various departments and outside agencies are as follows:

General Admin. $ 335,418

City Attorney 29,602

Economic Develop 141,991

Civil War Museum 119,644

Police 1,706,755

City Taxi 78,829

Street Department 962,807

Engineering Dept. 265,890

Fire Dept. 1,113,041

Civil Defense 3,250

Parks Dept. 230,279

Golf Course 304,216

Golf Pro Shop 142,228

Fair Acres 65,308

Pool 54,412

Street/Engineering

Projects 130,000

5,721,758

Other 355,040

Sub total 6,076,798

Capital Projects 1,601,800

Agency Requests 71,500

Total $7,750,098

According to Short, the proposed budget includes a 1.6% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all City employees. Revenues, after adjusting for the inclusion of the Parks Department being classified as a City Department, are projected to increase about 1% for the year.

Also included in the proposed budget is $50,000 to be used as an incentive for property owners to repair existing sidewalks adjacent to private property. The details of the incentive are yet to be completed, but a proposed Council bill is being considered by the Public Works Committee at this time.

The one time purchase of approximately $82,000 in computers and software for the Police Department and $177,100 for the completion of the Fire Department sub station in the base of the new south water tower is also recommended. Funding for a new roof for the east side of the Fire Station on Chestnut amounting to $18,000 is included.

Improvements to the Myers Park Property were not funded at this time. Any new street or traffic signals for the Development would be funded by the sale of Myers Park Property. If the pending sale of property is completed, the budget would be adjusted at that time. It is expected that part of the conditions of sale would include a shared responsibility for street construction with the property owner.

Main Street Mercantile: Tonight Traditional Irish, Dulcimer, Violin and Guitar Folk Music.

by Robin Putnam, artCentral

Now.....now...a little rain just makes the flowers grow...unless it washes them away!!! Let's count our blessings, for sure!!

This coming Sunday is, of course, Mother's Day. Yipee!! Here's to all the Mothers!! If you're looking for something interesting to do with MOM....may we suggest a hearty repast followed by a trip to artCentral. Open noon until four. Our exhibiting artist, Jane Kleindl, has paintings that will make any Mother smile and inspire all kinds of memories.

As a matter of fact............her painting titled 'Small Wonder' brings me the funniest memories of my oldest son when he was four.

The only superhero on TV then was Wonder Woman..she would spin in a circle and turn from ordinary to super..if she put her magic lasso around you you had to tell the truth..imagine....four years old, male...spinning around anytime something didn't go his way..always carrying that piece of rope..like I said...funny....but wonderful!! Such great Mother's Day memories!!

By the way...we all want to say good-bye and good luck to our buddy John Beasley. It's a yipee kind of thing..he's gotten a full-time artist job in Noble, OK to do sculpting for United Design producing everything from lawn ornaments to Christmas tree ornaments, picture frames and collectable figurine series'. We will miss him!!

Hey..........Main Street Mercantile, Mike Tichenor owner and one of our super members, will be having MUSIC! Friday Night Jams! Next one is tonight..May 7th. Also on the agenda...Bratwurst and Sloppy Joes!! Back to the music (I insist food is art, too!!)....Jack and Lee Ann Sours, Dudenville, MO., accompanied by their guitar, penny whistle and violin, Steve and Linda Widders from Springfield...they play traditional Irish tunes. There are three more groups one of which is Mockingbird's Laughter who bring you tons of music filled with tons of folk instruments as well as a local Blue Grass band. Fun starts around 7:30...it's on the Carthage Square..come hungry for good food, good music and good friends!!

For more information call Mike at 358-1800.

Rumor has it...a bunch of artists will be hanging out there until it's time to head over to Joplin to retrieve their artwork from the St. Avips art auction!! Be there or....!

Carthage will be the next art mecca!! YES!!

More.......................next week.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

If you’ve noticed, there has been some shufflin’ and shiftin’ goin’ on concernin’ the fundin’ of outside agencies durin’ the budget hearin’s. Up to this point this has been mostly just folks checkin’ what on surface appears to be some minor inconsistencies in some of the bills submitted by the Chamber of Commerce for reimbursement from the City. Ever’one seems ta be cooperatin’ in the effort, but the Budget Committee has indicated that they will tighten up the process of documentation to make sure ever’thing is up to snuff.

The resignation of Edie Neil as Chamber president last week has heightened the discussion over differences of opinions within the organization. As this does concern a large number of our readers, we will try to get more facts and less talk next week.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street health & herb

Natural Nutrition.

by Mari An WillisBump and bruise season is here. Sore backs from gardening to painting or jogging, bike riding, canoeing and other spring related activities may be alleviated with the help of arnica gel or cream. Arnica is described in homeopathic literature as THE solution to the aforementioned conditions.

Who is more prone to falls than that toddler or what about the track enthusiasts? In the MATERIA MEDICA by William Boericke, M. D. states "it is especially suited to cases when injury, however remote, seems to have caused the present trouble." He also suggests it in "traumatism of grief, remorse or sudden realization of financial loss" letting us know that it can be used when the emotions are involved. Arnica should not be used on open wounds.

On a different note, I find it interesting that a certain ad on television has been stating that it is the ONLY source of pryruvate or fat grabbers. How do these people get away with such straight out lies? The herbs they are promising are good, it is just the fact that they are not the first nor the only to have the product. Maybe it is just the exorbortant prices they ask that makes them unique. Why do we put so much stock in what a T.V. personality say? I don't know, but it is obvious that we must as companies keep paying big bucks to have "personalities" send us their message. I tend to believe my Grandparents, parents and gifted teachers who tell it clearly and honestly. Enough.............

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