The Holden R-III School district has announced that there will be a parent meeting August 5 of middle school and high school students who will be in activities and athletics in the coming school year.

The meetings will be held in the middle school with middle school parents and students attending at 6 p.m. and high school parents and students at 6:45 p.m.

Physicals and insurance information need to be turned in at that time. 

Conducting the meetings will be Kelli Spies, district activities director, and she will go over important information that each parent should be aware of prior to starting practice and school.

If parents and students are unable to attend the meeting, they will need to make an appointment with Spies at (660) 238-3266.

 

The Holden R-III School Board voted unanimously to contract the services of Sun Consultants, LLC to provide owner representative services during the construction and renovation of the Holden High School project.

During a special meeting held Monday night in the R-III district office, the board listened to Sun owner Gordon Sunderland as he explained the scope of services he would perform for the district.

Sunderland will represent the district with the contractors and architects during the construction.

“I work for the owner,” explained Sunderland.  “I have no loyalty to the architects or contractors.  All conflicts that arise during construction I look at from the owner’s position.”

He will have no authority to approve change orders, but will make recommendations to the district and school board.

According to the consulting agreement contract, Sun Consultants will receive total compensation of $57,600 over a nine month period.  They will be paid at a rate of $6,400 per month.  The contract also states that it is a fixed-fee agreement and no other charges will be assessed.

Either party may terminate the agreement with or without cause upon 30 days written notice to the other.

During discussions, Sunderland stated that he would not be on site every day, but would spend between 20 and 27 hours physically in Holden per week.  He said that he would be available at other times as needed.

School board president Jeff Miller said that the two new superintendents wouldn’t have time to monitor the construction of the school as they would be involved in many other areas of day-to-day running of the district. 

Board member Susan Feeback stated that the consultant was needed for the district’s accountability on the project.

Mike Watterson, school board vice president echoed her sentiments and stated that, “I’d expect him (Sunderland) to save us more money than his wages.”
Sunderland has more than 31 years of public school experience with 29 years in public school administration.  He also has more than 25 years of experience in school building construction.  His building projects have ranged from a few classrooms to complete school buildings.

He was recommended by Dr. Paul James, who will be the district’s superintendent from January 1, 2008 until June 30, 2008.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

 

In a special Holden City Council meeting held last Wednesday at City Hall, the council delayed appointing a new mayor and  tabled consideration of Mike Wakeman’s resignation to give him time to seek legal counsel and reconsider his decision to resign.

At the urging of the council who voted unanimously to table consideration of his resignation, Wakeman agreed to reconsider his resignation and inform the council August 14 of his decision.

Wakeman had submitted his resignation July 21 after receiving a letter from the Missouri Attorney General’s office which demanded his resignation due to violating the state’s nepotism laws.  The letter stated that because Wakeman had appointed his brother-in-law Larry Miller to fire chief and street commissioner positions, he was required to resign as mayor.

Miller had served as street commissioner for 14 years and was assistant fire chief prior to being named chief when Wakeman took office.  He had also previously served seven years in the chief position.

During discussion of procedures to appoint a new mayor, councilman Jim Robison queried the group, “Do we have to accept Mike’s resignation, because I’ve had many complaints from people not wanting him to resign?  Can it be tabled?”

City attorney Joe Willerth who was in attendance stated that it could, but something should be done by the next regular meeting (August 14).  He stated that Wakeman should either uphold his resignation or withdraw it by then because the position shouldn’t be left vacant for a long period of time.

Councilman Karl Timmerman urged Wakeman to withdraw his resignation and make the attorney general prove “culpable intent” in circuit court.  “If the people of Holden want to have a person as mayor as they indicated in the last election, they should have him.  I don’t feel he did anything wrong.”

He said even if the AG won his case in court, there would be no criminal sanctions involved.  The penalty would still be removal from office and $129 in court costs.

“I don’t believe the ‘spirit of the law’ has been broken here,” he added.

Timmerman added that a city ordinance requires that if a mayor resigns and there is not a regular election scheduled for six months, a special election must be held to let the voters decide a new mayor.  He stated that Johnson County Clerk Gilbert Powers explained that a special election would cost the city between $8,000 and $13,000.

The time it would take for the attorney general to file in circuit court and obtain a judge’s decision would allow the city to be within the six-month window of a regular election if the nepotism charge is withheld.

In speaking about his quick decision to resign, Wakeman stated, “After I received the letter I complied quickly because I didn’t want any trouble with the attorney general.  When the attorney general speaks, I get uncomfortable.”

He added that he resigned without know about his options or what they could do him.

“After thinking about it and consulting with legal counsel, if the council postpones action I’m willing to accept the mayor’s position back if the attorney general’s decision can be overturned.”

By Steve Sullins
Editor

 

Johnson County Fire Protection District #2 fire stations will hold an open house on Saturday, August 11 from 12 to 4 p.m.

The celebration is open to the public and will allow people an opportunity to meet and visit with firefighters, tour the stations and see the trucks and equipment available.

The district association was formed in 1978 and became a tax supported district in 1982.  According to volunteer Debbie Briscoe, 1999 was the only tax levy increase the district has had in 25 years of service to the community.  In 2006, the district hired a full-time district fire chief, David Miller.  Along with Miller, there are 55 other volunteers who give of their time to keep their neighbors and their property safe.

The district has five stations that encompass 265 square miles.  There are stations located at Pittsville, Elm, Madison, Kingsville and Rosehill.  The main office is located at Pittsville at 50 and 131 Highways.  Miller may be contacted by calling 816-732-8675 or his cell phone at 816-726-2576.

For emergencies, the public is encouraged to call 911 and the stations will respond according to the location of the emergency.  “There are things the public can do to assist the fire department in keeping them safe,” stated Briscoe.  “For instance if someone is going to do a controlled burn, they need to let us know by contacting central dispatch at 660-747-2265.  Also it greatly helps firefighters if residents have their address on both sides of their mailboxes and on their homes.  We recommend three-inch minimum numbers.”

All of the firefighters are trained in CPR and 60 percent of them are First Responders which is two steps above CPR training, according to Miller.  They are also trained in extrication, firefighting, and can aid with medical assistance to ambulance crews.

The district boasts 17 fire trucks and a new air van which carries air to fill the firefighters’ self-controlled breathing apparatus on the scene.  They have had the air van approximately one year and purchased new extrication equipment within the last two years.

Miller said it depends on the type of call it is as to how many firefighters respond.  “In 2006 we answered 365 calls.  They were a mix of motor vehicle accidents, medical assists, structure fires, grass fires, public assistance calls, missing persons calls and carbon  monoxide assists.”

He went on to say the district responds and works closely with Holden firefighters and the eastern district firefighters.

Miller is proud of the volunteers who work in the district and said 70 percent of them have been serving the district for more than 10 years.  “Some have been on 20 to 25 years,” stated Miller.

Briscoe said, “We hope people appreciate the good work the volunteers do for the community.”

Miller added the district firefighters are also available to visit schools and daycares to educate children on fire and tornado safety issues.  “The children are able to see the equipment, receive coloring books, talk about escape plans and more,” said Miller.  The district also has the tornado trailer available for severe weather education for children.

Briscoe and Miller would like to invite the public to come out to the open house and enjoy free hotdogs and hamburgers.  “The stations will be open for tours, people can see the trucks, receive safety pamphlets and handouts for adults and children,” said Miller.

“Our goal is to raise awareness of the district.  A lot of people don’t know there is a district out here.  We want to let them know what the fire department is about.  So bring your family and come by one of the stations on August 11 and get to know your firefighters,” stated Miller.

By Dana Neubert
News Staff