A motion to put the Community Service Center building (CSC) up for sale made for some lively conversation at the regular meeting of the HOPE board last Monday night.

Board member Scotty Walker made a motion to put the old building up for sale after being told there were yet more leakage problems with the roof of the center.

However, there was no second to the motion and the board discussed the issue at length.  There were concerns as to where the programs currently housed there would go.  “Mainly, we need to find a place for Harvester’s and the Clothes Closet,” said HOPE Executive Director John Roberts.

Board member Jeff Terry said, “We need to identify exactly what we need to replace and how to go about doing that.”

The board discussed several different buildings for sale in the area as well as adding on to the Community Activity Center (CAC), but made no decision.
Board treasurer Dorothy Salsman recommended a committee be formed to look into the issues surrounding the existing building and the programs housed there.  Walker then amended his motion to forming a committee for this purpose.  This motion did receive a second and the board decided Walker, Terry, board president Bob Mickey, board member Rick Morris and Roberts would serve on the committee.  They will be discussing the direction they need to take and the possibility of obtaining an appraisal on the property.  Roberts was asked by the board to provide a list of services which currently use the CSC as their home base and he replied he would prepare a list for the board.  He will also check on grants available for building and rehabilitation of existing buildings.

In United Way business, Roberts informed the board that  HOPE will be receiving an allocation of $6,500 this year.  “This was a very pleasant surprise, because I had been given to understand our allocation would be severely limited this year,” said Roberts.  He went on to say this funding is discretionary and HOPE may use it for whatever purpose they desire.

In CAC news, Roberts told the board the total remaining debt on the center was reduced to $5,916.68 earlier this year when payment was made by the CAC directors.  “This really is an incredible accomplishment considering the debt against the building just a few years ago was more than $100,000.  A pledge drive,  with volunteer management by Rusty Hartwell, Amy Morrison, Susan Jennings and Julie Carver, the use of NAP credit donations, and other generous contributions made all this possible,” added Roberts.

In old business, the board learned HOPE had entered into an agreement with the West Central Region of the SHARE Network Access Point.  The agreement essentially requires HOPE to provide space and a trained operator to assist job seekers in exchange for a free computer and software and training to help the unemployed.  “This will greatly enhance our ability to help individuals in job hunting. Also, it will aid HOPE in meeting one of its stated goals on its current NAP project,” said Roberts.

In financial business, the board was told by Roberts February 12 marked the start of HOPE’s audit for 2006.  He went on to say, in a little over a year, they have completed audits for 2004 FY, 2005 FY, NAP 2000-2003 project and NAP 2003-2006 project.  “With the completion of the 2006 audit, we will be up to date.  This has been an expensive and time-consuming process, but a necessary one.  It is noteworthy that in all of our audits, all funds have tied back and all required records have been accounted for,” Roberts commented.

In other financial business, Roberts told the board three applications for a Johnson County United Way grant have been completed.  These include applications to: The Johnson County United Way, The Heartland Combined Federal Campaign, and the Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign.

In new business, it was reported by Roberts that the HOPE office space formerly occupied by Murphy’s Barber Shop has been leased for a period of one year by Fred Tock.  It will be used as a barbershop.

In other CAC business, Roberts told the board the first round of restored ripped and torn wall and steel support padding has been accomplished.  “The pads look great.  However, rips to the vinyl caused by too tight-fitting roller bleachers will have to be remedied soon or the damage will reoccur.  A trimming of the bleacher ends and replacement of the end caps appears to be the fix and is tentatively set after the visit from our auditors is completed,” said Roberts.

By Dana Neubert
News Staff

In an effort to collect delinquent city business licenses, Holden Mayor Mike Wakeman stated that the police department will begin visiting those businesses which have not paid their 2007 licenses.

He stated at the regular meeting of the Holden City Council held last Tuesday that the police would either collect for the past due licenses or issue summonses.

In the area of appointments, the council agreed with Wakeman’s suggestion to name Ernie Taylor to the Police Merit Board.  Taylor will assume the board seat immediately.

During the mayor’s communications, Wakeman informed the council that February 28 has been set aside as Johnson County Day at the state capitol in Jefferson City.  He stated that there would be meetings and conferences of interest to county residents and officials.

In other council business, the group approved liquor consumption licenses for the Holden Jaycee’s dance March 16 and the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church dinner March 17. 

There were no comments from the floor during the meeting, but the council did approve the first reading of two ordinances dealing with the recent acquisition of Sprint’s telephone service by Embarq.

The first is an ordinance with the city of Holden, assessing Embarq a business license fee consisting of five percent of local service revenue.  The revenue will be  paid to the city.

The other was an ordinance granting Embarq the authority to use streets, avenues, boulevards, alleys and other public places in the city of Holden to conduct the business of installing, maintaining, managing and operating a communications system with all necessary poles, wire, cables, conduit, fixtures and apparatus.

Speaking for the fire committee, council person Brenda Stumpff sought approval of a volunteer firefighter application from Corie Jones.  She explained to the council that Jones had previous firefighting experience with the Johnson County Western District’s Madison station.  The council approved the application.

Stumpff also asked that the burn permit question research be tabled until the next meeting as councilman Butch Shore had been working on the issue with her and he was not present at the meeting.

In other committee reports, planning and zoning representative Jim Robison reported that the committee has finished with their changes of the city’s subdivision ordinance and has given them to the city engineer for review.

He also reported that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources weatherization meeting held at the Hallar Building recently was not well-attended, but the group had left brochures that area residents could pick up at City Hall.  The brochures will explain pertinent information and have contact information.

After the council approved the appropriations, the meeting was adjourned.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

A school calendar for the 2007-2008 school year which calls for August 16 as students’ first day of school was approved at the regular meeting of the Holden R-III School Board held last Monday in the intermediate school library.

The calendar calls for August 13, 14 and 15 as teacher workdays, open house and teacher inservice periods.  Unless changed by inclement weather makeup days, the students’ last day of school will be May 19 with an early release.

Thanksgiving break will be Wednesday through Friday, November 21-23, while students will be out of school during the Christmas holiday break from December 21 through January 2, 2008.

Spring break is scheduled for the week of March 10-14 with March 21 designated as Easter break.

In another area of business, district superintendent Scott Slava failed to get enough votes to pass the acceptance of bids to purchase three new buses.  Slava had proposed purchasing two 2008 71-passenger buses from Allied Bus Sales and one 23-passenger bus from Southern Bus & Mobility.  The price tag came to $188,359 less discounts and trade-ins.

When called for a vote, purchasing the buses received three yes votes with board member Mike Watterson voting no.  The measure didn’t pass because a majority of the entire board, or four votes, is needed for entering into a contract with a person or company.  Only four members were present at the meeting.

Watterson stated that he felt the district was buying too many buses and the money should be spent elsewhere.

Board president Jeff Miller responded, “I feel confident that money is available and we need to catchup (with the aging bus fleet).”

After the meeting, the superintendent stated that he would bring up the measure again next month in front of a full board.

The council accepted a bid from Lan Tel in the amount of $36,039 for the underground relocation of fiber-optics used in the school.  According to Slava, the work will be completed prior to asphalting  in the Holden High School renovation project.

In the auxiliary services report, director Larry Arnone extended public recognition of his bus, food service and maintenance and custodian staffs.  He stated that they worked very hard during the recent ice and snow events.
He also said that work in the track area would begin again as soon as the weather permits.  There is still wrought iron fencing to install, perimeter fencing to prime and paint and landscaping and seeding.

In her A+ program report, HHS assistant principal Nancy Daniel said that the school is “on the right track” in raising the high school’s graduation rate to 90 percent.  Student achievement reports were given by Morgan Parrish, middle school; and Robin Sisk, elementary school, as well as a curriculum and instruction report from Donna Fizer during the meeting.

Lisa Baker also gave the board a summary of grants pending.

In a final item, board rescheduled their next meeting to March 19, instead of the second Monday of the month.

By Steve Sullins
Editor