Globe Cites Experience as Reason to Endorse Blunt

As the November elections near, many people (and papers) are starting to lock-in their votes for their favorite candidates.  Today, the Joplin Globe picked current Congressman Roy Blunt over challenger Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan in the run for US Senate.

Blunt’s “depth of experience” was believed to be key to fixing problems in DC that “urgently need solutions…” according to the Globe article. 

The entire article can be found here. 

This is the same Joplin Globe that endorsed then-Senator (and now President) Barack Obama, a Jr. Senator from Illinois, over Senator John McCain because of his running mate Sarah Palin.  McCain had been in Congress since 1982, serving as a Senator since 1986.

The Globe said then:  “Obama’s ability to transcend generational, racial and partisan divisions, his thoughtful approach to weighty issues and message of bipartisanship resonate with many Americans. There are some who see him as simply a gifted speaker, but his words inspire. We believe that Obama can make those words a reality — making “change” more than just a campaign slogan, but a launching point for a brighter future for all Americans.”

Wildcats Host Kickapoo in Final Home Game

The 2-5 Wildcats will host the Kickapoo Chiefs tonight in the final home appearance of the season. The 4-3 Chiefs are 1-1 on district play. Neosho is 0-2

Questionable tonight due to injury are running backs Blake Stauffer and Will McDaniel.

Water Hearing Details Benefits

Last night’s public hearing on the upcoming water improvements were a final opportunity for citizens to give their input and comments on the upcoming project. 

Unfortunately, no citizens showed up (excluding city employees, the mayor, the mayor-protem and the NDN).

The good news is the project will move forward and within the next 18-24 months, the quality of Neosho’s water will improve along with the system’s overall reliability. 

Despite the proposed rate increases that will be assessed to pay for the project, Neosho’s water costs will still be well below the recommended rates by the US gov’t and still less than surrounding cities including Nevada, Joplin, and Webb City.  The proposed rates will not only pay for the funding of the project, but also planned maintenance and upkeep on the project – something that has been lacking with some past projects.

For those that want to push for more open government and more open communication about what happening in your city, Neosho has once again honored its commitment to do so.  But I’m sorry you weren’t there to see (or hear) it.

Neosho City Manager Locked Up…for MDA.

 Neosho City Manager Harlan Moore (mug shot above) spent some time behind bars today for Jerry’s Kids.  I took a moment to visit him “in jail” and help pay his bond.  When we left, his total was just over $400 in donations to a great cause.

Thanks to Harlan and everyone else who raised and/or donated monies to help fight this terrible disease.

Why Is Neosho’s Dream Such a Nightmare to Some?

Back in 2006, I wasn’t following Neosho politics at the level I follow it today.  My world at that time revolved around the Neosho R-5 School district and my duties on that board.  But I wasn’t totally immune for what was happening in the city.  One program I do recall hearing about was when then-Governor Matt Blunt started a new initiative called “DREAM” and Neosho was selected as one of the 10 inaugural DREAM communities in the state in hopes that downtown areas that had seen declines could be revitalized.

At the time, it sounded good to me.  Our downtown area had been dying for years and any program that could help stop that trend seemed like a good thing to try.  But as things progressed and work began on the plan, it seemed that the DREAM was for some becoming a nightmare.  So why was a program designed to “help” a community turning into a target for opposition?  Well, I’m not sure, but I do believe there is some misinformation out in the community that needs to be cleared up.

The three areas I hear about the most are:

• Why only focus on the downtown area?  Other places need help too!
• DREAM is designed to bring commercial businesses back to downtown.  Why build more apartments?
• All this program does is give money to people to remodel a building and then they get to charge rent.  That’s not right!

Let’s see if I can help a little.

First – Why downtown?  To start, DREAM stands for Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri.  DREAM’s initiatives focus on providing technical and financial assistance to help revitalize downtown areas and leveraging existing public resources to attract new private investment.  Ultimately, it works to put back into use and/or increase the productivity of land and buildings in a downtown area.  While I agree that there are a number of issues that Neosho has to work on (and a number of areas leading to downtown that need work), DREAM is designed for “downtown” revitalization.  That’s why the focus is on downtown.

Second – We need businesses, not apartments!  Well, DREAM doesn’t claim to focus just on commercial development…it’s a focus on reinvestment in any form – housing included.  Any investment, residential or otherwise, is well within the scope and purpose of the DREAM plan.  While some may find it best to make Neosho’s square a commercial center like it was 40-50 years ago, that’s probably not a realistic expectation.  But keeping buildings from being empty and falling into disrepair does seem like a reasonable goal and DREAM does help with that goal. 

Finally, why pay people to fix up buildings so they can make even more money?  There is no doubt that by being a DREAM community, Neosho (and private investors) have access to various public financing programs and a number of professional services from the state to assist with reinvestment.  While DREAM may help make available certain state programs (such as historical tax credits) to those that qualify, it’s important to note that the DREAM initiative does NOT provide cash awards to those who do the development.  Investors downtown must still provide the private funds to pay for the reinvestment and take the risk of making that investment payoff.  It’s not simply a taxpayer-funded way for business owners to get new buildings using the public’s dime.  There may be incentives, but you still have to spend money to get those incentives. And a majority of those incentives require job creation and retention, or at a minimum, significant private investment.  There is no free lunch.

So to me, while the DREAM initiative may not be perfect, it does seem to work in making downtown areas a more attractive place to invest/reinvest private money.  With the move toward malls and shopping centers, we’re never going to have the retail environment that once filled Neosho’s square.  But we can, with these type of efforts, reinvent and restore areas that have been left vacant and make those building productive once again.  That’s why DREAM came about.  You only have to look around the square to see than monies ARE being reinvested and buildings are being refurbished and being made productive again.  (And those same buildings are back on the tax roles at a much higher value.)

Today, there are 35 dream communities around the state who are benefiting from the program.  In SW Missouri, they include Neosho, Aurora, Webb City and Lamar.  It may not be perfect and some may disagree with the plan, but at least for Neosho, it does appear to be doing what it was intended to do.

Joplin City Employees Get Pay Raises…Again

While the city of Neosho has elected to freeze pay again this year (after reducing it 3.75% last year), the city of Joplin has found a way to give their employees a little more money.

From today’s Joplin Globe:

JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin city workers will receive a 2.5 percent pay hike in the fiscal year beginning Nov. 1.

The increase, recommended earlier by City Manager Mark Rohr, was endorsed by the City Council on Tuesday night at a special meeting in which members also adopted a new, self-funded insurance program aimed at eventually trimming city costs for the benefit.

Council members adopted the pay hike on a 7-2 vote, after some questioned the decision in the current economic climate and others pointed out that the increase did little to address a disparity cited in recent pay studies.

This raise is on top of the raise approved in March of 3%.

The full article is here.

Plenty of Division to Go Around

Seems like the division in Neosho politics has extended to the classroom.

On Monday, the Neosho R-5 School board voted 4-3 to extend the contract of Dr. Richard Page for another year.  Voting against Page’s renewal was Cheryl Hawkins, Bruce Mahr and 1st-year member Mike Stauffer.  Page was in the last year of a three-year contract.

Earlier this month, Neosho received news that the district met all 14 performance standards set forth by DESE.  Neosho has already received the “Distinction with Performance” honor three years in a row.  Absent something unforeseen, Neosho’s exceptional performance should extend that trend another year.

Dr. Page is starting his 6th year as Neosho’s Supt.  He took over after Dr. Mark Mitchell resigned in 2005.  Prior to his current position, Page served the district as Asst. Supt. of Business and Finance.

Personally, if you take the name off the resume and look only at the accomplishments, Dr. Page has done what I feel is an exceptional job for the district.  Assisted by Dr. Jim Cummins and Mrs. Alma Stipp, the Neosho R-5 has one of the best leadership teams in the area.

Dr. Page has his Masters and Doctorate degrees from the University of Arkansas.

Curiousity Killled the Cow?

I spent the evening burning some brush that had accumulated in the fence row. I was surprised by the draw the fire had with the cattle. The calves were in front checking out the new event, but even the mama cows (one shown here) acted as if fire was a new concept.

My comment to the steer next to me - "This is just a warm up bud. Next time, it'll be 400f and you'll be medium rare."

How Much is not Enough

Neosho’s 2010-2011 budget is 1 step closer to being formally adopted by the city council.  Last night, in a 3-2 vote, the council approved on first reading a budget that continues forward with a 20% reduction in work force over last year, no monies for the Chamber of Commerce ED (economic development) contract and frozen pay for all city employees.  In total, cuts from the budget totaled around $1.7 million to get it balanced.

But despite new leadership both in governance (with our new CM) and finance (with our new finance director), despite cuts that make Neosho a much more streamlined operation, and despite a budget process and document that is clearest and most user-friendly document (not to mention transparent and available) I’ve seen from our city, that wasn’t enough to get past a 3-2 vote – a vote tally that only highlights the continuing division of the council.

Opponents of the budget expressed concerns over the pay of the city manager (which is controlled and set by the same council) and concerns about the capital projects list (a list required by our Charter to be prepared by the city manager.)

In reference to capital projects, Councilwoman Bowers was quoted in today’s Neosho Daily News as saying “All we’re approving is blank checks, and I don’t approve that,”.  For the record, that’s not what last night’s vote did.  Any bids for those proposed projects would still require approval by council before moving forward. 

Regarding an employee list of vacant and unfunded positions included in the budget, Ms. Bowers expressed concerns that those positions should not be filled without council approval.  For the record, since monies do not exist to fund them, any additional funding that comes available to fund them must BY CHARTER be approved by council. 

Councilman Wright was opposed to the budget based in part on the salary of the city manager.  He was quoted in the Neosho Daily as saying “what do we have to do to lower the city manager’s salary?”  Since the council sets the city manager’s salary, the correct answer is the council would simply have to do it.  For the record, the CM’s salary is the same as when he was hired – that hiring occurred in April by this same council on a vote of 4-1 with Councilwoman Bowers voting ‘no’.  It is also close to $20,000 less than the salary of the former CM in last year’s budget.

Despite my hopes that this budget would be the first step in getting the entire council (and eventually the public) behind our city’s new leadership, it appears that will not be the case. 

Cessna Aircraft cuts 700 jobs saying economy hasn't improved as expected

From the Winnipeg Free Press:

WICHITA, Kan. - Cessna Aircraft announced Tuesday it will cut another 700 jobs, saying it has not seen the growth and recovery that it expected this year.

Cessna CEO Jack Pelton told workers in an email that the company's performance mirrored the "lacklustre economy."

"While cancellations have slowed, the recovery and growth we expected to see throughout the year have not materialized, and the timing of any recovery remains uncertain," Pelton wrote. "This requires additional adjustment to our production schedules."

The latest round of layoffs comes on top of 8,000 jobs Cessna has shed since late 2008 as it cut its workforce by half, Cessna spokesman Doug Oliver said.

Most of the layoffs have been at the firm's Wichita facilities, where 6,200 people now work compared with 12,400 in late 2008.

It is uncertain when the 60-day notices will start going out, Oliver said. The layoffs would be company wide.

The full article is here.

Record-Breaking Enrollment at Community Colleges

From the Missouri Community College Association:

Jefferson City, Missouri – September 20, 2010.  Over 8,000 more students are taking classes at Missouri’s community colleges this fall compared to last fall.  This represents an 8% increase in enrollment, and reflects growth at each of the state’s twelve community colleges.

This increase is part of a five-year trend of increased enrollment at community colleges.  Community college leaders attribute enrollment growth to a number of factors.  “Students are telling us that community colleges are the best place to improve their skills and marketability quickly.  We also offer a tremendous value – the average per-credit-hour cost at a community college is about a third of the cost at the state’s public universities, and less than 15 percent of the cost of a private college or university,” said Dr. Hal Higdon, president of Ozarks Technical Community College and chair of the Missouri Community College Association’s Presidents/Chancellors Council.  “Missourians are facing unprecedented financial challenges, so cost is a major factor in students’ decisions about where to go to college.”

These factors have led to a shift in enrollment patterns.  Today, Missouri’s community colleges educate more in-state undergraduate students than any other sector – a change from the past, when public universities had the largest numbers of such students.

Last Chance for Federal Funding of Police and Fire Dies in Jefferson City

Despite their best efforts, Republicans in the House were unable to override a veto by Gov. Nixon that impacted $209 million in funding from the feds for medicaid.  The funding was promoted by the Obama administration as a way to save police and fire jobs, but did not contain provisions requiring the funding be used that way.

With the failure, Nixon will go ahead with plans to put the $209 million into a fund for use in the 2012 budget.  The end result with be –0- police/fire jobs saved (at least in Missouri) with that funding despite its intent to do so.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a supporter of all the bailouts, but if you’re going to send it to the states with a purpose, designate it appropriately and ensure the funds are used for the intended purpose.

http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2010/08/house-passes-emergency-legisla.shtml

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/05/politics/main6746361.shtml

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:H.R.1586:

On the final bill from DC, MO Senator McCaskill voted for the bill, Sen. Bond voted against it.

All Missouri Republicans in the house voted ‘Nay’ with the exception of Roy Blunt who did not cast a vote.

Can Bruce Lee Protect Me? 我想是这样。

After seeing a few Porsche’s in the parking lots of Chinese hotels, this article from the Washington Post was rather timely.

BEIJING - Perhaps the most visible sign of the explosion of private wealth in China tries hard not to be visible at all - the private bodyguard.

They work as drivers or nannies, or blend into a businessman's coterie looking like a secretary, a briefcase carrier or a toady. Unlike bodyguards in the United States, they are generally not tall and imposing; in fact, many are women, on the theory that females in the retinue attract less attention.

And also unlike in the United States, they are never armed, since private citizens in China are largely prohibited from owning firearms. Rather, Chinese bodyguards are martial arts experts, trained to disarm or subdue an attacker with a few quick thrusts, jabs and hand chops.

"In China, we don't need people who know guns," said Michael Zhe, president of Beijing VSS Security Consulting Ltd, which started in 2002 and counts itself as the country's oldest private security firm. "Bodyguards can use one or two blows to stop an attacker."

The full article is here.

Gen. Powell Not Hopeful on Afgan War

General Colin Powell commented over the weekend that the US is only moving the Taliban around the country vs. winning the war.

Can we really win such a war with rampant corruption in the highest ranks of the Afgan government? Can we afford to give the Taliban (and possibly al queda) another place to grow and train by not staying there and fighting?

Cessna strike would have had ripple effect on Wichita economy

From the Wichita Eagle:

The Wichita area dodged a strike and the economic impact it would have had on the city when the Machinists union at Cessna Aircraft rejected a work stoppage on Saturday.

A strike would have had a ripple effect in the community, said Wichita State University professor of economics Martin Perline.

"You're talking quite a few employees with pretty good wages," he said.

The union rejected Cessna's seven-year contract but didn't have the two-thirds vote required for a strike.

The full article is at: 

http://www.kansas.com/2010/09/19/v-print/1501690/cessna-strike-would-have-had-ripple.html

Chinese Translation 1

You can't travel China without seeing a number of English translations that don't quite convey the appropriate meaning. This sign was at the train station in Shanghai conveying the standing area for coach/economy travelers.

Enjoy.

Speaker Richard Says Spend The Money

I have had a few conversations with Speaker Richard regarding the $209 million in Federal funding promoted by politicians in DC as a way to save police and fire jobs. As a follow up, this is from today's Joplin Globe:

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri House Speaker Ron Richard says the state should spend - not save - a $200 million influx from the federal government.

The Republican speaker said Monday he wants to highlight the Legislature's role in spending decisions by overriding Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of a bill creating a special fund for the money.

Richard believes the House hasn't been included in discussions about using the money.

At issue is $209 million Missouri expects to get in enhanced Medicaid payments in 2011. The payments are an extension of the federal stimulus act.

Nixon plans to save the money for the 2012 budget. Richard said the money should be spent during the current budget year - perhaps to prop up Medicaid payments to doctors.

The Marco Team in Shanghai

Jun runs our China operation.

Mr. Jun Li poses with Lenny and Clem in front of the Ramada Shanghai Airport Hotel. From here, it's on the Mag Lev for a ride downtown for dinner.

Go Cats!

In addition to a great home opener last night, the pre-game crowd was also entertained by a group of young cheerleaders from K-6.

Go Wildcats.

Water Myths Clarified

In addition to working through a number of budget questions last night, there were also a couple of points clarified that will hopefully put to rest some mis-information regarding water use at the golf course and commercial sewer billing.

Myth 1 – The golf course is getting free water because there is no meter on the lines used to keep the course watered.

Fact 1 – The golf course uses treated water from the waste streams of the Crowder sewer plant.  This water would otherwise be sent to the Shoal Creek plant and put back into Shoal Creek.  By using this waste water, the city golf course saves an estimated $50,000 per year vs. using tap water to keep the course watered. 

Myth 2 – Some commercial businesses are getting discounts on their sewer rates that ordinary homeowners are not getting.

Fact 2 – Commercial businesses pay the same base rate as a homeowner.  The discounts that may apply are for ADDITIONAL charges that some businesses pay if their discharge requires additional treatment by the city to remove excess contaminants.  These additional fees are not charged to residential users.