The Holden Image

The Holden Chamber of Commerce recently made the transition from one year of business and community promotion and awareness into the next. Outgoing chamber president Jenny Sollars, who served as president from 2003-2005 before passing the torch to incoming president Sam Raber this January, recently reflected on a few of the goals the chamber was able to meet in 2004.

“I think the most important thing we did over the past year was promote and advertise the businesses in our community,” Sollars explained. Related to the desire of the chamber to promote Holden’s business community, Sollars said the chamber recently joined the Missouri Chamber Federation, which gives business members the chance to receive human resources information. Included in that information that is accessible through the internet is the opportunity to purchase business posters reflective of state and federal regulations at a low cost or, at times, free of charge. As members of the Missouri Chamber Federation, business members are also able to access legal experts via email. “Business owners can e-mail them with their legal questions,” Sollars said. “They will then receive answers back in their email.”

The Missouri Chamber Federation also provides employee handbooks and manuals upon the request of business owners and updates businesses on changes in state and federal regulations.

According to Sollars, another big accomplishment made by the Holden Chamber of Commerce was the construction of the chamber’s website, which is utilized to keep chamber members appraised of current events and plans of the chamber. That website is located at www.holden chamber.com. “Currently, we use the site as a tool for members to keep in touch with the chamber,” Sollars said. “However, in the future it may become available for local businesses to advertise on the website... The chamber is always open to ideas or information to put on the site.”

Another promotional tool for local businesses made possible through the Holden Chamber of Commerce in 2004 was the printing of a business directory and map. According to Sollars, the business directory is a booklet that highlights members of the Chamber of Commerce, but lists “as many businesses as we (the chamber) could think of.” The directory is utilized by residents new to the area who may not know what Holden has to offer in the realm of business and commerce.

The map constructed by the chamber is a traditional one-sheet, fold-out map of Holden that shows the locations of local businesses who are members of the chamber. It too is utilized by residents new to the area who may not know where businesses in town are located. It may also be used by visitors to Holden.

Recently, the Holden Chamber of Commerce joined forces with the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, providing a venue through which businesses in Holden could promote their services to Warrensburg residents, as well. According to Sollars, any single business in Holden that is without branches within Johnson County and is a member of the Holden Chamber of Commerce now has the option to join the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce as well for a low fee of $50.

Sollars said that offer is reciprocal, meaning that members of the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce who fit the criteria are offered the same option to join the Holden Chamber of Commerce.

“This is a Johnson County cooperation to encourage shopping and business development within the county between chambers,” Sollars explained. “We wanted to work together to enhance other chambers and encourage Johnson County businesses to thrive.” Sollars stressed this offer is not available to rural businesses within the county. “Those businesses already have the option to join either chamber, and we certainly don’t want to take members away from other chambers,” Sollars said.

The Holden Chamber of Commerce also supports community awareness and beautification of the city. A number of projects to encourage visitors to Holden as well as provide greater services for Holden’s citizens were brought to life or put on the planning table in 2004.

According to Sollars, one of the most prominent and successful of those projects over the past year was the Holden Farmers’ Market. “It was a tremendous success for the first year running,” Sollars said.

The farmers’ market began at the end of May last year and ran through September, meeting every Saturday in the Holden City Park FFA shelter. Sollars said, during the climax of the growing season, the market was also open on some Wednesdays.

“Jo Ann Nolan headed up the Farmers’ Market,” Sollars said. “Those interested may go to the chamber’s website and click on a link to the farmer’s market webpage for more information.”

Another community project in the planning stages by the chamber is the upcoming construction of the downtown city park, a revitalization project made possible by the donation of a piece of land by Marilyn Mickey-Clay and the efforts of a number of chamber members.

According to Sollars, the park will be on Second Street, utilizing a piece of land donated by Clay that previously housed a business that burned. Sollars said pavers are on sale to financially support the effort. By purchasing a paver, citizens are able to memorialize loved ones by having their names placed on the pavers, which will then be used for construction and landscaping of the park. Sollars said she expects the first phase of construction of the park to begin this March, when bricks are laid.

Sollars, who continues to serve as a member of the Holden Chamber of Commerce said she feels Sam Raber will be an asset to the chamber and she looks forward to continuing in the chamber’s efforts under his leadership.

“I hope we can keep finding ways to increase business in Holden,” Sollars said. “not necessarily to bring new businesses into town, but to encourage people to shop at existing businesses... It would increase tax dollars and help keep the city running.”

Sollars said she would also like to see the Chamber of Commerce work in cooperation with the City of Holden to come up with a plan for the city’s industrial park. “It would help get more businesses in to generate more tax dollars,” Sollars said.

Sollars stressed the importance of cooperation between the city and chamber to improve Holden. “That’s an important job because working together is vital for businesses to survive,” Sollars said. “The city needs businesses so they can thrive.”

Sollars also said she feels it is important for all members of the Holden Chamber of Commerce to be as involved as they can. The chamber meets the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Harmony House, and the chamber’s board of directors meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Route 58 Drive In. “All chamber members are welcome and encouraged to attend both meetings,” Sollars said.

Sollars also said the chamber is open and willing to hear presentations and programs from individuals who have information useful to the chamber’s purposes. “We’re open to stay informed on what is going on in our community,” Sollars said. “We are also open to assisting in our community.”

By Christi Stowe
News Editor

The Holden PTO organization has a lot to be proud of as the group’s main goal for this year is nearing completion. And that goal is now visible with the installation of new playground equipment at the elementary school.

“Thanks to everyone who has helped this year to get our children this wonderful piece of playground equipment. We have almost reached our goal. We have raised over $23,000 but still need $8,000 to finish paying for it,” said Bevy Fletchall, PTO president.

Fletchall also praised the school district who has worked with the group and also donated $10,000 toward the project.

She also added that equipment from the old intermediate school will be moved to the new playground by volunteer parents in the near future.

Although the equipment has been installed, Fletchall says children will not be able to use it until a proper surface has been secured for the area.

She also reminds district patrons of upcoming events to help fund the remaining balance including a taco dinner and relay races on March 4; parents and teachers will be pumping gas at Holden Fastop on March 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the annual carnival on Saturday, April 9 at he Intermediate School.

The group is also collecting aluminum cans at Pittsville PDQ; collecting Thriftway receipts dated Jan. 7-April 30 which can be dropped off at the elementary or intermediate schools or Bobby Hoffman’s State Farm Insurance office; selling trash bags for $9 a roll at Fastop and the elementary office and collecting box tops which are turned in for cash. Fletchall said the group’s last check from this effort netted them over $900.

“Let’s try to out do that,” she emphasized.

It’s back to the drawing board for the City of Holden in its search for a police chief, according to information presented during a special meeting of the Holden City Council last Thursday night.

According to Mayor Terry Hedglin, Ed Bone, the Sedalia man who was certified by the merit board during recent interviews has declined the position.

Hedglin said after visiting Holden and being offered the position, Bone, who is from Sedalia, later called and said he would be unable to take the position because of an unwillingness to relocate and a lack of desire to commute.

“We’re back to square one,” Hedglin said. “Where do we go from here... I am open to any suggestions at this point.”

Hedglin asked the council if anyone had any suggestions regarding additional venues to advertise the position. “So far, we’ve advertised in Kansas City, the Mid Missouri Municipal League, Sedalia, Marshall, Clinton and Harrisonville,” Hedglin explained.

Hedglin and the council agreed that while advertising has not brought in a huge number of qualified candidates, it can be assumed advertising in the Sedalia area is what prompted the last two candidates interviewed to apply for the position since both were residents of Sedalia.

A number of council members questioned why Acting Chief of Police Rick Martin had not been certified and appointed to the position, as Martin as served as Acting Chief for approximately one year, to date.

“It seems to me it would make more sense if the council and the merit board got together and had a meeting to discuss this,” City Clerk Sheila Spies suggested. “Nothing is getting done this way, and you’re (council and board) just butting heads.”

Hedglin said he tended to agree with Spies that it would be a good idea for the council and merit board to have a meeting to discuss common characteristics they are each looking for in a new police chief.

A motion from Councilman Karl Timmerman to schedule an open public meeting between the city council and merit board was approved unanimously by the council and tentatively scheduled for February 8 at 6 p.m.

In other business, the council approved a contract between the City of Holden and Dragon Lady Commercial Roofing to install an all-metal roof atop City Hall.

According to the requirements stated in the contract, Dragon Lady is to begin work on the roof no later than March 15, 2005, and the work is to be completed no later than 40 calendar days thereafter.

In addition, once the company has provided city officials with their bond and signed the contract, the city will pay Dragon Lady $29,544.59. The remainder of the cost, an additional $29,544.59 shall be paid to the company upon completion of the work.

In other business, the council approved a motion to allow the Board of Public Works to enter into an agreement with Automated Clearing House (ACH) to allow water customers to have their water bill automatically deducted from their bank account each month.

According to Hedglin, the BPW has offered this service to its customers for quite some time. However, automatic drafts have always been handled by utilizing paper draft systems. The BPW recently received a letter from the Bank of Holden stating it would no longer participate in paper drafting, but could provide the same service using an electronic system.

Hedglin said by utilizing the electronic method of automatic drafts, the service will become available to water customers who bank with any financial institution.

Councilpersons Karl Timmerman and Roseann Ferguson questioned Hedglin regarding the method of handling disputed water bills under the new system. Hedglin explained this system will be no different than the old one, except drafts will be conducted electronically, stating arrangements could still be made with the water department regarding disputed bills. In addition, customers will have the option to stop payment just as they would if they wrote a check to the water department, according to Hedglin.

However, if a bill is in dispute and a customer does not contact the water department or if a customer contacts the water department and no agreement is reached regarding the bill, water will still be shut off if the customer does not pay their bill. According to Councilman Dwight Anstine, customers will still have time to address any problems they may have with their water bill as customers have 25 days from the time their bill is generated until the water is turned off for non-payment.

By Christi Stowe
News Editor

Recovery of items stolen during a recent ring of construction site burglaries in Johnson County has left several victims sighing with relief, thanks to the efforts of detectives with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department and Kansas City Metro Police Department.

Johnson County Sheriff Chuck Heiss said there were three or four very sizeable tool thefts, as well as smaller thefts which were scattered throughout all parts of Johnson County.

According to officials with the sheriff’s department, a search warrant was served at a residence located on East 81st Street in Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday, January 26, which resulted in the recovery of approximately $11,000 in stolen tools and three arrests.

Johnson County Detective Mark Lenger said the search warrant was the result of a vehicle stop made by local narcotics investigators. “We were able to obtain a partial vehicle description after it was seen at one of the thefts,” Lenger said. “Narcotics officers observed the vehicle and were able to stop it and identify the individuals.”

According to Lenger, questioning of the suspects in the car as part of a 14-day investigation conducted by the sheriff’s department led investigators to the Kansas City residence where the tools were recovered.

Two Warrensburg men, Brandon Hixon, 23 and Travis Tompkins, 28 were arrested as a result of the investigation. George Eib, 49, of Kansas City was also arrested in relation to the thefts. According to Heiss, all three men have been released pending the filing of formal charges. However, Heiss said he is uncertain whether or not charges have been filed in other jurisdictions, as some of the property seized at the residence was from areas outside of Johnson County.

Lenger said a number of construction site thefts have occurred in various areas of Johnson County since November 2004, but property seized during this investigation was from thefts that occurred in the past few weeks. However, he said investigators believe the tools were being traded and sold for money and/or methamphetamines, and it is possible past thefts were related to the case, but those tools have already been traded or sold. It is also possible previous thefts are not related to the case at all. Investigation into those and other thefts is ongoing.

According to Lenger, property seized at the residence has already been identified and returned to the rightful owners. He stressed that others who have been the victim of construction site thefts in the area should not yet “get their hopes up,” about their tools. In other words, if owners have not been contacted that means their property has not yet been recovered. Lenger did say, however, he hopes additional property will be recovered as the investigation continues.

Lenger credited the success of the investigation to hard work and cooperation between Johnson County Detectives and the Kansas City Police Department. “A bunch of us (detectives) put a lot of time into the investigation,” Lenger said. “Metro Zone Kansas City Police Detectives were very helpful in this case... They were fantastic to work with.”

By Christi Stowe
News Editor