Inflow and infiltration (I and I) was a hot item on the agenda of the Holden Board of Public Works at last Tuesday’s meeting.

The end result of I and I is rainwater draining into the city’s sewer system, having to be treated, and in the long run costing the community more money because of the excess water, according to Dennis Mason of O&M Enterprises. Inflow is caused, he said, from homes that have perimeter drains or gutters hooked to sewers, or possibly sump pumps hooked to sewers.

Infiltration, he added, is caused when sewer lines form a small crack and rainwater drains into the system from the groundwater.

After much discussion by the board on the matter, it was decided to send out a survey/questionaire to all customers in order to gather information to be able to  educate consumers on the effect of rainwater draining into the sewers. The questionaire will also allow the board to understand the problems that exist in each home and come up with workable solutions to those problems, according to Mason.

In old business, water superintendent Tony Lerda reported that the hydraulic analysis done by Marshall Engineering Firm was costing more than the original bid given the board.  And to date, the board has not been given a working model from the firm.  Mason is working on a model that will meet the board’s needs but cannot use the software recommended by Marshall because it is cost prohibitive, costing $5,000 to $10,000.  He is using a less expensive version and entering the information into the computer.

In other old business, Lerda reported the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Project was completed and finalized.  This project paid part of the bill for the 14,000 feet of sewer mains and new treatment plants.

In maintenance business, Lerda informed the board he had found a contractor to replace the ceiling in the filter room of the water plant.  The high humidity in the room has caused the ceiling to warp. The contractor, who builds pump houses, has found a way to replace the ceiling so it will not warp.

In new business, board president Earl Peacock voiced his concern to the board regarding the rising cost of utilities.  After some discussion on the matter, Lerda agreed to investigate the matter of obtaining a grant for an efficiency-energy study to address the concerns.

The board also discussed problems with customers who were not in compliance with the water department and whose meters were in their basements.  There were times the department was denied access to these meters, according to Lerda.  The board had discussed this problem in past meetings and recognizes the need to move all meters out of basements and have them set up outside of the home.  No further action was taken on this matter.

In financial business, the board reiterated the fact that if the water department is forced to visit a home to shut off the water due to non-payment, there is to be a $25 service charge added  to the next month’s bill.  Lerda agreed to have the department charge the extra $25 in those situations.

By Dana Neubert
News Staff

A fire ripped through yet another Holden-area house, this time at the home of Jim and Shannon Robison at 1404 S. Market in Holden.

Receiving the call at approximately 1:30 p.m., last Thursday, a crew from the Holden Fire Department  responded and found heavy smoke coming from the north side of the attic.

The crew, consisting of assistant fire chief Larry Miller, Glen Ralston and Michael Gudde, performed a walk-around of the residence using their thermal imaging camera and determined the fire was in the attic toward the north end.

According to Miller, the quickest way to get water on the fire was to place a ladder against the north end of the structure and use their hand water line to spray water through a vent.  The vent cover was removed and firefighters began the action, giving  the crew the ability to keep the fire contained until more crews could arrive. 

Units from Johnson County Fire Districts #1 and 2, from Kingsville and Centerview arrived and assisted in extinguishing the fire.

Water was put on the fire from the south end of the home, in an effort to keep the fire contained to its original location.  According to Miller, the living room was a total loss, and other areas in the home sustained heavy smoke and water damage.  A complete assessment of damage to the home will be determined at a later date.

According to a neighbor, the fire was called in by Shannon Robison, who was alerted by her smoke alarm going off.

Investigation for the cause of the fire has been turned over to the state fire marshal.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

Superintendent of Holden Schools Scott Slava recommended that the current drug policy for extracurricular participation be reviewed as  “it is not working as we thought it would.”

His recommendation was made to the R-III District’s board of education’s regular meeting held last Thursday in the Holden Middle School library. 

The superintendent recommends that more training be provided to teachers and staff so they are better able to recognize drug usage.  He also requested that there would be continued support of the district if a false test appears and that the district should have a dialogue with the public regarding moving to a truly random testing.

At present, the policy reads that a student can only be tested if he is visually observed under the influence, is found with drug paraphernalia, admits to drug usage, or usage comes to the attention of a coach or staff member by an outside agency such as police.

At that point, a test is given, and if positive, that student can be randomly tested throughout the rest of his school career.

Superintendent Slava feels that the district should move in the direction of randomly testing a certain percentage of students without the present criteria being in place.

School board president Jeff Miller suggested that the board move quickly on giving training to staff members and teachers, making sure that whatever they do respects the privacy aspects.

Board member Mike Watterson agreed to the additional training but stated that he didn’t want to see the district get “too hung up” on testing.

Slava presented a summary sheet of long-range facilities plan from the recent retreat.  In the repair and renovation projects section, the following are suggested:  Central office renovation, elementary playground expansion, elementary parking, and elementary tile replacement.  Others include middle school bleachers, movable outdoor bleachers for baseball and the visitor’s side of football and remove boilers from the high school and elementary.

The superintendent also stated that he would be trying to put together a community team to investigate grant possibilities for renovation of the high school track.  “The project is in the beginning stages,” stated the superintendent.  “And we’re just inching forward at this time.”

In other board action, it was decided that the seventh-grade boys would be included in next year’s middle school football program.  High School football coach Rich Johnson surveyed the area schools and found the only programs still using just eighth-graders are far larger than Holden.  Youth football director Larry Ruble supported the decision, saying that it just gives the kids one more year under Coach Johnson’s system and will help them when they get to high school.

Permission was given by the board for the district to purchase three new buses in the next fiscal year’s budget.  District Auxiliary Services director Larry Arnone’s suggestion to buy two 71-passenger buses from Allied for $110,997 and one 23-passenger bus from Southern Bus company for 53,241, was approved.  The three buses after trade-in will cost the district $164,238.

It was also reported that Arnone and his staff have completely moved into the new auxiliary services building.

In a district update, Slava explained to the board that  football district realignment had taken place and District 14 will now include Hogan Prep, Sherwood and St. Mary’s, along with Holden.  This will become effective next season.

High school assistant principal, Nancy Daniel, presented  program evaluation strategies for the A+ school program and reported that all requirements have been met for the designation board to evaluate March 7. 

In other reports, Gregg Montgomery, middle school principal; and Robin Sisk, elementary school principal gave student achievement updates for their schools.  They both explained how their schools ranked and what actions were being taken to improve in areas that needed improvement.

In new business, the board approved a request by project graduation to secure a bus to transport graduates to their party at Paradise Park in Lee’s Summit.  The group will leave the high school at 9 p.m., May 14, and return at approximately 8 a.m., May 15.

In other new business, the board agreed to transfer control of two certificates of deposit in the amounts of $11,417 and $5,000, to the Holden R-III School Foundation.  The funds from the CDs were to be used for scholarships, which the foundation now administers.

In a closed executive session, the retirement request by elementary teacher Carolyn Chestnut was accepted along with resignations from custodian Brian Pierson and bus driver Rodney Baumgarden.  The board approved the hirings os Judd Boyer, custodian, and Rebecca Love, Day Plus assistant.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

Renovations Begin At Local City Hall

Due to renovations taking place at Holden’s City Hall, the city clerk’s office will be temporarily moved to the Holden Fire Department, which is located in the southeast corner of the Hallar Building.

Front entrances to the building will be temporarily closed and restrooms will not be available for use during this period.

If anyone needs to see the city clerk, please enter the Hallar Building from the back doors at the fire department entrance. 

At the present time, all activities scheduled for the building have been cancelled through March 31.

The city ask that everyone will accept their apologies for any inconvenience this temporary relocation might cause.  According to city clerk Sheila Spies, “The city is trying to make the building accommodating and more presentable for the citizens of Holden.”

Cecil Bloss Files For Ward I Seat

Cecil Ray Bloss of Holden has filed a declaration of intent to seek election as a write-in candidate in Ward I of the Holden City Council.

Local attorney Karl Timmerman had originally filed for the seat, but withdrew recently knowing he would have to resign upon a successful run for Associate Circuit Judge. 

Bloss will face former Holden police officer Veronica Burk in the April election for the one-year council term.

He had been a member of the city council, but had to resign in August 2005 due to a work schedule that would not allow him to spend the time necessary to perform his duties properly.  According to Bloss, that problem no longer exists.

Exercise Class Set At CAC Building

Get ready for spring with a range of motion exercise class at the Community Activity Center.

The class is for male or female adults who wish to increase their range of motion.  It focuses on a no-impact philosophy to increase the range of motion in the participants.

The range of motion class starts on Wednesday, March 1 and will be held each Wednesday for five weeks from 10:30-11:30 a.m.  at the CAC.  The cost is $20 per person and preregistration is required for this class.  Contact Beth at (816) 732-3522.
              

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Tibbets IV, director of staff at Whiteman AFB, will be the guest speaker at the regular meeting of the American Legion Post 90 to be held February 28 at the Hallar Building at 7:30 p.m.

 A B-2 pilot, Colonel Tibbets is the grandson of Brig Gen Paul W.  Tibbets Jr., (USAF Ret.), the famed aircraft commander of the Enola Gay, the B-29 aircraft which dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, Aug. 6, 1945.

Colonel Tibbets will speak to the Legion gathering, which is open to the public, on areas of interest such as the United States Air Force today, operations of the B-2, and historical notes on the life and times of his grandfather.

Receiving his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in May 1989, the colonel is the commander of more than 100 officers, enlisted and civilian personnel providing the 509th Bomb Wing with support ranging from administration to plans.  He is the primary advisor to the commander on all facets of the wing and is the wing’s troubleshooter providing the wing commander with insight into all aspects of the unit’s daily operation.

Colonel Tibbets is also the primary member of the wing’s battle staff responsible for providing advice to the commander in real-time crisis situations.  He maintains instructional proficiency in the B-2 and T-38 aircraft and evaluates more than 30 B-2 and T-38 aviators.

The command pilot, with more than 3,200 hours flown in the B-2, B-1 and T-38,  has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

He was promoted to his present rank, April 1, 2004.

By Steve Sullins
Editor