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call this meeting of the Karthy City
Council to order.

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Brian, can you please give us an
indication?

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» Heavenly Father, we thank you for this
day and privilege of serving our

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community. Grant this council wisdom,
patience, and unity as they make

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decisions that affect the lives of many.
Help us seek the s the common good of

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our community with fairness, humility,
and integrity. Protect and bless our

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city, its leaders, and all who live and
work here. In your name we pray. Amen.

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Amen.
>> Amen.

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» I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the standy

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andice for all.

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All right, Miranda, if you would please
call the role.

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» Topete
>> present.

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» Harrison
>> here.

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» Tea
>> here.

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» Thorne.
>> Perkins

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» here.
>> Snow

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» here.
>> Kang

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» here.
>> Wells

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» here.
>> Ready

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» here.
>> All right, everyone. I know you've had

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an opportunity to take a look at the uh
the minutes from the August 11th

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meeting. I'd entertain a motion to
approve those minutes.

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» I'll make a motion we approve those
minutes as written.

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» Second. I have a motion, a second to uh
approve the minutes as written. Any

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discussion?
>> All in favor? I.

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» All opposed?
>> Minutes are approved.

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» Okay. The next thing we've got is uh we
have no presentations or proclamations

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for this evening. So, we'll move on to
public comments. Anyone wishing to

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address the council, please step the
microphone, state your name and address,

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and limit yourself to five minutes.

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Jeff, you want to go first?
>> Yes, please.

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Brand's got a presentation. Jeff
Meredith representing the Carthage

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Economic Development Corporation.

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» Okay. And tonight I wanted to talk with
you all about a new program we have

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launched yesterday officially. It's
called Restore My Block. Um, the purpose

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of this program is to basically we're
matching dollars for home for owner

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occupied home improvements. So, if
someone's willing to put $1,000 into

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their house, we will match that $1,000
to help ensure your application is

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chosen. If you have multiple homes on
the same block, you've got neighbors

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that you want to get together. The idea
being is that it's going to make a large

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impact on certain neighborhoods if you
have three or four homes that go

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together and I'm going to fix my home,
Jack's going to fix fix his, Allen,

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etc., etc. So we make an impact there.
Um these applications are available now

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if you go to choosecarthage.com.
Um they are available online in both

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English and Spanish and I do speak
Spanish uh if people have those

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questions and they can also be dropped
off or picked up at CWP. They're on

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Centennial Avenue. Um so a couple key
points here. If you're going to do the

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work, make sure you get the grant
approved first. If you do the work and

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then ask for reimbursement, you do not
get our money.

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we will pay the contractor on your
behalf. Um, or if you do the work, we

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can pay you your half back. So, if it's
$2,000 for a project, you pay a,000, we

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pay a,000, the work gets done. Or you
pay the two, we give you a grand back

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afterwards.
This is focused on exterior permanent

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work to improve curb appeal. I specify
permanent. We're not paying for plants

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or shrubs or trees or anything that's
not going to get watered and die. Uh

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these could include porches, steps,
windows, sighting. Paint these things,

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make it pretty, get more points. If
you're doing the labor yourself or you

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have volunteers to do this, you get more
points because then it's a larger

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project. Trying to make a large impact,
help stretch the $1,000.

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The process in the timeline
applications, get those right now online

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at CWP
complete and turn it in with pictures of

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the work as you propose it. and it is
today. We need to see it before you

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start the work. My review committee
early September, we will look those

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over. We'll notify grantees in
midepptember and my friend and

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colleague, Miss Sally, will talk perhaps
about Restoration Carthage on September

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24th. If you do apply for this and you
are selected, uh you will find out ahead

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of time and you could potentially use
those funds in conjunction with

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Restoration Carthage. By the way, you
probably get bonus points if you're a

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partner of Restoration Carthage when you
look at the application.

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If you have questions, you can email
BAT, call 2377358,

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come by the office. If I'm not there,
please do not ask the CWP employees

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questions. They do not know anything
about this program. They have to talk to

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me. Again, choosecarthage.com.
Do you all have questions about the

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program? Anything specific? Anything I
didn't mention?

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» Do you have a particular number of how
many of these thousand grants that

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you're proposing or you're expecting or
hoping to give out?

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» Great question. We have $20,000. Uh OM
Bank and the Federal Home Bank of De

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Moine gave us some funds to do this. So
20,000 20 projects.

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» Nice.
Uh, Beth,

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» do you um are you going to be looking at
all in your review committee with um

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houses that are on the um code
enforcement list or are you going to go

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a different direction?
>> Uh, I mean, they're certainly welcome to

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apply and we can get them applications.
Uh, and if they're willing to, then

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absolutely. The key is they have to be
willing to put in the money um upfront,

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but certainly and for those that are on
the code enforcement list, if you're

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watching this, please go find an
application at choosecarthage.com

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and I'm happy to help you. I mean, the
applications are fairly simple. Rhonda,

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do you have a question?
>> Well, I was just going to emphasize

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that, you know, that will be good in
compliance with our code enforcement

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that we're going around doing. those
people that are maybe

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don't have the funds or all the funds to
do the improvements, this will give them

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an opportunity
between their yourself and you guys to

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do those improvements as to what help
with the beautifying of the city of

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Carthage.
>> Yes. And that is the goal to increase

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the quantity and quality of homes in
Carthage. Uh makes everything better.

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» Thank you.
>> Any other questions for Yeah.

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» Sorry, Jeff. Is there um without going
into the entire application process,

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what is there any criteria like low
income um based more than not or

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anything like that? That's you know a
factor.

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» Uh we're not asking.
>> Sure. We're not asking about income

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requirements simply because then we'd
have to verify. Um but there are some

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questions that could. So, uh, the impact
of the project on your home is an area

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where you could get points that could
perhaps reflect some of what you're

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asking without getting into the specific
details to actually vet in that manner.

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» Okay. Excellent. Thank you.
>> Okay. Any other questions?

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» Thanks, Jeff.

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» Anyone else wishing to address the
council, please step to the microphone,

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state your name and address, and limit
yourself to five minutes.

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» Keep a straight face. [laughter] Your
luck was bound to run out. It's Sally

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Stewart with Vision Carthage and this is
my quarterly report which will be very

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short, but I'll tag on to his in just a
moment. Um, I really wanted to start

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this meeting with a huge thank you to
Sonia and to Addison. They have been

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watering every single day. Even on
Saturday, I've seen them the flowers

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around the square in and the parks in
this heat. It's been a brutal, brutal

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summer. I've about passed out myself and
they are troopers. So, please extend an

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extra thank you for us. We also want to
thank the city, the board me, my board

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members, which are just amazing, our
community partners, sponsors, and

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volunteers. We are very good stewards
with your money and we could not do the

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work we do without the people I just
mentioned and your support. So, here's

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what we've been up to the last quarter.
We completed the Carthage and Bloom

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mural and the marching fighting band
mural which is a historical mural and

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that ribbon cutting will be this
Thursday at 11:00. We've completed our

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Carthage and Bloom series which is where
we try to promote beautifification in

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people's yards by encouraging them to
plant flowers and improve their

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landscaping.
Um we acknowledged the winners in our

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evening suare which was an evening which
we celebrate everything beautiful.

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Um along with Carthage and Bloom we've
planted over 700 flowers. That's not the

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hanging baskets that we had to replace
some of and that's been a task to

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maintain again in this heat. We also
weed every Wednesday. We read Central

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Park and the roundabouts,
the me memorial hall, you name it. We

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are out every Tuesday. We have wonderful
volunteers for that. Unfortunately, many

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of our volunteers went back to school
yesterday. So, if anyone else wants to

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jump in and um wait with us for the next
month, we'd love it. I probably reported

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on dumpster day last quarter, but again,
that's one of our biggest successes. and

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we'll continue to do that um every year.
Dumpster day is one of our efforts in

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beautifification again for this town.
Veterans banners. Um we're on round

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number two and we're totally filled. If
you're hearing this and you are on our

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wait list and haven't sent it in, I
still have saved your spot, but we can

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take no more
>> [snorts]

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» um banners for this year. There has
there have been several requests to do

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something special about it when we hang
them up this year and I'll work with

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different groups to see about some sort
of event maybe around Veterans Day.

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Um we are now ready for Restoration
Carthage. Thank you to the codes

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enforcement that our normal amount of um
applications which is usually 20 30 went

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above 60 this year and we have just
we've loved getting to know everyone. We

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can only do about nine houses. Three
have been started. 812 River is our

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signature house this year and you'll see
the siding is already completed. Um it

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will still get gutters which I'll come
to because that will be part of

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hopefully
CEDC's money because she has the money

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um and the retaining wall. But the homes
that are that we select, there is no

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financial thing, but they're almost all
of

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a demographic that needs the assistance.
They can't do it themselves either

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financially or physically.
And it's our absolute pleasure to see

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those h um houses transform.
We made a year ago a change where the

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people that apply have to go to our
classes or if they can't attend a class,

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submit um some sort of support document.
And our last class is porch perkup on

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Saturday, September 12th at the library.
And

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I think that's mostly it. I wanted to
talk though just a touch on CEDC's. So

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anyone we had already selected our
process had already been completed

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before um Jeff and his group had their
money. So we will still do all the

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houses and commit to everything we did
as is. We have found three people that

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want more done. They have their $1,000.
We are encouraging them to match it and

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then we'll work with them again on that
day if they're selected.

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Um, God bless Habitat for Humanity,
Hearts and Hammers, Scott's Landscaping,

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and Josiah. Thank you.
>> All right. Any council member have a

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question for Sally?
>> They want to get the big

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» All right. Thanks, Ally. Just so the
council member knows, the mural that was

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restored is down at Second and Main
Street. If you haven't seen it, uh, it's

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it's down on the side of the south side
of that building. Anyone else wishing to

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address the council, please step the
microphone, state your name and address,

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and limit yourself to five minutes.
My name is Mike Cole, resigned at 839

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Uklid. Ladies and gentlemen of the
council, Mr. Mayor, I come tonight as a

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representative of the fire department.
I've been employed there since 2019. We

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have a collaborative statement for all
of our employees of the fire department

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to voice our concerns regarding council
bill 2648 for amended overtime for city

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employees.
Currently, our fire department has three

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rotating shifts of firefighters, each
consisting of a battalion chief and

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seven firefighters. The way the schedule
works out, our firefighters will work

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nine or 10 24-hour shifts in their 28
day FLSA cycle, either 216 hours or 240

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hours, depending on the cycle. For our
8-h hour workday employees, that equates

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to an additional 105 days a year, 35
full 24-hour days. Simply put, for the

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duration of our careers at this
department, we'll spend a third of our

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lives at work. Over the course of a
20-year career, firefighters will work

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an extra six and a half years worth of
hours compared to a 40-hour employee

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with just their base hours. Any extra
work beyond these days is paid a time

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and a half, regardless of the time off
taken. This is considered a big perk of

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choosing to work at our department, and
the new proposed bill will change this

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quite drastically for us, and it will
have an impact on our operational

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capabilities.
If put into place as proposed, any

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firefighter who takes a day off with
their crude PTO will fall under the 212

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threshold for hours worked in a 28 day
cycle. If we're short-handed and we have

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to call in overtime to maintain a
minimum staff level, that employee is

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taking the day off. They'll now be
working for straight time instead of

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overtime. Depending on the employee
working, change in compensation will

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fluctuate, but the average employee will
be losing $200 a day to work an extra 24

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hours over the course of a year. If that
firefighter were to pick up one extra

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shift a month, they're now losing out on
$2,400 for the year. Doesn't sound like

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a lot to most people, but that is almost
an extra month's worth of wages for our

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guys. As currently written, this bill
essentially punishes the employee for

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taking their PTM.
A large majority of our employees work a

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second job outside of the fire
department, partially because our

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schedule allows it, but usually because
the money is necessary to raise our

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families. problem that we run into
periodically is having another job makes

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it harder to just drop everything and
work an extra day at the fire

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department.
It's going to be even harder to

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incentivize working extra shifts if our
department has taken a day off and now

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00:28:03,039 --> 00:28:08,880
you want them to come in for straight
time, especially when their hourly rate

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was probably higher at their part-time
job and they can be home at night with

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their family.
The shortterm impacts of this will be an

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00:28:14,159 --> 00:28:18,880
increased workload on our administrative
staff. Someone's going to have to

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constantly be tracking hours worked
versus hours of PTO taken, shifts traded

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00:28:21,039 --> 00:28:27,360
amongst employees to know how many hours
they've actually been in the building,

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00:28:24,799 --> 00:28:30,960
etc. Seems unlikely the city is going to
pay our administrative assistant extra

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00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:34,000
for this increased workload and highly
likely that she'll be subject to

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00:28:32,159 --> 00:28:37,200
disciplinary action if the hours are
missed and overtimes paid out on

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accident.
There are multitude of lawsuits around

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00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:44,240
the country involving fire departments
and FLSA hours not being calculated

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00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:48,159
correctly, generally through a
misunderstanding of the exemption status

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00:28:45,919 --> 00:28:52,799
of employees or miscalculating a regular
rate for all overtime forms. Putting our

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00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:56,880
city in a position that has already
caused lawsuits and settlement payouts

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00:28:54,480 --> 00:29:01,840
over a confusing form of paying overtime
does not appear to be worth the savings

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00:28:58,799 --> 00:29:05,120
the city would have with this bill.
The long-term ramifications are much

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00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:08,320
more significant. The majority of our
employees at department will work less

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00:29:06,799 --> 00:29:12,720
additional hours for straight pay, which
shouldn't be a shocking revelation. This

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will exacerbate the overtime fatigue we
already see regularly as a small group

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00:29:14,399 --> 00:29:20,320
of employees working constantly will be
less likely to work the extra shifts.

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00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:25,039
The clear path here leads to a mandatory
or forced overtime shifts, which is not

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00:29:22,399 --> 00:29:28,240
feasible for a department size. On any
given day, we have a pool of 12

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00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:33,520
employees to cover a 24-hour shift
that's open. Half of that part group six

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00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:37,679
if you will has worked the shift prior
to that extra day or worked the day

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00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:41,200
after that day. Makes them less likely
to take it because then they'll be there

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00:29:38,799 --> 00:29:45,520
for 48 hours straight.
As stated previously, several others at

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00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:49,440
the department have jobs that have
scheduled work that can't be put aside,

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00:29:47,279 --> 00:29:52,320
making them unable to work the shift. If
you now tell them they have to report to

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00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:56,240
work to be subject to disciplinary
action, that's a morale killer. The

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00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:59,840
turnover rate at the fire department
will be a problem. Whether employees

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00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:03,440
choose to leave or are terminated for
being written up for refusing to come in

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00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:07,360
on mandatory shifts, it will cause
personnel problems. Combine that with

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00:30:05,679 --> 00:30:11,600
the fact that a nearby department is
about to start paying firefighters

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00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:15,520
$7,000 or more than Carthage at just a
base level. Retention and hiring is

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00:30:13,600 --> 00:30:18,960
going to be difficult.
Another thing to consider is how this

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00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:21,440
affects our pensions. Our pension fund,
which we share with the police

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00:30:19,919 --> 00:30:25,679
department, is based on our five highest
years of earnings. this bill passes, not

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00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:29,679
only are we losing money in the short
term, we're losing money in retirement.

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00:30:28,399 --> 00:30:33,200
Our department's filled with a very
talented group of employees in the fire

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00:30:31,279 --> 00:30:36,399
service. We're capable of mitigating a
variety of emergencies with minimal

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00:30:34,799 --> 00:30:40,480
personnel compared to other career fire
departments in the state. Several of our

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00:30:38,799 --> 00:30:44,480
employees are highly valued members as
part-time employees at other departments

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00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:48,080
in our own county. We don't want to see
our talented employees walk out the door

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00:30:46,399 --> 00:30:51,840
for not being able to be appropriately
compensated for extra time worked. We

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00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:55,039
bring this to your attention not to seek
more money, simply to ask. Don't take

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00:30:53,919 --> 00:30:58,240
money out of our pocket that we're
already making. Keeping necessary

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00:30:56,960 --> 00:31:01,600
personnel on duty to protect our
citizens safe should be the council's

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00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:04,240
top priority. And this bill will make
that more difficult to accomplish. Thank

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00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:07,440
you for your time.
>> Okay, Mike, hang on a second. Any

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00:31:05,600 --> 00:31:12,720
council member have a question for Mike
P?

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00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:16,240
» Okay, thank you very much. Anyone else
wishing to address the council? Please

258
00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:20,760
step the microphone, state your name and
address, and limit yourself to five

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00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:20,760
minutes.

260
00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:30,640
Hello, my name is Tom Bowen. I'm the
vice president for the Southwest

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00:31:28,159 --> 00:31:36,399
Missouri Fraternal Order Police. We
represent over 250 active and retired

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00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:40,960
law enforcement officers in our area. Um
that includes the um men and women in

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00:31:39,279 --> 00:31:44,559
the Carthage Police Officers
Association.

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00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:48,480
I'm here to ask you to vote no on
Council Bill 2648.

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00:31:47,039 --> 00:31:52,720
I'd like to talk about several of the
reasons that have been given in support

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00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:57,679
of it. One reason given is that this
measure will bring you in line with the

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00:31:54,480 --> 00:32:02,080
FLSA or the federal law governing
um working conditions.

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00:31:59,919 --> 00:32:05,279
Um that is true that these changes would
be in line with the FLSA, but what

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00:32:03,919 --> 00:32:11,360
you're already doing is also in line
with the FLSA. Um the FLSA doesn't um do

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00:32:09,039 --> 00:32:14,960
a maximum. It sets a minimum just like
minimum wage. If you pay an employee

271
00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:20,080
more than minimum wage, you're still in
line with the FLSA. Paying them more

272
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:24,320
more doesn't change that. Um the
overtime benefits and call back pay

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00:32:21,679 --> 00:32:28,399
benefits are the same. It sets a
minimum, doesn't set a maximum. So what

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00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:32,559
you're doing now is in line with the
FLSA just like um these changes would

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00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:37,840
be.
Um

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00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:41,679
it's also going to create different
tiers for different employees in your

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00:32:39,679 --> 00:32:46,240
city. Um, it's not going to put all
employees on the same level. General

278
00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:51,200
employees are going to be paid overtime
anytime they work more than 40 hours in

279
00:32:48,000 --> 00:32:55,440
a week. Um, police employees won't get
overtime until they work more than 80

280
00:32:53,200 --> 00:33:00,159
hours in two weeks. Your fire employees
won't get overtime until they work 212

281
00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:04,559
hours in 28 days. So, there'll be three
tiers there.

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00:33:02,399 --> 00:33:10,559
When you combine that with the proposed
changes to the callback pay, a police

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00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:16,559
employee might take a day off at the
beginning of the pay period um for

284
00:33:12,799 --> 00:33:21,519
vacation, sick time, um any reason they
may be off and then 13 lers they may be

285
00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:25,039
called back, called away from a birthday
party, called away from a kids ball

286
00:33:23,039 --> 00:33:28,960
game, interrupted from dinner, woken up
in the middle of the night, um and

287
00:33:27,279 --> 00:33:33,519
they'll come back to work without being
paid overtime.

288
00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:39,039
um the lower benefit given to police
officers and firefighters in this um

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00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:43,760
would create different tiers for your
employees and it's not in line with the

290
00:33:41,519 --> 00:33:49,200
way other local law enforcement officers
in other agencies are are compensated

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00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:53,519
when they're called into work.
Finally, I'd like to address the I've

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00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:58,240
heard that this could save the city
around $96,000.

293
00:33:55,279 --> 00:34:03,039
That's probably true. Um, but that
savings isn't going to come from

294
00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:08,159
being more efficient,
purchasing better, more efficient

295
00:34:05,279 --> 00:34:11,440
equipment, reduc reducing workflow. It's
going to be saved by paying Carthage

296
00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:16,079
police officers and Carthage
firefighters less for continuing to do

297
00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:20,800
the same work that they're doing today.
Um, this bill would negatively impact

298
00:34:18,720 --> 00:34:24,879
your employees. I'm asking you to vote
no on it. Instead, I would encourage you

299
00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:29,520
to resume your bargaining meetings with
Carthage Police Officers Association.

300
00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:34,159
We've seen incredibly positive results
of this in other communities nearby.

301
00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:39,599
Joplin Police Officers Association
bargains with um city of Joplain and

302
00:34:37,359 --> 00:34:47,200
it's been a very positive relationship
they've had there. In 2019, the JOA, the

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00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:51,599
IIAFF, Johnson City Council, city
administration, and citizens groups

304
00:34:49,359 --> 00:34:56,639
worked together to address a significant
financial need that the city was facing.

305
00:34:54,879 --> 00:35:02,800
They developed a plan, put it on a
ballot, and put it before the voters,

306
00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:07,359
and that plan passed at about 80%.
The resulting savings from implemented

307
00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:13,440
that implementing that plan was able to
provide raises for all city employees.

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00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:17,359
this year. Earlier this year, Job and
Police Officers Association, the IFFF,

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00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:23,599
city council, city administration,
citizens groups once again put a

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00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:29,280
initiative on the ballot. Um, and passed
with about 80% of the voters. Um, that's

311
00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:35,040
going to result in funds for additional
personnel, um, better equipment, and

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00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:40,720
again, much needed raises for all city
employees, not just police and fire.

313
00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:45,520
So working together as a group is uh
positively impacting both the city and

314
00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:49,520
and those employee groups. I'm not
saying the answer is the same for

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00:35:46,880 --> 00:35:53,520
Carthage. Carthage is a different city.
Um it's facing different situations and

316
00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:57,280
they have different needs and probably
different solutions.

317
00:35:55,440 --> 00:36:02,720
What I am asking is that you vote no on
this bill tonight and then work with

318
00:35:59,760 --> 00:36:07,040
your um employees or work with your
officers to come to a solution that's

319
00:36:05,119 --> 00:36:10,400
going to benefit you, benefit them,
benefit the community as a whole. Thank

320
00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:16,640
you.
>> Any questions for Mr. Bo Jack?

321
00:36:15,280 --> 00:36:23,359
[clears throat]
Seems to me the negotiation are between

322
00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:27,760
the Carthage Police Union and the city.
>> Yes, sir. You mentioned Jopin. Somebody

323
00:36:25,599 --> 00:36:32,400
voted. Who voted? It was like a citizen
vote. How did that I mean seemed to me

324
00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:35,520
like a negotiation is between two
parties. What what does that have to do

325
00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:42,720
with voting?
>> Yeah. So when Joplain was facing issues,

326
00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:46,480
they the um Joplin Police Officers
Association and the city came to a

327
00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:51,280
bargaining agreement together. Um, one
of the proposed solutions to what they

328
00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:55,760
were facing um, involved in increased
sales tax to be quite frank on the

329
00:36:52,800 --> 00:37:00,800
citizens. Um, so the agreement between
police officers and the city was not

330
00:36:59,359 --> 00:37:04,400
voted on by the community. That was
voted on by the their city council um,

331
00:37:03,095 --> 00:37:08,800
[snorts] just like an agreement would be
done here if it if it could be reached.

332
00:37:07,040 --> 00:37:14,960
What did have to go before the voters is
the solution that the um JOA and the

333
00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:21,119
IIAFF worked on their separate
agreements. The solution to address

334
00:37:18,240 --> 00:37:25,440
financial needs of the city. Um that
that part had to be approved by the city

335
00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:29,280
and when they put it forward both times
80% of the citizens voted yes.

336
00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:34,960
» Okay. Thank you.
>> Any other questions for this Mr. Bow?

337
00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:38,079
Okay. Thank you very much. Anyone else
wishing to address the council? Please

338
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:42,599
step the microphone, state your name and
address, limit yourself to five minutes.

339
00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:52,079
All right, seeing no one else, we will
move on. Uh, first thing we have

340
00:37:50,000 --> 00:37:56,079
tonight, we'll go to uh reports of
standing committees. We'll start with

341
00:37:53,520 --> 00:38:00,400
budget ways and means. Allan,
>> thank you, honor. Budget ways, means

342
00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:05,440
committee is currently between meetings.
Uh our September meeting is currently

343
00:38:02,720 --> 00:38:11,119
scheduled during our MML conference and
a new date. Uh we've identified a date,

344
00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:16,240
but that date may change. So I'm not
going to say what the date is right now,

345
00:38:13,359 --> 00:38:21,839
but it the meeting will be posted. So we
will be having a different date and time

346
00:38:18,079 --> 00:38:26,400
for that uh September meeting.
>> Okay. Thank you. Committee on insurance

347
00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:32,320
audit and claims. Ron.
>> Yes, your honor. Uh we met here this

348
00:38:28,480 --> 00:38:40,800
evening at 6:00. Uh we approved the uh
claims which will be presented to the uh

349
00:38:36,079 --> 00:38:47,200
full council later on. Uh we had no new
business but uh Robin did report to us

350
00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:52,079
that uh they are still working on the uh
2-160

351
00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:59,119
uh
motion for uh changing uh the powers

352
00:38:56,720 --> 00:39:03,440
between the council and the mayor and
what have you and and firing and hiring

353
00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:10,240
employees.
Uh our next meeting will be on September

354
00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:17,119
the 8th uh at 6:00.
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh public safety Allen.

355
00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:20,560
» Uh yeah, Mr. Thorne, Councilman
Thornne's not here tonight. So, uh our

356
00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:25,200
public safety committee meeting was
scheduled for the 17th and unfortunately

357
00:39:23,119 --> 00:39:30,160
we weren't able to have that meeting due
to a lack of a quorum. But there was one

358
00:39:27,839 --> 00:39:37,359
item on our agenda that needs addressed
prior to our next meeting. Uh the bridge

359
00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:43,280
uh church here in Carthage is having
their annual rally in the park. This is

360
00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:47,920
the I don't know 10th year I think that
we've done this. We've done it every

361
00:39:44,800 --> 00:39:55,920
year. Uh so at this point at this time
I'd like to make a motion that we close

362
00:39:51,920 --> 00:40:04,560
the on se Sunday September 20th at 7:00
a.m. to 300 p.m. we close uh Main Street

363
00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:11,839
between Chestnut and 9th
9inth Street between Maine and Lion

364
00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:18,400
and Chestnut between Maine and Lion
from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. or from

365
00:40:15,839 --> 00:40:26,599
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to allow for
their rally in the park and allow cars

366
00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:26,599
to back into the parking places.

367
00:40:27,440 --> 00:40:33,680
Second.
>> Okay. I have a motion and a second to uh

368
00:40:31,839 --> 00:40:38,480
support rallying the park in Central
Park September 20th between 0700 and

369
00:40:36,240 --> 00:40:44,880
1500 hours closing down the roads
around. Any discussion

370
00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:51,440
Allen? So this is kind of the backup
plan. The actual plan is for the rally

371
00:40:49,200 --> 00:40:57,520
in the park to be in Central Park and I
believe uh Jude Champagne will be coming

372
00:40:54,720 --> 00:41:03,440
to the public services committee to get
permission from parks department for

373
00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:08,800
their for the rally in the park. Uh one
time that I remember uh we actually got

374
00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:14,400
rain and we weren't able to have the car
show in the park and this is a backup

375
00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:21,839
plan to have the car show kind of around
the church area right there. So this may

376
00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:25,839
or may not actually be necessary, but
they like to get it done just in case

377
00:41:23,839 --> 00:41:31,440
they need to close those streets.
>> Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion?

378
00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:33,440
» All right. All in favor? I
>> I

379
00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:37,040
» All opposed.
>> Motion passes.

380
00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:40,960
» All right, Alan.
>> Uh, our next regularly scheduled meeting

381
00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:47,359
for public safety will be on September
21st at 5:30 here in council chambers.

382
00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:52,000
» Okay. Thank you. Public services.
>> Yes. Um, originally we were going to be

383
00:41:50,079 --> 00:41:57,200
meeting on a regular time on August
18th, but due to the lack of quorum, we

384
00:41:54,160 --> 00:42:01,520
will be rescheduling that meeting for
August 31st.

385
00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:06,720
So that's all I have to report.
>> Thank you. Public works.

386
00:42:04,319 --> 00:42:13,440
» Public works is also between meetings.
Our next scheduled meeting, I believe,

387
00:42:09,040 --> 00:42:16,560
is the first uh 5:30 here in council
chambers.

388
00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:21,599
» Okay. Thank you. We now entertain
reports from special committees and

389
00:42:18,160 --> 00:42:26,319
board liaison. Who'd like to go first?
Alan.

390
00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:32,000
» Yes. Uh the Mchune Brooks uh trust will
meet for their quarterly meeting

391
00:42:28,400 --> 00:42:36,079
tomorrow at 12:00.
>> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Marie

392
00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:41,839
Ellen.
>> Um the Kelly board meeting was held on

393
00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:48,079
August 13th. I received a warm welcome
from them after taking over um as a

394
00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:52,640
leazison for war 2. Couple things. The
pavilion project um is nearing

395
00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:57,440
completion. So, they just wanted to
remind us of the funds coming in from

396
00:42:54,640 --> 00:43:02,960
the city. Just keep that in mind. I'm
sure we still have it in mind. Um, and

397
00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:07,359
another thing, they are ongoing with
investigations concerning dredging. Just

398
00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:09,119
wanted to put that out there.
>> Okay.

399
00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:12,160
» Hopefully, we can get that done.
>> Thank you. Anything else?

400
00:43:10,560 --> 00:43:15,200
» Uh, next meeting will be held on
September 10th at 6 p.m.

401
00:43:13,839 --> 00:43:18,720
» All right.
>> Any other reports from special

402
00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:26,079
committees? Jack,
>> the CWP board met August 20th.

403
00:43:24,964 --> 00:43:32,319
[snorts] I will say it's one of the
calmer meetings we've ever had. There

404
00:43:30,560 --> 00:43:36,119
highlights dispersements were approved
in the amount of $5,725,882.99.

405
00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:47,119
All directors gave an updated report of
operations.

406
00:43:43,839 --> 00:43:50,960
Nothing extravagant, nothing strange,
nothing out of the place. Um, financial

407
00:43:49,520 --> 00:43:56,880
statements were reviewed and approved
for June 26th and July 2026. Full

408
00:43:54,960 --> 00:44:01,119
financial statements can be found in the
board packet.

409
00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:07,760
New business. The board approved a bid
for an articulating telescopic bucket

410
00:44:04,079 --> 00:44:11,319
truck from Altech Industries in the
amount of 272,327

411
00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:17,880
with an estimated delivery in 2029.

412
00:44:18,079 --> 00:44:25,680
Tough to get stuff. The board approved
the bid for a crew cab truck for water

413
00:44:23,520 --> 00:44:28,680
distribution department in the amount of
$55,499

414
00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:35,839
from InRout Enterprises in Ozark,
Missouri.

415
00:44:33,520 --> 00:44:41,359
The board approved a bid for a vacuum
jeter truck which will be shared between

416
00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:44,359
all the departments in the amount of
657,000

417
00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:51,599
from backcom
which is available on a government

418
00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:56,319
cooperative contract.
The board approved a trackloader lease

419
00:44:54,079 --> 00:45:00,079
with Caterpillar Financial Services
Corporation.

420
00:44:58,000 --> 00:45:03,720
The lease is a 4-year lease with annual
payments of $23,4758

421
00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:08,200
totaling $93,900.32

422
00:45:08,720 --> 00:45:16,240
over the 4-year period.
The board approved a bid for a

423
00:45:13,440 --> 00:45:20,160
galvanized steel structures
to

424
00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:27,800
begin
uh covering the sub4, the new

425
00:45:24,800 --> 00:45:27,800
uh

426
00:45:27,839 --> 00:45:33,240
in the economic development uh

427
00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:40,960
sorry for mumbling. Anyhow, the this uh
steel structure is not going to be the

428
00:45:39,440 --> 00:45:47,480
complete building. is going to be the
skeleton of the building.

429
00:45:43,839 --> 00:45:47,480
The amount was $282,36240

430
00:45:50,240 --> 00:45:56,160
and this is from Advanced Steel and
Crane.

431
00:45:54,000 --> 00:46:00,960
This bid was solicited and evaluated by
Algar Martin and Associates as a part of

432
00:45:58,240 --> 00:46:05,200
the overall subcore project. This is for
the new

433
00:46:03,476 --> 00:46:10,400
[cough and clears throat]
equipment for the for the uh CEDC.

434
00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:16,319
And finally, the board approved a
resolution to issue a $30,000 loan

435
00:46:14,160 --> 00:46:21,839
to the CEDC
through the CWEP revolving loan fund.

436
00:46:20,079 --> 00:46:25,359
The loan will contribute to land
purchase at the economic development

437
00:46:23,839 --> 00:46:31,520
park.
As a reminder, this money comes from a

438
00:46:27,520 --> 00:46:35,200
grant received from the USDA.
Next meeting is when?

439
00:46:33,760 --> 00:46:42,000
» I think 17th.
>> 17th.

440
00:46:37,599 --> 00:46:46,880
So, All right. Thank you. Juan,
>> police, fire, and pension committee is

441
00:46:43,839 --> 00:46:52,319
scheduled for tomorrow, August 26th, at
2 p.m. upstairs in the conference room.

442
00:46:50,079 --> 00:46:55,359
» Okay. Thank you,
>> Ron.

443
00:46:53,119 --> 00:47:00,720
» Yes. Civil War Museum had a meeting on
the uh 19th at 4:30 in the upper

444
00:46:58,800 --> 00:47:10,560
chambers here.
uh some reports of the uh July 25th

445
00:47:05,599 --> 00:47:17,760
through uh compared to July 2026 sales
was down some. It was uh for

446
00:47:14,800 --> 00:47:27,359
2026 it was $799.
Uh a year ago it had been $1,115.

447
00:47:23,760 --> 00:47:36,720
donations was at uh
in 2025 $433

448
00:47:30,880 --> 00:47:45,760
and the uh July 2026 was 363.
Our visits was actually up though for

449
00:47:40,800 --> 00:47:51,680
2026. It was 586 over 422
for the uh previous year.

450
00:47:49,359 --> 00:47:59,920
Um,
we also had some discussion about uh

451
00:47:57,280 --> 00:48:05,119
whether they wanted to move the Civil
War Museum

452
00:48:01,680 --> 00:48:09,680
to somewhere up on the square. Uh, the
group is going to look at that. It would

453
00:48:07,680 --> 00:48:14,480
give them more room. They have a lot of
stuff in the upstairs which is not

454
00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:20,560
available for individuals to go up and
see. So finding a place on this square

455
00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:25,520
would be nice. I am wondering, you know,
while we have a mayor that is in very

456
00:48:22,480 --> 00:48:31,599
favor of our civil war, they need to be
looking at that presently.

457
00:48:28,960 --> 00:48:36,000
Also, um
they also discussed the upstairs and

458
00:48:33,760 --> 00:48:41,359
whether we could be able to use that.
And the one problem is is if you open it

459
00:48:38,800 --> 00:48:45,839
up to the public, it has to be ADA
approved. And that presents a big

460
00:48:43,760 --> 00:48:51,680
problem and whether you want to continue
to invest in the building down here or

461
00:48:48,800 --> 00:49:02,880
if they possibly could look at trying to
move somewhere else up on the square. Uh

462
00:48:56,000 --> 00:49:10,720
just prior to closing, uh Dr. Defenbal
um has an individual Tim Hedgeameir out

463
00:49:07,440 --> 00:49:15,520
of St. Louis, who's a very big Civil War
museum individual.

464
00:49:13,440 --> 00:49:22,800
uh they're trying to schedule sometime
next year in May to have a presentation

465
00:49:19,920 --> 00:49:28,160
either at Memorial Hall or even he will
go to the high school and do

466
00:49:25,200 --> 00:49:31,920
presentations because uh they have
several groups of kids that are

467
00:49:29,839 --> 00:49:36,240
throughout the whole town and it would
make it safer for them not having to

468
00:49:33,839 --> 00:49:43,359
bring them on the bus and what have you
down here to Memorial Hall. uh and

469
00:49:39,760 --> 00:49:49,040
they're looking at that uh for uh this
coming next year and

470
00:49:47,200 --> 00:49:51,520
our possible next meeting will be
October the 14th.

471
00:49:51,119 --> 00:49:55,440
» Okay,
>> that's all we have.

472
00:49:52,720 --> 00:49:59,160
» Thank you. Any other reports on special
committees or board leaison?

473
00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:08,000
Okay, moving on. Uh we'll go into my
report for this evening. Um, as already

474
00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:12,720
mentioned, we did have another CEDC
board meeting and uh, although Jeff

475
00:50:10,800 --> 00:50:17,359
didn't necessarily me mention it, the
housing committee, which is a subset of

476
00:50:14,800 --> 00:50:20,480
the CEDC, which is the one that's
working with the new programs are out

477
00:50:19,040 --> 00:50:25,359
there. So, that's moving forward
appropriately and it is very much

478
00:50:22,559 --> 00:50:28,720
nested, I think, and and in sync with
what we're doing with code enforcement,

479
00:50:26,960 --> 00:50:34,000
what Vision is trying to do, and it's
overall beautifification of of our city

480
00:50:31,280 --> 00:50:38,559
and trying to clean it up as well. Uh we
did have another CEB board meeting as

481
00:50:36,400 --> 00:50:42,240
well as Jack mentioned. The bridge
committee also had a partial bridge

482
00:50:40,400 --> 00:50:47,520
committee meeting last week with Will
Klein from Truman uh discussing uh

483
00:50:45,760 --> 00:50:51,359
potential funding opportunities going
forward. We still obviously got a lot of

484
00:50:49,520 --> 00:50:57,119
work to do there, but that's continuing
to move forward. Ron mentioned the Civil

485
00:50:54,319 --> 00:51:01,280
War Museum Advisory Board. Uh we've
already mentioned the fire the housing

486
00:50:59,119 --> 00:51:08,960
committee. I had a meeting last week
with uh both uh the fire department and

487
00:51:06,000 --> 00:51:14,400
CWP, Jason Chotton and Jason Martin. And
I think everyone saw that uh in

488
00:51:11,440 --> 00:51:19,280
conjunction a collaboration with uh uh
Art Central and CWP and others, they're

489
00:51:16,960 --> 00:51:26,000
going to go through and start doing some
fire hydrant decoration, which is great

490
00:51:22,480 --> 00:51:31,280
in honor of the Route 66th anniversary.
Uh having said that, what we've we've

491
00:51:28,160 --> 00:51:34,960
discovered is we've got a few uh
citizens, unfortunately misinformed, who

492
00:51:33,440 --> 00:51:38,880
are quite honestly out there kind of
rolling their own in terms of painting

493
00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:44,079
what they want to paint on the fire
hydrant happens to be around their area.

494
00:51:40,480 --> 00:51:46,960
So, we're working collaborative, CWP and
fire department are working

495
00:51:45,119 --> 00:51:51,839
collaborative to put together an
ordinance that we will put on the books

496
00:51:48,880 --> 00:51:55,599
that basically outlines what the
restrictions would be. Obviously, we

497
00:51:53,440 --> 00:51:59,440
want absolutely no decrement to
functionality of the fire hydrant

498
00:51:56,960 --> 00:52:02,960
itself. Nor do we want any decoration
that would reduce the fire hydrant's

499
00:52:01,280 --> 00:52:06,480
visibility. In other words, camouflage
it because that makes no sense at all.

500
00:52:04,640 --> 00:52:10,240
We want to be able to find them easily.
So once they're done with that, uh,

501
00:52:08,640 --> 00:52:15,599
we'll get that out, bring it into
council, and I suspect what we'll find

502
00:52:12,480 --> 00:52:20,000
is people that want to do some sort of
decorative effort, much like Art Central

503
00:52:17,520 --> 00:52:24,480
is doing now, will come to probably
public safety, maybe the public works

504
00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:28,480
committee to present their ideas and get
permission from elected members of

505
00:52:26,480 --> 00:52:32,640
council before they proceed on to make
sure we're tracking. So that that's

506
00:52:30,559 --> 00:52:36,880
working forward now. I'm not sure how
far along they are, but I'm sure it'll

507
00:52:34,559 --> 00:52:43,040
be it'll be fine.
Uh we still are in need of a W 2 council

508
00:52:41,280 --> 00:52:47,520
member. We haven't had anyone sign up or
volunteer just yet. That uh we'll still

509
00:52:45,760 --> 00:52:52,240
continue to leave that slot open and
posted through the end of this week

510
00:52:49,359 --> 00:52:56,480
after which time I'll start moving back
into my recruiting mode just so

511
00:52:54,079 --> 00:53:01,280
everybody knows. And finally, although
he'll probably discuss it, uh for those

512
00:52:59,520 --> 00:53:05,760
of you council members that don't know,
we did have a uh a police officer,

513
00:53:03,359 --> 00:53:12,240
Sergeant Adams, that was injured on duty
uh this past weekend. He had a broken

514
00:53:07,680 --> 00:53:17,040
nose, uh which is obviously unfortunate
according to Chad. He's trying to go to

515
00:53:14,079 --> 00:53:20,880
law school, so broken noses may be in
his future if he becomes a lawyer

516
00:53:19,359 --> 00:53:27,359
because that's the way some people
respond to lawyers. But he's doing fine.

517
00:53:24,400 --> 00:53:32,160
Uh and again, it's an appreciation for
what the police officers do for us. So,

518
00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:35,839
all that having been said, we'll now
move on to uh reports of council

519
00:53:34,319 --> 00:53:38,559
members. And Juan, we will start with
you this evening.

520
00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:45,520
» All right. I got a story for you guys.
So, uh, last week, um, I visited Grand

521
00:53:42,400 --> 00:53:49,119
Rapids, Michigan, and they have a large
Vietnamese community there, and I got

522
00:53:47,280 --> 00:53:53,599
the opportunity to talk to to several
individuals, all of which, uh, had been

523
00:53:51,200 --> 00:53:57,359
to Carthage at some point in their life,
and every single one of them had nothing

524
00:53:55,599 --> 00:54:01,920
but good words to say about Carthage.
show. So to me that was a very proud

525
00:53:59,040 --> 00:54:05,680
moment as a Carthaginian um to to hear
all these positive things about Carthage

526
00:54:04,160 --> 00:54:11,440
and and uh they've been here to the
Marian day celebrations at some point in

527
00:54:08,079 --> 00:54:15,119
their life. Um to the point that one one
gentleman said that when he gets to the

528
00:54:12,800 --> 00:54:19,680
point of retirement and in his life that
he's considering moving to Carthage. So

529
00:54:17,760 --> 00:54:24,160
I just want to share that with everyone.
you know, the the events and and the

530
00:54:21,920 --> 00:54:29,760
impact that Marian that that we have
with those folks in Marian Days is

531
00:54:26,319 --> 00:54:32,559
seeing um it's a positive one. So, um
thank [clears throat] you guys to

532
00:54:30,400 --> 00:54:38,559
everyone that makes those type of events
uh the success that they are. Um we are

533
00:54:36,400 --> 00:54:43,280
getting that recognition from from those
individuals. So, kudos to the city to

534
00:54:41,200 --> 00:54:46,240
the folks. That's all I have.
>> Okay, Rob.

535
00:54:44,160 --> 00:54:48,960
» Uh nothing this evening, your honor.
>> Marella,

536
00:54:47,119 --> 00:54:51,359
» nothing this evening.
Jack,

537
00:54:50,079 --> 00:54:55,359
» nothing.
>> Allan,

538
00:54:52,559 --> 00:55:00,079
» thank you, your honor. I would like to
uh

539
00:54:56,880 --> 00:55:07,839
address council bill 2648
and the fair labor standards guidelines

540
00:55:04,240 --> 00:55:16,400
that we are uh looking at in this
council bill uh have not been

541
00:55:12,000 --> 00:55:22,640
uh just jumped too easily. There's been
a lot of work put into this uh with

542
00:55:19,040 --> 00:55:29,760
committee and with our HR department.
Currently, u our employees in the city,

543
00:55:27,760 --> 00:55:35,680
half of our employees or about half of
our employees are uh under the Fair

544
00:55:32,640 --> 00:55:41,359
Labor Standards Act with the 40hour work
week. As Mr. Um the gentleman earlier

545
00:55:39,599 --> 00:55:49,520
stated
um we're not cutting any pay. We're

546
00:55:46,720 --> 00:55:54,079
simply looking at how we calculate that
overtime.

547
00:55:51,673 --> 00:56:00,720
[snorts] In order to
uh make these changes, we did uh some

548
00:55:57,920 --> 00:56:06,880
research on what other cities are
currently doing, what we're currently

549
00:56:03,040 --> 00:56:11,599
doing, and what we're proposing to do.
Currently,

550
00:56:08,480 --> 00:56:17,839
uh, the Carthage Police Department is on
a 147 hour and 24 day

551
00:56:16,000 --> 00:56:23,680
period.
Our proposal is to go for 80 hours in 14

552
00:56:21,839 --> 00:56:27,359
days.
The fire department is currently on a

553
00:56:25,680 --> 00:56:34,240
212-hour
work schedule in 28 days. That will not

554
00:56:31,119 --> 00:56:38,000
change with this new proposal.
Currently, some of the other cities in

555
00:56:36,160 --> 00:56:43,760
our area,
uh, Battlefield over by Springfield, uh,

556
00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:50,720
their current police work schedule is
171 hours in 28 days.

557
00:56:48,079 --> 00:56:54,079
Boliviver, they do not have, we did not
have information on them for the fire

558
00:56:52,559 --> 00:57:00,319
department.
Boliviver is currently on a 86-hour

559
00:56:56,799 --> 00:57:10,640
schedule in 14 days. Their fire
department is on 106 hours in 14 days.

560
00:57:06,000 --> 00:57:18,240
City of Branson 80 hours and 14 days.
City of Joplain 80 hours and 14 days.

561
00:57:14,319 --> 00:57:25,680
City of Neosho 86 hours and 14 days.
City of Nevada 80 hours and 14 days.

562
00:57:21,680 --> 00:57:32,480
City of Nik Nixa 84 hours and 14 days.
City of Web City 80 hours and 14 days

563
00:57:30,000 --> 00:57:38,400
and pretty much across the board the
fire department is 212 hours and 28 days

564
00:57:35,760 --> 00:57:44,160
as we currently have it.
So we're not looking at doing something

565
00:57:41,119 --> 00:57:51,359
different than other cities in our area
have done. We are simply looking at

566
00:57:47,520 --> 00:57:56,799
changing getting our guidelines making
our all of our employees across the

567
00:57:53,520 --> 00:58:01,280
board on the on the same
vacation pay

568
00:57:59,760 --> 00:58:05,839
standard
that uh

569
00:58:03,599 --> 00:58:12,240
is in line with the Fair Labor Standards
Act.

570
00:58:07,359 --> 00:58:18,319
Uh when we talked about call back pay,
uh our current call back is authorized

571
00:58:16,000 --> 00:58:22,960
for designated employees are eligible
for a minimum of two hours overtime

572
00:58:20,319 --> 00:58:27,359
provided the employee called back has
left work for the day after completing a

573
00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:31,760
regularly scheduled work shift and the
call back to work occurs more than two

574
00:58:29,280 --> 00:58:35,280
hours immediately before the beginning
of their next regularly scheduled work

575
00:58:33,839 --> 00:58:40,559
shift.
The change that we're proposing on that

576
00:58:38,319 --> 00:58:44,319
is when a situation arrives requiring an
employee to be called back to work

577
00:58:42,160 --> 00:58:48,319
within 12 hours after the completion of
their shift

578
00:58:46,160 --> 00:58:52,799
and outside their regular work schedule.
The employee shall receive a minimum of

579
00:58:50,240 --> 00:58:58,240
two hours of overtime pay at one and a
half times their regular rate of pay for

580
00:58:56,160 --> 00:59:03,440
the actual hours worked if more than two
hours are worked. So, we're not

581
00:59:01,520 --> 00:59:11,839
drastically changing our overtime
policy. looking at what other towns we

582
00:59:06,640 --> 00:59:19,200
we did have uh research Joplain has very
similar uh call back. Uh they do allow

583
00:59:15,680 --> 00:59:24,400
three hours of call back pay.
Um Neossho

584
00:59:21,760 --> 00:59:32,079
at least uh they only have one and a
half hours of call back pay and then uh

585
00:59:29,359 --> 00:59:37,280
Nixa has at least two hours of call back
pay. So, it's not like we're doing

586
00:59:34,000 --> 00:59:46,079
something that's completely uh out of
the ordinary or different. It's it is a

587
00:59:40,640 --> 00:59:53,680
change. I will I will give them that.
But it's not something that is uh so far

588
00:59:51,359 --> 01:00:00,960
uh different than what anyone else is
doing that I would uh

589
00:59:58,079 --> 01:00:05,280
ask everyone to support this legislation
when it comes up on the agenda later and

590
01:00:03,359 --> 01:00:07,920
vote in favor of it.
>> Thank you your honor.

591
01:00:06,400 --> 01:00:13,760
» Okay. Bet.
>> Yes. I just um wanted to say uh one

592
01:00:11,440 --> 01:00:18,160
thing about the vision Carthage about
volunteering for the restoration day

593
01:00:16,000 --> 01:00:23,280
because I did last year and I'm going to
do it again. I'm going to sign up for a

594
01:00:19,839 --> 01:00:28,400
house captain and it's a great family
event to do that. It's also a great

595
01:00:25,680 --> 01:00:34,319
company event or organization
and to be um I did a lot of these kinds

596
01:00:32,160 --> 01:00:40,559
of projects in the organization I worked
for in California and to see people

597
01:00:37,440 --> 01:00:46,480
really that excited and elated about
what's happening to their home um in

598
01:00:43,760 --> 01:00:50,720
just in a matter of hours as plus some
other work too. But I I do want to give

599
01:00:48,400 --> 01:00:54,240
a pitch for that as well. So that's
really I'll save some of my other

600
01:00:52,799 --> 01:00:57,920
questions and things for a little bit
later in the agenda, but thank you.

601
01:00:56,160 --> 01:01:06,160
» Okay, Ron.
>> Yes, sure. Uh

602
01:01:00,880 --> 01:01:12,000
did have a report of uh the uh elk and
Maple Street Chief. Uh

603
01:01:09,839 --> 01:01:17,200
there's a concerned citizen down there
watching that intersection and

604
01:01:15,200 --> 01:01:20,799
trucks and what have you are just flying
through that stop sign. And I've almost

605
01:01:19,119 --> 01:01:27,599
got hit there several times. I just
lived down the street about two blocks.

606
01:01:23,920 --> 01:01:32,640
And I don't know what the answer is,
whether we can get a fourway stop up

607
01:01:29,520 --> 01:01:39,520
there or something because
guys crossing Maple don't even stop and

608
01:01:36,960 --> 01:01:43,280
and it's going to be somebody get hurt
and they're concerned also that

609
01:01:41,440 --> 01:01:49,839
eventually someone's going to get hit or
killed on that intersection. So, we need

610
01:01:45,440 --> 01:01:54,960
to look at that. Second, uh Allan, I
appreciate all your information and

611
01:01:51,680 --> 01:01:59,680
update and I think you were very good in
clarifying that.

612
01:01:57,920 --> 01:02:05,119
My concern, you know, I'd love to be
able to give them all even a range, but

613
01:02:02,319 --> 01:02:11,200
we can't afford to do that. Uh I don't
know if they attended our uh approval or

614
01:02:08,640 --> 01:02:15,440
budget this year,
but it's $383,000

615
01:02:13,599 --> 01:02:20,240
in the deficit. In other words, the
revenue doesn't cover what our

616
01:02:17,839 --> 01:02:26,799
department heads went to spend this
year. So that put us at $383,000

617
01:02:24,640 --> 01:02:34,079
in debt.
As the gentleman spoke, this will save

618
01:02:29,599 --> 01:02:38,200
the city around supposedly $96,000 which
has been reported to me.

619
01:02:39,359 --> 01:02:50,160
I can't and honestly go to the citizens
and ask for a raise on our taxes or even

620
01:02:47,359 --> 01:02:55,040
our sales tax
to give you a raise cuz there a lot of

621
01:02:52,559 --> 01:03:01,160
those citizens are living on a lot less
money than what your entry level is even

622
01:02:58,160 --> 01:03:01,160
at.

623
01:03:01,599 --> 01:03:08,640
I have to look at the taxpayer. I have
to look at the citizens who voted for

624
01:03:05,839 --> 01:03:15,359
me,
who asked me to represent them. And I

625
01:03:12,240 --> 01:03:20,000
have talked to them and I have had a few
that said, "Oh, just go ahead and give

626
01:03:17,839 --> 01:03:27,520
them more money." And then I've had
others that tell me, "Hey, I have a hard

627
01:03:23,839 --> 01:03:31,720
time eating meat and
putting food on my table.

628
01:03:33,119 --> 01:03:40,559
When we have a deficit that we have and
[snorts] if we don't deal with this and

629
01:03:37,920 --> 01:03:44,079
find ways to cut it, your department
heads are going to eventually have to

630
01:03:42,240 --> 01:03:49,599
say we're going to have to work with
less people because the city ain't going

631
01:03:46,079 --> 01:03:53,200
to have the money to pay y'all.
I don't want to see that. I don't want

632
01:03:51,039 --> 01:03:57,520
to see any of you get a notice saying,
"Hey,

633
01:03:54,960 --> 01:04:01,280
we can't afford to continue to keep you
on board."

634
01:03:59,359 --> 01:04:07,359
And that'll if we have to get to that
point, it ain't going to be just

635
01:04:03,760 --> 01:04:12,319
parks or city
or public works.

636
01:04:09,680 --> 01:04:19,119
All the departments in my opinion should
be responsible for cutting employees.

637
01:04:15,520 --> 01:04:26,079
And when we're at 75%
70 to 75% of our revenue goes to

638
01:04:22,640 --> 01:04:32,640
salaries to pay all you guys
living salaries.

639
01:04:30,240 --> 01:04:36,640
It's going to get to the point where we
won't have no money for capital

640
01:04:34,960 --> 01:04:43,280
improvements and we can't even fix the
bridges we have now.

641
01:04:40,000 --> 01:04:49,520
It's getting to the point to where
something's going to have to give.

642
01:04:46,799 --> 01:04:59,760
We're trying to make a step here to put
that off. We're trying to save the city

643
01:04:54,000 --> 01:05:03,280
some money on this year's deficit.
If we don't, it's going to continue to

644
01:05:01,680 --> 01:05:07,039
get greater and greater and greater
because you're going to get a cola

645
01:05:04,559 --> 01:05:13,039
allowance every year. That's going to
increase. That's salary

646
01:05:09,599 --> 01:05:16,039
revenue over our re our revenue coming
in.

647
01:05:16,079 --> 01:05:23,920
The day's coming and it's not this
council's fault. This is stuff that's

648
01:05:21,039 --> 01:05:27,880
been put in by previous councils not
knowing when to say no.

649
01:05:28,400 --> 01:05:35,520
It is hard to look you guys out there
and say no.

650
01:05:33,200 --> 01:05:42,319
But I will be voting for this to go
forward to bring it online and try and

651
01:05:38,480 --> 01:05:45,119
save some money for the taxpayers.
That's all, your honor.

652
01:05:43,599 --> 01:05:48,799
» All right, Susan.
>> Nothing tonight.

653
01:05:46,960 --> 01:05:54,559
» All right, we'll move on to reports to
the officer of city. Chad,

654
01:05:51,359 --> 01:05:58,960
» first I'll address the uh the traffic
concern that you had. Uh it was brought

655
01:05:56,160 --> 01:06:05,280
to my attention as well. Um, I do agree
that I think a a four-way stop has been

656
01:06:01,520 --> 01:06:11,280
put up. Um, at those two locations,
um, doing a little history on accidents

657
01:06:08,240 --> 01:06:15,599
at those two locations, we only had, uh,
three in the last two years. However, it

658
01:06:14,480 --> 01:06:20,319
was probably about a year and a half
ago, we did a detailed based off a

659
01:06:18,160 --> 01:06:25,680
complaint. Um, and our officers wrote
several citations there. Um, I think we

660
01:06:23,039 --> 01:06:29,920
have just been fortunate uh that we
haven't had a more serious accident

661
01:06:27,520 --> 01:06:34,000
there. Um, I do agree that we need to
address uh that flow of of traffic in a

662
01:06:32,720 --> 01:06:39,039
four-way stop. I think would be
appropriate at both of those locations,

663
01:06:36,319 --> 01:06:43,359
Maine and Maple. Uh, I think it would
help alleviate a lot of problems.

664
01:06:42,000 --> 01:06:47,760
» Appreciate that.
>> The uh the second thing um I know I'm

665
01:06:46,640 --> 01:06:51,920
probably going to be asked, so I'm going
to take this time here to speak on on

666
01:06:49,599 --> 01:06:58,319
this bill that's coming up now.
um looking into it. Uh I my history of

667
01:06:55,280 --> 01:07:03,359
employment I am used to the 80our
um rule before you before you get 80

668
01:07:01,039 --> 01:07:08,319
hours actually physically uh at work
before you start acrewing overtime. U

669
01:07:05,839 --> 01:07:14,160
that is normal for me. However, when I
came over to Carthage, um it is a huge

670
01:07:10,799 --> 01:07:18,480
benefit uh to the officers. Um I know we
spoke about a lot of other agencies who

671
01:07:16,079 --> 01:07:23,039
don't do that. Um, and in reality,
you're going to have a hard time finding

672
01:07:19,839 --> 01:07:29,599
what Carage has done in the past several
years. Um, but what we also didn't uh

673
01:07:26,960 --> 01:07:34,960
have is a lot of the turnover that these
agencies had um throughout the United

674
01:07:32,240 --> 01:07:39,599
States, not just Missouri. Um, because
of special things like that that

675
01:07:37,359 --> 01:07:45,359
Carthage offered. That's why we have
people coming to us um wanting to employ

676
01:07:42,960 --> 01:07:50,319
and people not leaving us uh is because
of some of the benefits that come. Um it

677
01:07:48,079 --> 01:07:55,200
it isn't as detrimental on the 80hour
rule as it is for fire for the police

678
01:07:52,880 --> 01:08:00,880
side. However, on average, I think it
would take away um approximately $2,000

679
01:07:58,079 --> 01:08:04,480
per officer per year um of just normal
overtime that they work. And that's on

680
01:08:02,720 --> 01:08:11,359
average. Obviously, some work more than
others um and some don't work much at

681
01:08:06,880 --> 01:08:16,239
all. Um on the call back pay, um that's
really where I have a hard time with. Um

682
01:08:14,240 --> 01:08:20,000
our current call back pay now is if I
call an officer in, they get a minimum

683
01:08:17,759 --> 01:08:24,000
of two hours at what I call premium
time. They're automatically getting two

684
01:08:21,759 --> 01:08:28,560
or time and a half for those hours that
they're called in. Um regardless if they

685
01:08:26,560 --> 01:08:33,520
have taken off work for vacation, comp
or sick uh in that twoe period, I think

686
01:08:31,759 --> 01:08:37,199
it's appropriate to pay our employees
that we're demanding them to come in.

687
01:08:35,279 --> 01:08:42,000
they don't have a choice unless they
have repercussions of u of policy

688
01:08:40,239 --> 01:08:48,159
violations and subordination or what
have you that we're calling them in this

689
01:08:45,120 --> 01:08:54,560
change. If I call somebody in on their
weekend off um they they automatically

690
01:08:52,080 --> 01:08:59,199
guaranteed premium overtime if they took
off earlier in the in the pay period. U

691
01:08:57,600 --> 01:09:04,000
and I think that's wrong. I think that
we are asking them which is a huge

692
01:09:01,839 --> 01:09:09,400
demand. Um, and I think we should pay
them accordingly on the call back pay

693
01:09:06,400 --> 01:09:09,400
specifically.

694
01:09:09,920 --> 01:09:15,759
» That's all I have.
>> Thank you, Brian.

695
01:09:13,520 --> 01:09:22,719
» Um, I'm going to kind of piggyback off
of Chief Digger here on the call back as

696
01:09:18,880 --> 01:09:28,560
well. um you know to ask us to get up in
the middle of the night and not pay us

697
01:09:25,679 --> 01:09:34,719
uh accordingly to sacrifice leaving our
family whether it be on a holiday dinner

698
01:09:31,199 --> 01:09:40,799
um anything such as that um you know
that's a big a big incentive for us that

699
01:09:37,759 --> 01:09:45,920
time and a half. So the call back uh is
very important on us as well. Um other

700
01:09:44,319 --> 01:09:50,960
than that guys are working hard trying
to avoid the heat and um We've been

701
01:09:49,600 --> 01:09:56,320
getting a little bit busy with grass
fires and things like that, so we're

702
01:09:53,440 --> 01:10:01,000
just going at it and doing our jobs.
Thank you.

703
01:09:56,880 --> 01:10:01,000
» Okay. Thank you, Richard.

704
01:10:03,520 --> 01:10:12,239
» Um, my staff is getting ready to gear up
for our fall sports season. That's um

705
01:10:09,040 --> 01:10:17,120
baseball and soccer primarily. So,
they've got to move some equipment and

706
01:10:14,239 --> 01:10:21,840
get everything ready on the fields. Um,
as far as the swimming pool's concerned,

707
01:10:18,800 --> 01:10:27,360
we do have the electrical engineer um is
doing a site visit. We've done several

708
01:10:24,640 --> 01:10:33,520
um video calls back and forth and I've
sent a lot of information to him as far

709
01:10:29,440 --> 01:10:39,120
as information provided by CWEP
um back reports that they helped us with

710
01:10:37,040 --> 01:10:44,320
u when this issue first came about and
that's been very very beneficial. Um so

711
01:10:42,400 --> 01:10:48,719
I want to give them a shout out for all
the past work they've done. it's it it's

712
01:10:46,880 --> 01:10:53,600
finally come to fruition where it's
being used in a meaningful manner. And

713
01:10:51,440 --> 01:10:57,600
so um September 3rd, that's the date
when the um

714
01:10:55,760 --> 01:11:03,040
electrical engineer along with the
Landmark Aquatics engineers are coming

715
01:11:00,000 --> 01:11:12,080
down and doing their
next site visit. um golf revenue is up

716
01:11:07,920 --> 01:11:18,400
$8,000 last year. Um
as opposed to the same time frame

717
01:11:15,679 --> 01:11:21,280
uh year ago this month. And um even
though the heat's been slowing down our

718
01:11:19,920 --> 01:11:25,520
walk up business, they've been really
killing it on signing up new members

719
01:11:23,120 --> 01:11:29,600
because we've had a lot of um special
tournaments that are bringing out

720
01:11:27,040 --> 01:11:32,880
oftowners in and people that really
haven't set foot on the course and

721
01:11:31,040 --> 01:11:38,159
they're they're enjoying their time and
they're enjoying um the facilities and

722
01:11:35,440 --> 01:11:41,520
the town. It it's just not the golf
course. They they actually like coming

723
01:11:39,920 --> 01:11:47,040
to Carthage and they have a good time.
And so that's helping us um make up for

724
01:11:44,239 --> 01:11:52,239
the kind of the dog days of summer where
people aren't playing as much as they

725
01:11:48,719 --> 01:11:58,320
were two months ago except for Josiah.
He's tough. But that's all we got here.

726
01:11:56,080 --> 01:12:02,800
» All right, Josiah.
>> Yes. So business as usual at public

727
01:11:59,920 --> 01:12:07,600
works. Um I would like to highlight we
we are inching closer on the sidewalk

728
01:12:04,800 --> 01:12:11,520
extension for the downtown area. We've
had multiple meetings here in the last

729
01:12:09,440 --> 01:12:15,360
week and a half or so. uh just to kind
of button some final things up and then

730
01:12:13,760 --> 01:12:19,440
we'll be able to kind of share those
plans with everybody and and uh see

731
01:12:17,520 --> 01:12:25,120
where we're at there and uh give an
update on on timing on what everybody

732
01:12:21,520 --> 01:12:28,000
should expect to see there. Um, also
we're continuing,

733
01:12:27,040 --> 01:12:33,600
excuse [clears throat] me, to work on
the the code enforcement and uh looking

734
01:12:30,880 --> 01:12:39,520
for areas to improve and and constantly
uh trying to u uh enhance our system,

735
01:12:37,360 --> 01:12:44,960
make sure it's as efficient as possible.
And I am really happy to report I I feel

736
01:12:42,000 --> 01:12:48,880
like we truly are seeing with just not
just uh vision and some of these other

737
01:12:46,880 --> 01:12:52,800
groups out there that are willing to to
go out into the community and and just

738
01:12:51,199 --> 01:12:57,120
really seek out individuals that that
may need assistance and stuff. I know

739
01:12:54,480 --> 01:13:01,679
they greatly appreciate that and uh we
love to be able to work with people and

740
01:12:59,280 --> 01:13:06,239
and try to make those connections if if
possible to to seek some assistance

741
01:13:03,760 --> 01:13:09,760
there, whatever we have to do to to help
people get the yards cleaned up and and

742
01:13:08,560 --> 01:13:13,440
uh some of their property and their
structures and stuff. So, um just want

743
01:13:11,840 --> 01:13:17,199
to say thanks to all those volunteers
that are out there, always willing to

744
01:13:15,199 --> 01:13:22,719
get out in the community and volunteer.
Um, also I wanted to highlight on the

745
01:13:20,000 --> 01:13:27,120
resolution tonight, you'll see on the
city of Carthage adopting the Jasper

746
01:13:24,400 --> 01:13:31,840
County uh multi-jurisdictional hazard
mitigation plan. So, basically this

747
01:13:29,040 --> 01:13:37,120
resolution is a necessary step that we
have to take to be able to participate

748
01:13:33,760 --> 01:13:43,840
in uh in the county's um overall master
plan as far as the hazard mitigation. um

749
01:13:39,679 --> 01:13:48,239
this would uh help us to uh be involved
as a natural disaster comes in or

750
01:13:46,159 --> 01:13:52,719
whatever. Um everything's in place to be
able to receive that funding for SEMA or

751
01:13:50,480 --> 01:13:57,280
or FEMA assistance and stuff is is
really what that's all about. So that's

752
01:13:55,520 --> 01:14:01,520
all I have tonight. Thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you, Tracy.

753
01:13:59,120 --> 01:14:08,080
» Thank you, your honor. Um, we had a
meeting today, Chuck Bryant, Josiah and

754
01:14:03,520 --> 01:14:13,520
I, with Randy Rousson from CDN Smith,
uh, regarding the economic impacts of

755
01:14:10,880 --> 01:14:18,480
the 171249,
uh, corridor study. Um, as you might

756
01:14:16,719 --> 01:14:26,800
recall, that's the proposal where they
would um, reroute I49 around uh, the

757
01:14:21,600 --> 01:14:32,640
Civil War exit to link it to 249. Um, we
had strong conversations on how it would

758
01:14:29,600 --> 01:14:38,239
affect the uh, city of Carthage with the
economic development park, all of the

759
01:14:35,040 --> 01:14:45,199
industries that are already um, housed
here in Carthage and how they depend on

760
01:14:40,960 --> 01:14:51,040
uh, the I49 corridors. So, um, we hope
that the message that we were able to

761
01:14:47,840 --> 01:14:55,679
speak um, on today with Mr. Rousson um
was positive and they consider that as

762
01:14:53,440 --> 01:14:59,760
they move forward with that project.
Also, we had a meeting of the downtown

763
01:14:57,679 --> 01:15:04,800
revitalization coalition where we
discussed um inventory of the vacant

764
01:15:02,000 --> 01:15:10,800
buildings on the square. It's our goal
to help the business owners um or the

765
01:15:08,400 --> 01:15:15,600
building owners on the square uh to get
those buildings filled as we work um on

766
01:15:13,360 --> 01:15:20,480
economic development here in Carthage.
Also, uh, don't forget the YMCA murder

767
01:15:18,239 --> 01:15:28,560
mystery is this Saturday at Memorial
Hall. And, um, I would like to speak on

768
01:15:24,640 --> 01:15:34,000
the, um, council bill 2648 as well. Um,
the the one, um, there was a little bit

769
01:15:30,719 --> 01:15:39,360
of information that was, um, not quite
accurate that I want to address. Um, the

770
01:15:37,360 --> 01:15:44,960
discussions on the overtime issue came
out of the budget committee. Uh, but

771
01:15:41,360 --> 01:15:52,000
those conversations started in April. It
was discussed again at the May uh budget

772
01:15:47,760 --> 01:15:58,159
meeting. The um a notice was sent out 30
days in advance. We are required um

773
01:15:54,640 --> 01:16:04,239
through the contract um with the FOP to
give a 30-day notice. Uh we did give a

774
01:16:00,640 --> 01:16:08,960
30-day notice um for that. Um Michael
Miller even met with Trent McMain

775
01:16:06,880 --> 01:16:16,239
regarding the policy change, the
proposed policy changes. And um we have

776
01:16:13,120 --> 01:16:22,239
continued we have regularly meeting
regular meetings um with uh the mayor,

777
01:16:19,440 --> 01:16:27,440
myself, Michael Mueller and uh Chief
Dining and Jeff Penell uh discussing

778
01:16:25,520 --> 01:16:34,320
everything that is included in that
contract. um we take it very seriously

779
01:16:30,400 --> 01:16:39,760
because we um we value our employees and
we respect um their contract and we will

780
01:16:37,840 --> 01:16:46,239
we have not dropped those uh
negotiations nor will we um it's just

781
01:16:42,640 --> 01:16:51,120
been timeconsuming um we have meetings I
think one of them's gone like three

782
01:16:47,600 --> 01:16:54,480
hours um so it's we do not take that
lightly and so please I I just want to

783
01:16:52,960 --> 01:17:01,600
make sure that all of the officers
understand that that we don't um we are

784
01:16:58,239 --> 01:17:05,920
fortunate to have wonderful staff uh all
around. Yes, our firefighters and our

785
01:17:03,840 --> 01:17:10,320
police department, they work hard. Um I
understand their commitment to the jobs

786
01:17:08,159 --> 01:17:14,719
and the lack of time that they have at
home with their families. I I understand

787
01:17:12,080 --> 01:17:19,840
that it takes away from that. Um we
value we value all of our employees. Um

788
01:17:18,239 --> 01:17:25,120
the
I hate hearing, you know, the the

789
01:17:22,000 --> 01:17:29,520
discussions on cutting employees. Yes.
I've I've spoken many times about the

790
01:17:27,440 --> 01:17:35,793
sit the condition of our budget. We are
in a deficit. Um but hopefully, you

791
01:17:33,040 --> 01:17:39,440
know, um because we value our employees,
[snorts] we can look at different

792
01:17:36,880 --> 01:17:43,679
options um of reducing our budget
instead of cutting cutting staff. And

793
01:17:42,080 --> 01:17:48,320
that's all I have to say.
>> Okay. Thank you. Obviously, John Gold is

794
01:17:46,159 --> 01:17:52,239
not with us here this evening. Uh but he
had nothing to give to report. So now we

795
01:17:50,239 --> 01:17:57,440
will entertain the report of claims
presented against the city.

796
01:17:55,520 --> 01:18:01,239
The Committee on Claims filed a report
in the amount of 1,111,367.39.

797
01:18:05,199 --> 01:18:12,080
» Your honor, I ask that uh we approve the
claims as presented.

798
01:18:09,679 --> 01:18:16,560
» Second.
>> All right. We have a a motion [snorts]

799
01:18:13,920 --> 01:18:22,080
and a second to approve the claims as
submitted. Any discussion?

800
01:18:20,000 --> 01:18:26,960
» All in favor?
All opposed?

801
01:18:24,400 --> 01:18:30,960
Motion's approved.
All right. Next, we'll move on to public

802
01:18:28,480 --> 01:18:37,440
hearings. Miranda, please.
>> Um, we will now hold a public hearing um

803
01:18:34,159 --> 01:18:40,960
to discuss the property tax rates
proposed to be set by the city of

804
01:18:39,040 --> 01:18:46,800
Carthage.
And I do have some um information on

805
01:18:44,719 --> 01:18:51,760
that. So, the residential assessed
valuations went up approximately 2.3

806
01:18:49,199 --> 01:18:56,080
million. the agricultural the
agricultural

807
01:18:53,520 --> 01:19:03,840
uh assessment went down approximately
$35,000 and the commercial valuation uh

808
01:19:00,159 --> 01:19:10,719
increased about $3.28 million. Um
overall the total assessed values

809
01:19:06,080 --> 01:19:14,640
increased uh about 5.4 million. So
according to the Hancock amendment with

810
01:19:12,800 --> 01:19:19,040
the state,
there are certain levels that the city

811
01:19:16,560 --> 01:19:23,360
can increase their levy based on the
valuations and this year there was no

812
01:19:20,800 --> 01:19:30,239
change in our levy um as compared to
last year. So the levy is 6629.

813
01:19:27,920 --> 01:19:35,480
» Does anyone from the public or citizen
care to comment on the levy?

814
01:19:36,800 --> 01:19:46,560
Okay, moving on. Old business
First, council [snorts] bill Miranda.

815
01:19:43,600 --> 01:19:50,560
The second reading of council bill 2645,
an ordinance to authorize the mayor to

816
01:19:48,400 --> 01:19:56,159
accept state financial assistance in the
amount of $5,2715

817
01:19:54,000 --> 01:20:00,800
on behalf of the city of Carthage and to
execute any contracts resulting from

818
01:19:58,320 --> 01:20:04,640
such application for any grants between
the city of Carthage and the Missouri

819
01:20:02,560 --> 01:20:09,520
Highways and Transportation Commission
providing for capital operating and or

820
01:20:07,440 --> 01:20:15,480
marketing assistance for commission
approved transit projects.

821
01:20:12,080 --> 01:20:15,480
Any discussion?

822
01:20:16,000 --> 01:20:19,480
Cast your vote.

823
01:20:27,120 --> 01:20:35,199
Council bill passes. Next council bill.
[snorts]

824
01:20:32,400 --> 01:20:38,719
The second reading of council bill 2646,
an ordinance amending the annual

825
01:20:36,800 --> 01:20:45,120
operating and capital budget of the city
of Carthage for fiscal year 2025 2026

826
01:20:42,400 --> 01:20:49,280
for specified funds, general fund, golf
fund, capital improvement tax fund, and

827
01:20:47,520 --> 01:20:53,880
the south economic development park
fund.

828
01:20:50,560 --> 01:20:53,880
» Any discussion?

829
01:20:54,480 --> 01:20:57,960
» Cast your vote.

830
01:21:02,159 --> 01:21:10,640
Council bill passes. Next council bill.
>> The second reading of council bill 2647.

831
01:21:08,400 --> 01:21:15,040
An ordinance levying general taxes upon
real property located within the city of

832
01:21:13,120 --> 01:21:19,920
Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri for
the year 2026 for general revenue

833
01:21:17,600 --> 01:21:25,239
purposes and other purposes and fixing
the rates thereof.

834
01:21:21,840 --> 01:21:25,239
» Any discussion?

835
01:21:25,679 --> 01:21:30,280
Cast your vote. Council

836
01:21:34,719 --> 01:21:44,800
bill passes. Next council bill.
>> The second reading of council bill 2648,

837
01:21:42,400 --> 01:21:50,000
an ordinance to amend section 307
overtime and section 308 compensatory

838
01:21:47,679 --> 01:21:55,719
time of the personnel policy manual of
the city of Carthage, Missouri.

839
01:21:52,400 --> 01:21:55,719
» Any discussion?

840
01:21:55,831 --> 01:22:01,320
» [snorts]
>> Lots of discussion.

841
01:21:58,320 --> 01:22:01,320
» Jack,

842
01:22:01,440 --> 01:22:13,600
I have an issue with Mr. Wells voting
against the budget because of salaries.

843
01:22:09,600 --> 01:22:18,679
These gentlemen, ladies [snorts]
put their life on the line every day.

844
01:22:18,757 --> 01:22:20,777
[applause]

845
01:22:22,239 --> 01:22:29,040
before
this bill to me is an end run around a

846
01:22:26,880 --> 01:22:33,199
negotiating table. In other words, you
you're still in negotiations for a

847
01:22:30,880 --> 01:22:39,440
contract, but now this one seems to go
well, wait a minute, it's an end run in

848
01:22:35,920 --> 01:22:47,920
my opinion, but uh
the point being

849
01:22:41,920 --> 01:22:53,440
is how how can you put a a price
on someone's life? How can you do that?

850
01:22:50,960 --> 01:22:59,760
How can you say, "Oh, we you're only
worth $40,000 a year.

851
01:22:57,520 --> 01:23:07,120
It's just wrong."
And if they can come to an agreement on

852
01:23:02,320 --> 01:23:11,199
this payback or pay, not payback,
>> call back

853
01:23:08,000 --> 01:23:15,440
» call back situation, that to me is in
the negotiations.

854
01:23:12,960 --> 01:23:21,199
And if that was in the negotiation right
now and it went to a vote of the

855
01:23:18,480 --> 01:23:25,760
firefighters and the police, it would be
54 to zero.

856
01:23:24,000 --> 01:23:30,639
No.
That's how strong I think these people

857
01:23:27,440 --> 01:23:35,840
feel and that's how strongly I feel.
It's just wrong. So if you want to

858
01:23:33,440 --> 01:23:42,719
continue negotiating, [clears throat] do
it. Do it. And it's called a

859
01:23:40,080 --> 01:23:48,000
bargaining. Yeah. It's what you do.
And if you come to some curl of

860
01:23:44,320 --> 01:23:56,159
agreement that this is terribly wrong to
to cut someone's salary by $2,000 or

861
01:23:51,600 --> 01:23:59,520
$2,700. I heard as much as $2,700.
What

862
01:23:57,920 --> 01:24:03,679
I'm I'm going to go way way way back.
There was an officer named Ted Christie.

863
01:24:01,600 --> 01:24:09,440
Anybody's old enough to remember?
>> Got shot down by the five times down by

864
01:24:06,480 --> 01:24:16,400
the memorial hall.
um what he was just doing his job. He

865
01:24:13,360 --> 01:24:20,760
survived. However, it could happen
anytime. Anytime.

866
01:24:21,199 --> 01:24:28,400
I'm going to go back one other thing,
Ron, to the block cameras, which you

867
01:24:25,679 --> 01:24:34,560
voted against, which means that you
voted for murderers, rapists, robbers,

868
01:24:31,679 --> 01:24:38,800
child molesters, kidnappers, cuz that's
the way it is. You either have it you

869
01:24:36,800 --> 01:24:42,800
have it this way or you have it that
way. You know, to me it's the same

870
01:24:40,639 --> 01:24:46,400
situation here. You've been preaching
about cutting salaries, cutting

871
01:24:44,480 --> 01:24:52,719
salaries, going to lose employees, lose
employees. Well, I I promise you there's

872
01:24:49,040 --> 01:24:57,978
lots of money that we can we can cut
out of this budget.

873
01:24:53,920 --> 01:24:57,978
» Amen. TO TO TO [applause]

874
01:24:59,760 --> 01:25:07,199
not punish
people who are dedicated

875
01:25:04,080 --> 01:25:12,560
with their jobs because they love their
jobs and they want to help people and

876
01:25:10,239 --> 01:25:18,719
they don't want to get shot
>> or hurt or whatever. See, so I'm I mean

877
01:25:16,639 --> 01:25:24,080
it just I'm going to go off the track,
so I probably need to cool it down a

878
01:25:20,480 --> 01:25:27,199
little bit. It really makes me angry.
All right. Any other discussion,

879
01:25:26,639 --> 01:25:32,560
Beth?
>> Yes. I I um have talked to a number of

880
01:25:30,560 --> 01:25:40,960
people, including Trent. I've talked to
Chad. I've talked to several people in

881
01:25:34,560 --> 01:25:44,960
our ward about um the ordinance. And I
was remiss when it first came out in

882
01:25:43,600 --> 01:25:48,480
terms of maybe getting back from
vacation and not looking at it as um

883
01:25:47,040 --> 01:25:53,600
thoroughly as I should have to
understand what the implications are and

884
01:25:50,639 --> 01:25:59,520
what the discussion is. I am very much
in favor of us looking at our budgets

885
01:25:55,920 --> 01:26:05,040
and take appropriate action to do so,
but I also believe it's important to

886
01:26:02,719 --> 01:26:09,520
hear what is being said about the
negotiations that are currently taking

887
01:26:07,280 --> 01:26:14,480
place, which everybody agrees they have
been. I would really like to see those

888
01:26:12,080 --> 01:26:18,960
continue to work things out. And I had
asked I don't know um Chief Dineer if

889
01:26:17,440 --> 01:26:22,960
you have anything else there you'd like
to say at a few more points but I would

890
01:26:20,560 --> 01:26:28,480
like to I wanted to ask you to speak if
you had something more about the process

891
01:26:26,320 --> 01:26:32,800
of negotiating. I know Trent that's
handled different you know you're not

892
01:26:30,320 --> 01:26:35,120
doing that part directly but I I wanted
to ask you to speak to that if you

893
01:26:34,560 --> 01:26:39,199
would.
>> Yeah I will I'll tell you how it started

894
01:26:36,800 --> 01:26:46,320
for me. Um obviously I've been around
the FOP now for 30 years so I kind of

895
01:26:41,280 --> 01:26:49,360
knew how things work. Um and and so so
what happened is the FOP came to me and

896
01:26:48,080 --> 01:26:54,239
they give me a contract and they're
like, "Hey Chief, we don't really want

897
01:26:51,440 --> 01:26:58,400
to do anything uh that you you don't
you're strongly discouraged uh or just

898
01:26:56,800 --> 01:27:02,320
the advice of we don't want you in
there." Um I took that contract, I

899
01:27:00,880 --> 01:27:07,920
looked it over, and I gave them my
opinion. Um from there, they made some

900
01:27:05,199 --> 01:27:13,199
some changes to the contract. Um at that
point they presented that contract to to

901
01:27:10,080 --> 01:27:20,080
the mayor uh city administrator and HR.
Um, from there we started um our as a as

902
01:27:17,520 --> 01:27:23,600
a group like Tracy said um we started
going through I wouldn't say weekly but

903
01:27:21,920 --> 01:27:27,280
it was it was periodically we were
having meetings some of them lasted a

904
01:27:25,360 --> 01:27:33,760
very long time and we're going through
that word by word line by line um seeing

905
01:27:30,639 --> 01:27:38,880
what we we liked in it and what we
didn't like or what we couldn't do uh

906
01:27:36,159 --> 01:27:42,800
financially and and we continued to do
that up until I think two weeks ago week

907
01:27:41,600 --> 01:27:47,920
and a half ago.
Um, we finally finished the first

908
01:27:44,560 --> 01:27:51,840
section of that contract. Um, and and we
are so we've been meeting, we've been

909
01:27:49,760 --> 01:27:57,280
negotiating, not negotiating, looking at
it, and then we will then give that back

910
01:27:54,000 --> 01:28:04,080
to the FOP um with with our version of
the bargaining. Um, I know that is is in

911
01:28:01,040 --> 01:28:09,360
close finishing proximity uh to to get
that presented back to them. Um, so as

912
01:28:06,880 --> 01:28:14,719
far as the city negotiating bargaining,
that has been happening. Um, I think

913
01:28:12,000 --> 01:28:20,560
that that this bill kind of coming into
the I understand that it's this bill

914
01:28:16,719 --> 01:28:25,679
started its its thought process prior to
the city retrie receiving the contract

915
01:28:22,719 --> 01:28:29,760
to start the bargaining uh part of it.
Um, but during, you know, this is

916
01:28:27,440 --> 01:28:36,000
happening right in the middle of it. Um,
and and I just think that um more

917
01:28:33,120 --> 01:28:41,120
negotiations needs to happen um that
this might resolve itself. Um and and

918
01:28:39,600 --> 01:28:46,320
that's my thought on that.
>> Thank you. I think that's what I was

919
01:28:43,199 --> 01:28:50,560
looking for because um my experience has
been that we need to work things out by

920
01:28:48,080 --> 01:28:54,400
talking them through and I I believe
that's been happening. I don't want any

921
01:28:52,480 --> 01:29:01,040
disrespect to the city staff that have
put the time and effort in this, but I

922
01:28:57,360 --> 01:29:05,600
did I had the same perception is that
we've already got people at the table

923
01:29:03,040 --> 01:29:11,040
working on this and I did not hear and
listen very closely if there's anything

924
01:29:08,080 --> 01:29:16,159
that people are not going to try to make
some tradeoffs or try to make some

925
01:29:13,360 --> 01:29:20,960
concessions or give a little here and
there to be able to do this. the

926
01:29:17,840 --> 01:29:25,440
commitment and the concern that um Tracy
spoke about is real. There is no

927
01:29:23,600 --> 01:29:30,400
question about it. So, we're going to be
looking at those things and continue. Um

928
01:29:28,560 --> 01:29:35,280
and but I also believe that it's
important to give I I just sometimes I

929
01:29:33,679 --> 01:29:41,280
think when we want to take something
away from someone um that is a very hard

930
01:29:38,560 --> 01:29:47,040
pill to swallow. Now, does it happen and
that's life? Yes. But I I sincerely

931
01:29:44,719 --> 01:29:54,239
believe that we can keep on this track
and not try to put this through. And my

932
01:29:49,600 --> 01:30:00,480
qu my other question is if if let's say
that this gets voted on through the FOP

933
01:29:57,679 --> 01:30:06,560
and the answer is no, then how does that
reconcile with something that might pass

934
01:30:03,120 --> 01:30:12,239
here this evening? Um what happens? I
wasn't sure what how that works. Well,

935
01:30:08,880 --> 01:30:18,880
actually the verbiage in this council
bill is already in their contract.

936
01:30:15,520 --> 01:30:22,400
» They they had agreed to these changes.
>> So [clears throat]

937
01:30:19,920 --> 01:30:30,000
» they they were um this process did start
in April and again I'm just relaying how

938
01:30:26,480 --> 01:30:37,360
it it's happened. Um Michael Miller met
with Trent McMain and and they discussed

939
01:30:33,920 --> 01:30:43,040
the changes. He agreed the contract u
has this language um you know with the

940
01:30:39,520 --> 01:30:51,120
vacation and all. Um they we had a
meeting when we got the contract and we

941
01:30:46,560 --> 01:30:57,600
discussed this um policy change and um
their hopes were that the amount of

942
01:30:54,480 --> 01:31:04,159
savings would be used in another way to
benefit the police officers.

943
01:31:00,159 --> 01:31:09,840
So, um, but as far as the negotiations,
um, they're ongoing.

944
01:31:06,880 --> 01:31:14,880
» So, I'm still I don't think I I
understand. So, if if if this has been a

945
01:31:12,239 --> 01:31:18,719
part of the negotiation already and it's
in their agreement, I'm I'm just trying

946
01:31:17,040 --> 01:31:20,560
to figure out literally how it works
because I'm not clear.

947
01:31:19,840 --> 01:31:24,320
» Speak on that.
>> Okay.

948
01:31:20,960 --> 01:31:29,440
» The negotiation the this um council bill
2648 was discussed prior to us receiving

949
01:31:27,199 --> 01:31:35,840
the contract. The notice went out to the
police department um to the FOP on

950
01:31:32,719 --> 01:31:40,960
approximately June 15th
>> and we received the FOP contract on uh

951
01:31:39,120 --> 01:31:45,840
June 24th.
>> Okay. So that was on your timeline.

952
01:31:42,639 --> 01:31:50,480
Okay. I'm just trying to I it you were
going to say something.

953
01:31:47,199 --> 01:31:54,159
» Yeah. I So I and I don't want to speak
on behalf of the FOP because I'm not I'm

954
01:31:52,480 --> 01:31:59,920
not in that negotiations part of it.
This is my understanding. Um, so when I

955
01:31:57,120 --> 01:32:05,120
was given that first draft from the FOP,
I noticed in there that it was the

956
01:32:02,080 --> 01:32:09,120
80hour rule for overtime. Um, I then
walked down the hallway and I said,

957
01:32:06,560 --> 01:32:15,360
"Hey, do you realize what you have in
here?" Um, and the response to me back

958
01:32:12,000 --> 01:32:20,880
was, "Yes, we we understand that the
physical being here physically 80 hours

959
01:32:18,320 --> 01:32:25,040
u is could be a pay cut for officers
because they're not getting the premium

960
01:32:22,239 --> 01:32:29,760
overtime on the daily basis. We do
understand that. We understand that the

961
01:32:26,960 --> 01:32:33,679
city is in a deficit right now and we do
want to attempt to show that we

962
01:32:31,920 --> 01:32:39,840
understand that and we're willing to
work with that, but they don't want to

963
01:32:35,600 --> 01:32:43,760
take the entire cut um of of that money
uh and it just goes away. They were

964
01:32:41,679 --> 01:32:47,280
wanting to use some of that money, I
don't think all of it, but some of that

965
01:32:45,040 --> 01:32:54,800
money for other type of benefits,
whether it be longevity, whether it be

966
01:32:49,760 --> 01:32:58,719
by uh or do bilingual for the officers,
some type of other incentive for

967
01:32:56,800 --> 01:33:05,360
officers to stay here, whether it be
longevity pay, um other benefits that

968
01:33:02,159 --> 01:33:09,440
would, you know, a get recruits here to
for people to apply and also keep

969
01:33:07,440 --> 01:33:15,679
employees here instead of just
completely losing Yeah.

970
01:33:13,199 --> 01:33:22,000
» So if there are further negotiations
that continue um then what happens to

971
01:33:19,120 --> 01:33:27,040
those negotiations and also then having
this in this ordinance passed and in

972
01:33:24,639 --> 01:33:31,920
place because I'm not clear. It's like
will you keep talking or

973
01:33:28,960 --> 01:33:36,000
» Oh yeah.
Several um points in the contract that

974
01:33:34,960 --> 01:33:41,280
we are discussing.
>> Yes. Would you would I mean I don't I

975
01:33:39,040 --> 01:33:45,199
don't want to I'm no expert on this so
I'm just trying to kind of from an

976
01:33:43,199 --> 01:33:52,400
outside perspective with an obligation
here to do what I can but I so if they I

977
01:33:50,320 --> 01:33:58,560
mean somebody else want to help me out
here I'm just why don't you

978
01:33:55,280 --> 01:34:03,199
» So what what's the drop dead point if
you're not willing to give up give are

979
01:34:01,440 --> 01:34:08,159
you or are you not willing to give in on
this on this issue on the on I'm talking

980
01:34:06,639 --> 01:34:12,719
about the city. You're a part of the
negotiation.

981
01:34:09,440 --> 01:34:16,960
» I I I can speak a little bit. I will say
we we have the city has done their due

982
01:34:15,040 --> 01:34:24,000
diligence with this negotiation. There
has been nothing negative as far as as

983
01:34:20,400 --> 01:34:27,120
anything ill. It's all financially. It's
it's all, you know, some of the things

984
01:34:25,760 --> 01:34:31,920
that were in the contract that I didn't
like took some authority away from me uh

985
01:34:30,000 --> 01:34:34,719
to be able to manage my department the
way I feel like I should manage my

986
01:34:33,360 --> 01:34:39,440
department. Some of those things I
disagreed with. and they are fully aware

987
01:34:36,960 --> 01:34:44,560
of what I didn't like and what I liked
and why I didn't like them. Um, this

988
01:34:42,480 --> 01:34:49,360
city hasn't done anything illwilt. Their
intent is good. Um, as far as

989
01:34:46,719 --> 01:34:55,040
negotiations, I mean, I I think that
this bill passing it does affect us

990
01:34:52,800 --> 01:34:59,360
immediately. Um, and the negotiations
are going to still be continuing on and

991
01:34:57,360 --> 01:35:03,199
this could be, you know, if they we
negotiate to say, "Okay, we won't change

992
01:35:01,280 --> 01:35:08,320
it or we'll change it back to the way it
was and this is for for nothing." Um,

993
01:35:06,560 --> 01:35:15,120
but I think in the meantime, it's
harming the my staff. Um, until that

994
01:35:12,320 --> 01:35:18,880
happens, which you know, bargaining it
ends when it ends, when both parties can

995
01:35:17,280 --> 01:35:24,239
kind of come to an agreement, whenever
that may be. I'm not I'm not arguing

996
01:35:21,280 --> 01:35:29,440
that there's any ill will. I'm not
suggesting that whatsoever.

997
01:35:26,960 --> 01:35:36,480
But in union negotiations, you you
bargain in good faith. That's the mantra

998
01:35:33,600 --> 01:35:41,840
was NRB or the
FLSA.

999
01:35:38,159 --> 01:35:50,639
So I go back to the point the fact that
this bill was in existence before

1000
01:35:47,199 --> 01:35:54,719
the negotiation started.
>> That's what I'm hearing. Correct.

1001
01:35:52,800 --> 01:35:59,679
» That the discussions were Yes.
>> That that's what And so therefore

1002
01:35:57,600 --> 01:36:04,320
I can't believe
that someone would even say, you know,

1003
01:36:02,320 --> 01:36:09,440
this is a no-go.
And if you're suggesting that that Trent

1004
01:36:06,880 --> 01:36:12,800
said, "Oh, okay. We'll do this." And now
suddenly, who doesn't like it? I can't

1005
01:36:11,520 --> 01:36:17,199
believe he didn't like it from the
beginning.

1006
01:36:14,880 --> 01:36:23,520
» I I agree that the negotiations are
ongoing. I I'm not I don't think there's

1007
01:36:20,239 --> 01:36:29,600
any I know there's no will, but um
there's it's part of the negotiations.

1008
01:36:26,239 --> 01:36:35,280
This was it started as a separate um
subject from the negotiations. Then we

1009
01:36:32,560 --> 01:36:39,520
got the contract. It it can be council
has the right to make the their decision

1010
01:36:37,520 --> 01:36:44,480
based on do they want it to be part of
the ongoing negotiations that they want

1011
01:36:41,920 --> 01:36:49,520
to address it now. It can easily be uh
tabled and brought back as part of the

1012
01:36:47,040 --> 01:36:54,159
negotiations.
We would love to be able to give them

1013
01:36:52,080 --> 01:36:58,800
all of our employees, you know, a pay
raise or anything, you know, more um

1014
01:36:56,960 --> 01:37:04,000
better equipment, things like that. We
just have to figure out how to come to

1015
01:37:01,440 --> 01:37:11,000
terms with with our budget and
hopefully, like I said, not to the the

1016
01:37:07,119 --> 01:37:11,000
detriment of the departments.

1017
01:37:11,360 --> 01:37:16,000
» Lon,
>> I was going to say I think, and correct

1018
01:37:14,239 --> 01:37:21,199
me if I'm wrong, but the the way you
were trying to ask the question is

1019
01:37:19,119 --> 01:37:26,880
whether we decide for or against this
today, it could be obsolete once the

1020
01:37:24,880 --> 01:37:30,000
negotiation comes to us and and they say
this is what we want. So, so is that

1021
01:37:28,800 --> 01:37:33,280
what you were trying to ask, I guess.
>> Well, I'm ju just trying to get

1022
01:37:31,360 --> 01:37:37,119
clarification because I just feel like
that it has

1023
01:37:34,880 --> 01:37:41,920
» it's come in the middle of what was the
dialogue and the communications that

1024
01:37:38,719 --> 01:37:47,040
were taking place. It's not not wrong to
tackle this, but I just think that

1025
01:37:44,320 --> 01:37:51,600
having two parallel efforts and one's
going to keep going and then we have to

1026
01:37:48,639 --> 01:37:58,480
see how it is. it just it's got I it's
already um you know it's already

1027
01:37:54,880 --> 01:38:03,520
disruptive and I want to see it work in
a process and again nobody's mad or

1028
01:38:01,679 --> 01:38:08,880
whatever but I think it's important that
we try to pick the most workable path to

1029
01:38:06,880 --> 01:38:13,040
come up with the solutions and I feel
like this is

1030
01:38:10,880 --> 01:38:18,800
encroaching upon that and I I don't
think that's fair to the people that

1031
01:38:14,719 --> 01:38:24,080
were trying to um ask us to ask them to
protect protect us and our community.

1032
01:38:21,520 --> 01:38:29,280
» In just my thoughts, I think as a
council, I want to believe and I know I

1033
01:38:26,080 --> 01:38:34,320
I voted in favor of this. We care about
our city staff, right? We we approved

1034
01:38:30,960 --> 01:38:37,679
two raises this year, showing you
financially that that we care about you

1035
01:38:36,400 --> 01:38:41,679
guys and we want you guys to stay in
Carthage and we recognize that you guys

1036
01:38:39,199 --> 01:38:47,520
are the reason that we are as great as
we are. Um,

1037
01:38:44,639 --> 01:38:53,760
however, we do still have the dilemma of
of being in deficit spending, right? And

1038
01:38:50,560 --> 01:38:58,800
so, I I think as a city, the majority of
us have made a good faith effort to to

1039
01:38:56,000 --> 01:39:02,159
pay you guys and compensate you. Um, and
I think, correct me if I'm wrong, we are

1040
01:39:00,320 --> 01:39:05,360
one of the better paying, at least for
our fire and and police officers. I know

1041
01:39:04,159 --> 01:39:08,880
there was some misinformation out there
saying that we're paying less, but I

1042
01:39:07,040 --> 01:39:15,600
believe we are one of the higher paying.
Um I know we pay better than Joplin, but

1043
01:39:11,040 --> 01:39:18,480
um cities uh in the area, correct? No.
>> Carl Junction and Web City.

1044
01:39:17,040 --> 01:39:22,000
» Carl Junction and Web City are the ones
that that pay better than us or we're

1045
01:39:20,480 --> 01:39:29,920
better than Carl Junction and Web City.
I I know the the starting wage uh for

1046
01:39:25,280 --> 01:39:36,400
Joplin uh currently is uh 40,800 based
on a um job advertisement that they had.

1047
01:39:33,920 --> 01:39:41,199
They have the the tax that they were
talking about um that they are proposing

1048
01:39:38,800 --> 01:39:45,119
increasing the starting salary. So that
would put the um Joplin PD higher than

1049
01:39:44,159 --> 01:39:48,880
than
>> but currently I mean because that could

1050
01:39:46,960 --> 01:39:53,040
fall through but currently we're
>> currently we are higher.

1051
01:39:49,840 --> 01:39:56,320
» We are higher. Okay. Um, and again,
we've put steps into place. I know that

1052
01:39:54,960 --> 01:39:59,280
we have another raise coming at the end
of the year. I think that's the step

1053
01:39:58,000 --> 01:40:00,639
raise, right, that we approved or is
this the

1054
01:39:59,840 --> 01:40:07,760
» January one?
>> January 1st. Yeah. So, I mean, at least

1055
01:40:04,320 --> 01:40:13,040
I know if I had unlimited money, I
definitely believe everyone deserves a

1056
01:40:09,360 --> 01:40:17,679
lot lot more money. Um, your jobs aren't
easy. I recognize it. I think everybody

1057
01:40:15,040 --> 01:40:22,560
here recognizes that the dilemma is
what's the alternative, right?

1058
01:40:20,960 --> 01:40:28,719
And I think we we've kind of talked
about that could be losing jobs, losing

1059
01:40:24,960 --> 01:40:32,639
other benefits. Um,
and again, ultimately, if negotiations

1060
01:40:31,440 --> 01:40:36,639
go through and that's brought to the
council, all this could be obsolete

1061
01:40:34,480 --> 01:40:41,119
really.
>> So, but because it was brought up prior,

1062
01:40:39,280 --> 01:40:44,560
I think we need to follow through with
it.

1063
01:40:43,440 --> 01:40:50,480
» Any other discussion?
>> Yes, your honor. I want to answer

1064
01:40:47,600 --> 01:40:58,400
certain council members
on me. Uh

1065
01:40:54,800 --> 01:41:03,040
I'm part of the budget committee
and I ask

1066
01:41:00,400 --> 01:41:09,040
all the department heads to take a look
at their needs versus their wants

1067
01:41:06,320 --> 01:41:13,600
here. Now you're wanting to cut some
capital to bring us within budget, but

1068
01:41:11,199 --> 01:41:18,800
they would not. They refused to cut
their wants.

1069
01:41:15,280 --> 01:41:25,040
They wanted their needs
which would have put us in a

1070
01:41:21,920 --> 01:41:32,239
non-deficent area.
Second, I've served this country for

1071
01:41:28,080 --> 01:41:37,920
over 20 years in the military.
I also served with the sheriff

1072
01:41:34,480 --> 01:41:45,040
department after I got out.
>> I know what it's like

1073
01:41:40,880 --> 01:41:54,760
to be in a position of threat.
And it is not easy to want

1074
01:41:50,239 --> 01:41:54,760
to represent the taxpayer here.

1075
01:41:55,440 --> 01:42:02,800
Now, if you're willing to ask the
taxpayer to pay more money, then great.

1076
01:42:00,239 --> 01:42:08,960
Let's put it to the taxes, the citizens,
and let them vote on it.

1077
01:42:06,880 --> 01:42:16,719
I have never
felt that these officers

1078
01:42:12,159 --> 01:42:19,719
that are caring for us are not needed or
worthless.

1079
01:42:20,880 --> 01:42:27,440
And I voted against the flock cameras,
not for the reasons that you're coding

1080
01:42:25,840 --> 01:42:32,560
quoting,
but for reasons that were presented to

1081
01:42:29,440 --> 01:42:37,199
me by the public that I represent and
that I'm elected

1082
01:42:35,119 --> 01:42:42,000
to represent.
That's just a difference of opinion

1083
01:42:38,880 --> 01:42:47,360
between you and me.
That's all we are.

1084
01:42:45,679 --> 01:42:52,719
Rob.
>> Um, so and I just want to address really

1085
01:42:50,560 --> 01:42:58,719
the the officers and the firemen in the
the room more. Um, just a little history

1086
01:42:55,440 --> 01:43:03,280
about me. So my husband is uh was a 30y
year uh first responder. So I lived the

1087
01:43:01,679 --> 01:43:07,360
life that all of you are living. We
missed Christmases. My kids never

1088
01:43:05,360 --> 01:43:13,199
celebrated a Christmas on a Christmas
ever. Um we did have Thanksgiving very

1089
01:43:11,040 --> 01:43:18,320
rarely on Thanksgiving. I understand. I
understand what overtime means to you.

1090
01:43:15,199 --> 01:43:22,000
That that is your bread and butter. Um,
and I understand what it means.

1091
01:43:20,956 --> 01:43:26,960
[clears throat] But I also want you to
understand from our perspective, we do

1092
01:43:25,199 --> 01:43:32,080
have the deficit. We've got to do
something. So what I would say to you

1093
01:43:28,719 --> 01:43:36,676
and Trent perhaps you and and Chad and
um Jason um when you come back to the

1094
01:43:34,880 --> 01:43:40,239
table
[clears throat] kind of consider what

1095
01:43:37,920 --> 01:43:44,719
else could we do like what's the other
options or think about that or you know

1096
01:43:42,560 --> 01:43:48,400
talk about it amongst yourselves please
because we do we've got we do have to

1097
01:43:46,960 --> 01:43:52,159
come up with something and it's not just
your responsibility please don't think

1098
01:43:50,480 --> 01:43:56,080
it's not fire and police's only
responsibility you know it's it's on

1099
01:43:53,840 --> 01:44:01,360
Josiah it's on Richard too it's on it's
on the office staff. Everybody's got to

1100
01:43:58,320 --> 01:44:06,000
make a sacrifice. And what I'm wrestling
with is [clears throat] if we don't do

1101
01:44:04,159 --> 01:44:09,840
something in this realm, you know, it
could be the person to your left or your

1102
01:44:08,159 --> 01:44:14,480
right who in a year from now maybe
doesn't have a job. And I'm struggling

1103
01:44:12,320 --> 01:44:18,880
with that thought like what if we what
if we did have to make layoffs? Like I

1104
01:44:16,320 --> 01:44:24,880
don't want to do that to somebody. But,
um, I mean, what I want to what I will

1105
01:44:21,040 --> 01:44:28,560
say is, you know, I I probably wasn't
going to vote I was probably going to

1106
01:44:26,239 --> 01:44:32,960
vote yes, but I feel like there's been
enough discussion [clears throat] that I

1107
01:44:30,800 --> 01:44:40,239
don't think it hurts for us to keep
talking. Um, but I'm asking you for your

1108
01:44:37,119 --> 01:44:43,679
help. If you can if you can think of
something,

1109
01:44:42,159 --> 01:44:47,840
help [clears throat] each help us out.
Help each other out.

1110
01:44:45,840 --> 01:44:52,159
That's what we really need because we do
we really do have a deficit. We I went

1111
01:44:49,920 --> 01:44:57,280
to the budget meetings. I mean, it's
it's not made up. There's there's a lack

1112
01:44:54,560 --> 01:45:04,320
of money that we can kick keep kicking
the can, but eventually it runs out. Um

1113
01:45:00,320 --> 01:45:10,719
and I don't want that to happen. So, um
I'm going to vote no so that we can go

1114
01:45:07,679 --> 01:45:19,760
back to the drawing board and keep
negotiating and come up with some things

1115
01:45:12,800 --> 01:45:26,080
because I think that that is worth it um
for all sides. I don't want there to be

1116
01:45:22,480 --> 01:45:29,600
hard feelings because we made a decision
and then you know it comes out later. we

1117
01:45:28,400 --> 01:45:33,840
could have. I don't want to waste all of
our time because something comes up in

1118
01:45:31,600 --> 01:45:39,600
the contract and then this again was all
for nothing. Um, but please, if you can

1119
01:45:37,119 --> 01:45:45,440
help us out. I mean, that's genuine. If
you've got an idea, kick it to us. I

1120
01:45:42,239 --> 01:45:48,159
mean, I'm open to hearing it. So, that's
all.

1121
01:45:46,960 --> 01:45:53,760
» Any other discussion?
>> Yeah. And I'd like to piggyback off of

1122
01:45:49,840 --> 01:46:00,239
what Robin's saying on if you guys if
you guys want this, you need to help us

1123
01:45:56,000 --> 01:46:03,920
come up with a solution to um make it
happen for you. In my mind, I'm thinking

1124
01:46:02,320 --> 01:46:07,760
if
if we keep if we keep it like it is and

1125
01:46:06,320 --> 01:46:12,560
it gets to the point where we have to
lay off two or three officers, okay, you

1126
01:46:11,040 --> 01:46:16,800
guys are short-handed. You're going to
have to work overtime. And guess what?

1127
01:46:15,119 --> 01:46:22,639
It's gonna it's going to come down to
paying more than what we are wanting to

1128
01:46:19,280 --> 01:46:24,639
pay because of the extra overtime you're
going to be working and you guys are

1129
01:46:23,520 --> 01:46:29,040
going to get burned out and it's going
the turnover is just going to keep

1130
01:46:26,000 --> 01:46:33,920
happening. I feel like if we could work
something out where even like Ron said,

1131
01:46:31,679 --> 01:46:39,679
figure out your wants and needs, we let
us help you wherever you can, we can.

1132
01:46:36,719 --> 01:46:45,760
And and I was going to go into this
looking at my ward and my city at voting

1133
01:46:43,040 --> 01:46:51,920
uh voting yes on this, but having the
discussions, I think I would prefer to

1134
01:46:48,719 --> 01:46:57,760
have more discussions on this and vote
no and just discuss more on it, go

1135
01:46:54,480 --> 01:47:05,199
further. [snorts] That's all. Okay,
>> Jack, I don't know how you put a dollar

1136
01:47:01,679 --> 01:47:10,560
number on a life.
I do not understand.

1137
01:47:07,600 --> 01:47:16,400
And we're talking about
a minimal amount of money.

1138
01:47:14,080 --> 01:47:19,840
90 some odd thousand. Okay, big deal.
But I'm talking about what's in their

1139
01:47:17,920 --> 01:47:23,119
pockets
and how they how do they deal with their

1140
01:47:21,520 --> 01:47:27,760
families? How do they take care of their
families? It's no different than CWP.

1141
01:47:25,760 --> 01:47:32,960
What's not in their on on your line is
reliability and service. That's what you

1142
01:47:30,080 --> 01:47:37,920
pay for. And what you have in Carthage
is a safe city.

1143
01:47:36,239 --> 01:47:43,679
The first time my wife was ever up here
from South Texas, she said it feels safe

1144
01:47:40,239 --> 01:47:50,719
here. And why is that?
Cuz we have these these people to take

1145
01:47:46,560 --> 01:47:53,360
care of us. And I can't imagine
saying, "Well, we're going to lay

1146
01:47:51,920 --> 01:47:59,989
somebody off just because we don't have
any money."

1147
01:47:55,679 --> 01:48:02,009
We can find money. We can find money.
>> [clears throat]

1148
01:48:03,600 --> 01:48:10,320
» may I I think we we probably do need
more time just to let the conversation

1149
01:48:08,960 --> 01:48:14,320
go. So, I'm going to make a motion to
table this um

1150
01:48:13,360 --> 01:48:19,520
at least till [clears throat] our next
council meeting so that the FOP, the

1151
01:48:17,600 --> 01:48:24,320
city can
can continue talks, negotiations, um

1152
01:48:22,560 --> 01:48:29,760
because ultimately whether we vote for
it or against it and and and they decide

1153
01:48:28,400 --> 01:48:34,960
something else, this decision is not
going to matter, right? If we end up

1154
01:48:31,040 --> 01:48:38,960
voting something else in um so I make
the motion we table this.

1155
01:48:36,400 --> 01:48:46,080
» Second. Okay. I have a motion and a
second to table council bill 2648

1156
01:48:43,440 --> 01:48:50,760
uh until at least the next meeting or
perhaps longer. Any discussion?

1157
01:48:51,360 --> 01:48:54,960
» All in favor?
>> I.

1158
01:48:53,520 --> 01:48:59,280
» All opposed?
>> No.

1159
01:48:57,840 --> 01:49:02,480
» All right, Jack, you want to add any
comment on that?

1160
01:49:00,239 --> 01:49:05,360
» I made a lot of them so far.
>> Okay.

1161
01:49:02,800 --> 01:49:09,679
» Um if you going to lay it two weeks,
then what? It gonna be another two weeks

1162
01:49:07,440 --> 01:49:16,800
and then another two weeks.
>> It's got to be resolved between

1163
01:49:13,040 --> 01:49:24,560
the FPO FOP
I get my acronym this way and and the

1164
01:49:19,840 --> 01:49:29,920
city has to be resolved and not to the
detriment

1165
01:49:26,400 --> 01:49:36,000
of this group of people.
the city can take

1166
01:49:33,600 --> 01:49:41,679
some. You know, there's a way to find
it. I know there has to be. We can't

1167
01:49:38,560 --> 01:49:46,880
just keep hammering on this on the on
the reason that these people keep keep

1168
01:49:43,600 --> 01:49:51,280
us safe.
You know, I had an electrical fire three

1169
01:49:48,800 --> 01:49:57,520
years ago and they were out there just
like that.

1170
01:49:53,840 --> 01:50:02,000
keep keep my house from burning down
and terrible smoke damage and all that

1171
01:49:59,520 --> 01:50:08,719
kind of thing. And that's what we have
in this city because the employees are

1172
01:50:06,080 --> 01:50:12,560
dedicated. They love their jobs. They
love what they're doing. And if you're

1173
01:50:10,480 --> 01:50:17,541
going to say we're going to not give you
more money, that's total BS. That's

1174
01:50:15,679 --> 01:50:19,561
that.
[applause]

1175
01:50:21,440 --> 01:50:28,960
Any other discussion then?
Motion is tabled. All right, moving on

1176
01:50:27,040 --> 01:50:33,760
to new business. There we have none this
evening. We'll now move on to Mayor

1177
01:50:31,520 --> 01:50:37,679
War's appointments. Miranda,
>> the mayor's appointment of Annie Golden

1178
01:50:35,840 --> 01:50:41,159
to the Civil War Museum board until
December 2027.

1179
01:50:42,800 --> 01:50:49,280
» Make a motion we um allow the mayor's
appointment to the Civil War Board.

1180
01:50:47,920 --> 01:50:54,480
» Second.
>> I have a motion, a second to approve the

1181
01:50:51,040 --> 01:50:59,119
appointments. Any discussion?
All in favor? I.

1182
01:50:56,560 --> 01:51:03,840
» All opposed.
Appointment is confirmed. We'll now move

1183
01:51:01,360 --> 01:51:07,840
on to resolutions.
>> First resolution.

1184
01:51:04,880 --> 01:51:12,000
» Sorry. Resolution 2129, a resolution of
the city of Carthage adopting the Jasper

1185
01:51:10,080 --> 01:51:18,040
County multi-jurisdictional hazard
mitigation plan.

1186
01:51:14,719 --> 01:51:18,040
Any discussion?

1187
01:51:18,480 --> 01:51:23,920
» Cast your vote.
>> I need a motion first.

1188
01:51:21,199 --> 01:51:26,800
» Oh, I'm sorry. So moved.
>> Second. I

1189
01:51:24,960 --> 01:51:33,960
» have a motion, a second to adopt the
resolution. Any discussion?

1190
01:51:30,480 --> 01:51:33,960
» Cast your vote.

1191
01:51:41,199 --> 01:51:48,400
Resolution is adopted.
All right. We will now move on to

1192
01:51:45,840 --> 01:51:53,599
closing comments. And I will start just
a couple things for the council. Uh,

1193
01:51:50,560 --> 01:51:59,920
number one, I think everyone understands
this, but just to make sure we're clear,

1194
01:51:56,639 --> 01:52:06,800
any contract, the current contract that
has been profered by the FOP only

1195
01:52:03,599 --> 01:52:10,480
represents those members of the FOP. It
does not represent fire department. It

1196
01:52:08,639 --> 01:52:14,639
doesn't represent any other members of
the city. Just so we're straight. and

1197
01:52:12,800 --> 01:52:20,320
any contract that the city would enter
into, you as the council members would

1198
01:52:17,199 --> 01:52:25,760
have to vote to approve or uh not that
contract. So, just make sure we're we're

1199
01:52:22,880 --> 01:52:30,960
tracking from that perspective.
Okay. Other than that, again, my hats

1200
01:52:28,480 --> 01:52:36,320
off to Sergeant Adams who took one for
the team, so to speak. So, if you have a

1201
01:52:33,440 --> 01:52:41,440
chance to see him, uh please offer your
best well wishes. And we will move on to

1202
01:52:39,679 --> 01:52:43,679
uh other closing comments. Susan, we'll
start with you.

1203
01:52:42,239 --> 01:52:46,480
» None tonight. Thank you,
>> Ron.

1204
01:52:45,360 --> 01:52:50,960
» Nothing.
>> Bet.

1205
01:52:47,119 --> 01:52:55,040
» On a on a different note, um
I would like to say congratulations.

1206
01:52:53,040 --> 01:53:00,320
This is the first week of school
starting and many families also said

1207
01:52:57,679 --> 01:53:05,520
goodbye as their seniors went on to be
freshman in college or go into other

1208
01:53:02,800 --> 01:53:10,159
opportunities. And so I wish the staff
and the administration and the students

1209
01:53:07,840 --> 01:53:14,480
especially the seniors a great year
because I think that's going to be class

1210
01:53:11,440 --> 01:53:20,639
of what 2027. So that's something and I
really um appreciate then on this the

1211
01:53:17,679 --> 01:53:25,760
topic of this it's important to have
these discussions that we have in order

1212
01:53:23,599 --> 01:53:32,880
to do and make the best decisions
possible um for our community and for

1213
01:53:29,440 --> 01:53:38,080
our our our police and our and our fire
as well as our other employees. We are

1214
01:53:35,119 --> 01:53:43,360
very very lucky. But I also think that
um and one of the things I appreciate is

1215
01:53:40,320 --> 01:53:48,880
that I think we can stop and reassess
and that's sometimes very rare these

1216
01:53:45,920 --> 01:53:51,728
days. So I think that by doing so we're
going to come out with a better

1217
01:53:50,000 --> 01:53:56,400
decision. Um hopefully that's
[clears throat] fair and equitable and

1218
01:53:53,040 --> 01:54:01,080
it does mean effort on everybody's part.
So thank you

1219
01:53:58,080 --> 01:54:01,080
» Alan.

1220
01:54:01,199 --> 01:54:08,800
So I I guess I would like to start by
saying that I have always supported the

1221
01:54:06,320 --> 01:54:12,719
police and fire department in this
position.

1222
01:54:10,400 --> 01:54:18,719
Unfortunately in this position we have
to make very difficult decisions.

1223
01:54:15,679 --> 01:54:23,440
Uh if they were easy, everybody would
want to do it. And if they were much

1224
01:54:21,040 --> 01:54:28,080
harder, nobody would want to do it. But
we have to make difficult decisions.

1225
01:54:26,320 --> 01:54:33,040
And
sometimes the decision is not about can

1226
01:54:31,360 --> 01:54:39,199
we give somebody more money? Can we give
them less money? It's a matter of do we

1227
01:54:36,560 --> 01:54:44,159
look at what we're doing and is what
we're doing consistent with what other

1228
01:54:42,080 --> 01:54:48,400
people are doing, what other cities are
doing, what other government agencies

1229
01:54:46,480 --> 01:54:53,119
are doing, what we're doing within the
city, within departments.

1230
01:54:51,040 --> 01:55:01,840
Um,
and we we have to make a decision of

1231
01:54:57,679 --> 01:55:08,840
should we try to be consistent?
I'm sorry, mayor, could you please ask

1232
01:55:03,599 --> 01:55:08,840
the comments in the audience to stop?

1233
01:55:08,960 --> 01:55:14,400
» What comments?
>> I hear comments while I'm speaking and

1234
01:55:12,560 --> 01:55:16,480
I've heard comments all during the whole
meeting.

1235
01:55:15,360 --> 01:55:18,719
» So, please, Bill,
>> I don't know what the hell you're

1236
01:55:17,920 --> 01:55:22,159
talking about.
>> All right. Well, the audience will

1237
01:55:19,920 --> 01:55:25,199
please remain respectful and quiet. So,
Al, please finish.

1238
01:55:23,199 --> 01:55:29,979
» I have no further comments, your honor.
>> All right. Thank you, Jack.

1239
01:55:27,760 --> 01:55:35,840
A point of irritation to me is that
[clears throat] we talk about Web City,

1240
01:55:32,400 --> 01:55:42,000
Carl Junction, the Osho, you name it.
>> We don't live there. This is our city.

1241
01:55:39,599 --> 01:55:47,599
And what happens in other cities, you
might say, "Well, we're we're similar to

1242
01:55:45,040 --> 01:55:52,960
or we're better than or we're not quite
as good as it." To me, it doesn't make a

1243
01:55:49,520 --> 01:55:58,320
a bit of difference. We're talking about
our city being the way it is. And my

1244
01:55:56,800 --> 01:56:05,040
contention
is because we have great employees who

1245
01:56:02,000 --> 01:56:11,920
are dedicated and want to see our city
stay safe and uh secure.

1246
01:56:09,920 --> 01:56:14,080
» Okay. Thank you, Mariela.
>> Your honor.

1247
01:56:12,880 --> 01:56:20,159
» All right. Robin.
>> Yes, your honor. I I I want to comment

1248
01:56:16,960 --> 01:56:25,599
just a couple of things. I think that
um Trent, you're still here. I just want

1249
01:56:22,400 --> 01:56:29,599
to ask if I'm clear when we discussed
what you really wanted was the

1250
01:56:27,040 --> 01:56:34,000
tableabling. Are you do you feel like
that is what you asked for? Cuz that's

1251
01:56:31,920 --> 01:56:38,639
what you asked me for. Not necessarily a
no vote, but a table for you guys to

1252
01:56:36,080 --> 01:56:40,800
have some time to talk and continue to
work.

1253
01:56:39,280 --> 01:56:45,920
» Whatever you guys did, as long as it was
a yes, was perfectly fine.

1254
01:56:42,639 --> 01:56:49,920
» Okay. Great. Great. So, secondarily, I
just want to say that, you know, um to

1255
01:56:48,239 --> 01:56:56,080
piggyback a little bit off what Allan
said, just um you know, just because you

1256
01:56:53,119 --> 01:57:00,480
sometimes don't don't vote exactly the
way that um someone else thinks doesn't

1257
01:56:58,560 --> 01:57:06,000
necessarily mean it's because you don't
care or you don't want safety. Um my

1258
01:57:03,520 --> 01:57:10,639
house caught on fire, too. Jack and the
police department came and um I don't

1259
01:57:08,800 --> 01:57:18,480
mean to get emotional, but this is a
really really um close to my heart

1260
01:57:14,320 --> 01:57:24,400
topic. I live this life for 27 years
being married. And it's a little

1261
01:57:20,560 --> 01:57:28,400
insulting for you to imply that because
I maybe vote differently than you means

1262
01:57:26,560 --> 01:57:33,599
that I don't care. Because I'm telling
you, nobody in this room could care

1263
01:57:31,360 --> 01:57:37,679
could care more than me about what's
going on.

1264
01:57:35,040 --> 01:57:42,560
um in these officers and firefighters
lives and so or that because we didn't

1265
01:57:39,920 --> 01:57:47,440
vote no or because we we tabled instead
of voting doesn't mean that we don't

1266
01:57:44,239 --> 01:57:51,760
care about what's happening to them. Um
I've lost a lot of sleep since I talked

1267
01:57:49,599 --> 01:57:57,520
to Trent a week ago because this is
weighed on me. Um

1268
01:57:54,800 --> 01:58:03,840
and I don't want my vote to ever make
them think that I don't care about

1269
01:57:59,119 --> 01:58:07,520
what's going on with them. So, um
I don't think being the loudest person

1270
01:58:05,599 --> 01:58:10,560
in the room makes you necessarily the
rightest person. So, I

1271
01:58:09,440 --> 01:58:11,360
» Are you talking to me?
>> Yeah.

1272
01:58:11,040 --> 01:58:13,360
» Why?
>> I am.

1273
01:58:12,000 --> 01:58:15,520
» Why? Why?
>> I I think it's

1274
01:58:14,239 --> 01:58:18,880
» You know, you and I you and I have had
it out a number of times. So, you know,

1275
01:58:17,520 --> 01:58:23,040
if you're going to say something, just
say, "Hey, Jack, are you call me by my

1276
01:58:21,040 --> 01:58:27,360
name or call me Mr. Perkins or you call
me Hold it, Jack. Just hold it. Just if

1277
01:58:26,239 --> 01:58:31,920
you want to have a follow- on
conversation outside, that's fine. I

1278
01:58:29,840 --> 01:58:34,239
invite you to do so civily.
>> Oh,

1279
01:58:32,400 --> 01:58:38,960
» Robin, your time. You're
>> I'm I'm done.

1280
01:58:35,520 --> 01:58:42,000
» Okay. Thank you, Juan.
>> I just want to remind everyone that

1281
01:58:40,400 --> 01:58:46,080
we're all here because we love Carthage,
right? We're all trying to do what's

1282
01:58:43,599 --> 01:58:52,000
best for Carthage and we all have our
opinions, right? Um whether they're

1283
01:58:48,080 --> 01:58:56,080
right, whether they're wrong, um I I can
guarantee that all of you guys at some

1284
01:58:54,159 --> 01:58:59,360
point I've voted with you and I voted
against you. That doesn't mean that I

1285
01:58:58,000 --> 01:59:03,440
love the city any more than you or that
you love it any more than I do. We all

1286
01:59:01,280 --> 01:59:08,639
love Carthage. We're all serving our
city because we care about Carthage and

1287
01:59:04,960 --> 01:59:15,760
we want what's best. Um, multiple things
could be right, right? Um, however,

1288
01:59:13,679 --> 01:59:21,400
we always have to keep that in mind.
We're all here because we love Carthage.

1289
01:59:17,520 --> 01:59:21,400
Okay. Um,

1290
01:59:21,440 --> 01:59:25,760
we have to make tough decisions. This is
a tough decision. And anytime you're

1291
01:59:24,239 --> 01:59:30,159
you're dealing with people's money, it's
a tough decision. Um,

1292
01:59:28,800 --> 01:59:33,440
and it should be a tough decision every
single time that we approve anything,

1293
01:59:31,760 --> 01:59:38,320
right? Because it's not our money, it's
our our city folks's money, right? So,

1294
01:59:36,480 --> 01:59:42,800
um,
when you start getting hot or upset

1295
01:59:40,639 --> 01:59:48,480
about anything, just remember, we're all
here for the same reason. We want

1296
01:59:44,239 --> 01:59:52,159
Carthage to do good. Okay. Um, I love
the city. Everyone in here, I believe,

1297
01:59:50,320 --> 01:59:56,960
loves the city. No matter whether you
voted with me or against me, I know we

1298
01:59:53,599 --> 02:00:01,360
all care about the city the same way. So
continue to remember that whenever those

1299
01:59:59,040 --> 02:00:04,560
moments get heated
and you feel yourself getting upset that

1300
02:00:02,960 --> 02:00:09,360
that we all love the city and and we all
want what's best. That's all I have.

1301
02:00:07,440 --> 02:00:12,480
» All right. Thank you. There are nothing
else. I'd entertain a motion to adjurnn.

1302
02:00:11,119 --> 02:00:15,199
» I'll make a motion to adjurnn.
>> Second.

1303
02:00:13,440 --> 02:00:21,560
» Have a motion second to adjurnn. All in
favor?

1304
02:00:15,840 --> 02:00:21,560
» I I all opposed. We are journed.