Holden mayor Mike Wakeman received agreement with the City Council last Tuesday night at their regular meeting to delay the continued pursuit of a city administrator until a contract can be made with a grant administrator.
According to Wakeman, the city had narrowed their list of candidates for the administrator from the original 17 resumes to two applications.  One of the individuals in the final two was not able to take the position as he had already signed a contract with another municipality.
The need for a grant administrator became apparent when a local business expressed interest in building a 40,000 square foot building in the Holden Business Park.  Wakeman said that the businessman is looking at both a retail and warehousing operation.  He said the business has doubled their employees in the last two years and is anticipating the same kind of growth over the next one to two years.
“This is a huge opportunity for our city,” explained Mayor Wakeman.  “This business would go a long way to getting the park up and going.”
Wakeman told the council that Tracy Brantner, Johnson County Economic Development Corporation executive director, had advised the city to hire a grants administrator to pursue a Community Development Clock Grant (CDBG) to finance infrastructure at the business park.
He said that Administration Enterprises’ Carolyn Corson had already submitted a proposal to provide grant services to the city, but it had been put on hold when the search for a city administrator began. 
He was tasked by the council to contact Corson to see if that proposal was still valid.
In an update on the sidewalk grant project, Wakeman reported that all the paperwork for hiring an engineer for the construction is in the hands of the Missouri Department of Transportation.  As soon as they make the choice, the city will proceed.
In other action, the mayor informed the board there would be a planning and zoning committee meeting March 24 to discuss the rezoning of the land located at the northeast corner of Clay and Tenth Streets.  A Warrensburg individual is seeking the zoning to be changed so he may  build duplexes and fourplexes on the property.
In another area, Joe Chisler of the Holden Sports Association requested the city to help in maintaining a portion of the roadway that leads to the new Chestnut ballfields.  He stated that Chestnut to Grand has been maintained by the city, but the remaining portion has cost the association approximately $300-400 per year to maintain.
Councilman Jim Nipko stated that approximately half of that road is still city responsibility and that would leave 300-400 feet from the hedge row at the end of the fields to the driveway into the sports complex.
The mayor stated that he would discuss the matter with the city attorney and see what the city needs to do.  “If we need the road for public access, we can adopt it and maintain it.  It would be to our advantage.”
The council agreed and said they would move forward.
Speaking for the water board, councilman Butch Shore reported that the board will ask an engineering firm which overcharged the city $7,000 on a project to use that money to pay for surveying Clay Street.
In an April 8 election update, it was reported that only one incumbent councilman in the four wards with openings had filed to re-election.  Also, Mayor Wakeman stated that Veronica Burt has announced that she will be resigning in April.  Her seat will be filled by appointment.
In a final item, the mayor stated that the April 8 regular council meeting will be moved to April 15, as April 8 is election day.


Superintendent Kevin Coleman presented board members with goals for the A+ Program at the regular meeting of the Kingsville School Board held last Thursday night.
Coleman explained that to meet program requirements the district must have three goals in place.  Those goals are: all students graduate from school; all students complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and for which there are identified learning expectations; and all students from high school graduation to a college or post-secondary vocational or technical school or high-wage job with work place skill development opportunities.  The board approved these goals to help in attaining the status of an A+ school.
In new business, a teachers’ committee made a presentation to the board on recommended salary increases and benefits.  Jennifer Carr said, “We recommend that the board continue to pay for the full health insurance of employees.  We further recommend you raise the base salary rate of teachers.  The current rate is $28,200  and in order to stay competitive with other area school districts, the staff feels it is vital to increase the base salary.”  She added this was important to get new teachers and to retain quality teachers at Kingsville.
In a related matter, the board, in executive session, voted to raise the base pay of teachers to $29,500 and continue to pay 100 percent of health benefits for teachers.  They also raised the experience steps from $400 to $425.  The raise is a 5.5 percent raise for certified staff.
In other new business, it was reported by Coleman on behalf of Jamie Ring, that the seniors wished to take their senior trip to Florida for four days.  The board approved the trip.
In a construction update, Dave Villines and Ed Keating told board members there was some minor touch-up work to be completed and the dirt work behind the building was the biggest obstacle due to inclement weather.  In a related matter, Coleman told the board the company Villines works for, Mid America, Inc., is offering a $3,000 scholarship for one student within the schools that they have done work for.  This would include Kingsville so one student could win this scholarship.
In high school news, principal Lorna Warren told board members attendance was at 96.39 percent as of March 3, 2008.  She also reported from faculty and staff members including Jennifer Carr who said the band received a I rating at contest.  “Lauren Shull, Megan Graham, Meghan O’Hare and Courtney Welch all received I’s on their solos.  Santana Fannin and Lori Lenhart-Abbot received II’s on their solos. Lauren Thomas received a III on her solo.  Looking ahead, the spring music concert is May 1 at 6:30 p.m.,” reported Carr.
Math instructor Charlene Atkins reported the high school math team competed in the TEAMS (testing of engineering, aptitude, math and science) contest held at MU and sponsored by JETS.  Junior varsity placed third; varsity placed fifth.  The conference math contest was held March 4, Atkins added.
Kim Willcockson reported the senior high quiz bowl hosted a match with Chilhowee and KC Lutheran teams on March 6.  The junior and senior high teams will also travel to Chilhowee for a match on March 18 and then return to Chilhowee on March 29 and April 5 for conference tournaments.  She went on to say the American government class (10th grade) will go to the annual County Government Day field trip in Warrensburg on March 26.  “Jesse Maddux, Aaron Howerton, Cory Davis, Larry Buchanan, Abbie Sechrest are all representing KHS this year in the spring elections as youth election judges - a statewide program to encourage young people to be involved in the voting process,” stated Willcockson.
Warren updated the board on upcoming events including March 20-24 - spring break; May 1 - music concert; May 7 - baccalaureate; May 9 - graduation; May 28-June 10-summer school.
In other high school news, Warren reported Lynn Andreas won $750 from the University of Missouri-Columbia for an essay that she wrote on books and reading.  She will attend an awards ceremony in Columbia in April.  She received second place in the Robert J. Stuckey Essay Contest.  Also, Ashley McRoy won honorable mention for an essay she wrote on  how literature has influenced her life.  She wrote about the influence “To Kill A Mockingbird” has changed her perceptions on discrimination.  She will be attending an awards ceremony in Jefferson City on April 16.
In elementary reports, principal Angela Helms gave board members attendance percentages for grades kindergarten through sixth grade.  She then updated them on upcoming activities including April 4, final round of Kingsville Spelling Bee; April 15, PTO meeting at 3:30 p.m.; April 7-18, MAP testing; April 24, Art Show; April 29, kindergarten field trip; April 30-May 2, Camp Write-A-Lot; May 8 starts grade DARE Camp.
“Read Across America” was held March 11 and 55 students participated.  Also, kindergarten screening is scheduled for March 15 and we have 19 students currently enrolled to be screened,” said Helms.  In related news, she told the board that according to the new law, Senate Bill 16, beginning July 1, 2007 “every child enrolling in kindergarten or first grade shall receive one comprehensive vision examination performed by a state licensed optometrist or  physician.”  The parents are required to submit evidence of the exam to the school district.
In athletic news, Coach Mike Bodenhamer reported on those who made teams at the mid-state conference.  They were: Justin Howerton, boys’ first team; Luke McKiddy, honorable mention; Callie Graham, girls’ first team; Jamie Ring, Alie Hawley, second team; and Callie Graham, Justin Howerton and Chris Hawley made the KMZU Dream Team.
In a season wrap-up, Bodenhamer reported the girls’ basketball team ended up 8-15 and co-champs of the conference at 4-1.  The boys ended up 15-10 and with a heartbreaking loss to Leeton in the district finals 46-44.  He went on to say baseball practice has started and there are 16 boys out for baseball.  Their first game is March 17 at Oak Grove.
In the superintendent’s report, Coleman updated board members on the status of the school buses as they recently underwent inspections.  Coleman told the board they found a few problems with the buses, and all are being repaired or have been repaired.
The regular meeting of the Kingsville School Board closed and board members voted to go into executive session. 
The next board meeting will be April 10 at 7 p.m.