MO Director of Agriculture Hagler: Springfield is “the Hot-Bed of Garden Activity” for the State of Missouri and this Region

Agri Director Praises Springfield’s Well Fed Neighbor Alliance for Inspirational Vision

Springfield, MO - It seemed odd to see almost no notice on the part of Springfield’s local news media when our State Director of Agriculture, Dr. John Hagler, showed up to honor both local citizens and non-profit success in their own city. However, that pretty much sums up what happened when Dr. Hagler honored Springfield and members of Well Fed Neighbor Alliance (WFNA) Galen Chadwick and Aubree Taylor, among others, at the Midtown School Garden near Cox North on Thursday morning.

Springfield’s 1,000 Garden Project’s creator Chadwick, and Director Aubree Taylor were honored that the name of Missouri’s 10,000 Garden Challenge was inspired by WFNA’s 1,000 Garden Project.

Hagler wanted to kick off Missouri’s 10,000 Garden Challenge at the site of the Midtown School Garden in Springfield because he considers Springfield the State leader of the “grow local” food drive.

“We have a whole staff who has just been dying for the opportunity to sink their hands into the type of initiative that could promote this very important effort all across this state, and when they stood there and heard the story of Ruell and Galen and Melissa and Aubree and all the people, what they’ve done, starting off with their 1,000 Gardens…we made a commitment to each other that we would start working together slowly but surely to take that kernel of seed of an idea and see if we could plant it ourselves for a greater effort across this State and we did that,” Hagler said. He credited Governor Nixon with stepping up to the plate to start the 10,000 Garden Challenge.

The President of WFNA, LTD Ruell Chappell had indicated an interest on the part of the MO Dept. of Agriculture in securing a local food supply and rebuilding a sustainable local economy in a comment at JackeHammer back in September of 2009. Chappell had just attended an Urban Garden Task Force Meeting in Springfield. 

“I will be the first to cheer our city if the right of the people to grow, own and do as they will with their food is upheld!!” Chappell wrote. “This thinking is in line with a new focus that can help secure our local food supply and rebuild a sustainable local economy. Springfield can be the first city in the Nation to go this far! The MO. Dept. of Ag is extremely interested,” he wrote.

Chadwick and Taylor had served on that Urban Garden Task Force Chappell wrote about. So had Director of Springfield Urban Agriculture Coalition (SUAC) Melissa Millsap.  Millsap was instrumental in establishing the Midtown School Garden, along with Project Coordinator Lucy Howell. The school garden is a pilot project intended to be the first of ten school gardens SAC would like to install this year.

Millsap seemed as interested in building sustainable community as she is in a locally sustainable food supply.

“It’s (Midtown School Garden) not just a school garden, it’s a community, and a school garden. That’s the way it needs (to be) in order for sustainability,” Millsap said. 

She said the cafeteria is not currently utilizing the food produced in the school garden, but it is getting into the mouths of the children. The kids are taking some of the fresh produce home with them, and it is making its way into the classroom.  Middle schoolers are even cooking with the vegetables in their home economics classes, Millsap said.

“We’re not trying to push too hard (to get the food into the cafeteria) because I think that once people see how successful this program is, how much the kids enjoy this food, it’s just going to be a natural thing that takes place, and of course we’re supportive of that…. I think time will tell and people will adopt it,” she said.

As Ruell Chappell introduced Dr. Hagler Thursday, he noted the importance of fresh produce in the lives of children.

“The children that we are raising today may not live as long as we do because of obesity and the litany of things that result from that,” Chappell said. “It is important that we grow and we feed our children good food. It produces economic opportunity (and) jobs.”

Millsap identified some of the main partners of the Midtown School Garden as: Cox North, Caring Communities, Drury University, Midtown Neighborhood, the YMCA, and Childhood Obesity Action Group.

For Hagler’s part, if the local media in Springfield is suddenly averse to giving credit to WFNA members, he appeared unaffected by that aversion.

“It is an honor to be here in Springfield which is the hot-bed of garden activity for this state and, in fact, this region,” Dr. Hagler said. “You know Galen, Ruell, Aubree, Melissa and all the Councilmen and school folks that have gathered here today, I can tell you this,” he said,  “I fully expect in one capacity or another to be standing here in a couple of years…and we won’t recognize what we’ve built because it will be that successful.”

Earlier in the morning when Hagler was making his point that everyone is vested in agriculture he had quipped his favorite statistic was that 4 out of 4 people eat.

“Everyone has a stake in agriculture. It is this state’s number 1 economic driver…it is something that each and every child, each and every family, each and every school, each church and each community can set root in, take a part in, and can build the future for tomorrow for our State, our cities and our country,” Hagler said.

If you would like to take the 10,000 Garden Challenge you can register at agrimissouri.com  and enter for a chance to win a $500 gift certificate from Tractor Supply Company. 

If you would like to view the three part video series of this event, go to wellfedneighbor.com and click on "community activity."

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Disclosure: Jackie Melton is a member of the WFNA and is a caretaker of a Gateway Farm

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EARS TO HEAR

Chamomile tea

          email

distraction

                  

                              value

At some point

the value stirs its way

toward attention

1975

Harrison, Arkansas

old-timers on green park benches

set upon even greener grass

Small hills of cedar shavings

          nestled

at their feet

Old-timers

          whittling away more than time

Earthquakes-Tsunamis-Tornados

-Hurricanes-Floods-Fires

roads split well in two

causes and clauses and bears, oh my

Pause to look at

Old-timers  

1975

stories among the wood

stories among the shavings

Could you hear?

          Could you stop to hear?

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A Single JackeHammer City Council Endorsement

Endorsing a political candidate, especially a Springfield City Council candidate, is an action you will rarely see coming from this particular contributor of JackeHammer, however, unapologetically, I offer my endorsement of Fred B. Ellison for Springfield City Council. 

Fred Ellison, who is running for a general City Council seat (which means every Springfield citizen has an opportunity to cast a vote for him, regardless of the zone in which the citizen lives) is the real deal. He genuinely cares about representing the citizens of Springfield through a true understanding of the facts and details surrounding each item on each agenda of the City of Springfield.  Ellison understands the process, and as a personal friend of Fred's (as disclosure) and as a previous free lance writer who covered the Springfield City Council for almost two years, I can tell you he DOES understand the issues. If you are a Springfield voter who wants a compassionate, listening representative sitting on your City Council, one who can explain the Council process and would take the time to discuss important issues with you, you could do no better than Fred Ellison.

Since I have moved out of the city limits of Springfield I cannot vote for Fred.  I need you!

I would really appreciate your vote for Fred Ellison on April 5.  

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"Grace"

I was in dire need of some grace this morning.  I found this quote which I liked:

"The Christian graces are like perfumes, the more they are pressed, the sweeter they smell; like stars that shine brightest in the dark; like trees which, the more they are shaken, the deeper root they take, and the more fruit they bear." -- Beaumont.

I trust God will give me the grace I seek to make it through this day. I know He'll provide anecdotes for me to tell in my Sunday School class this week, that's for sure.  Praise Him that He cares, praise Him that He wants to teach me. -- Now, I'm off to work.

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Winnowing Spirit

You are lost because

it is quiet

There is no sound

only still air

There is no rustling of leaves

no ripple of the water

The tree has not fallen, and

has borne no witness

You are lost because

it is pitch

black overtakes the light

white noise bears no beacon

There is no siren, no alarm, no psalm

to shepherd the maze

Lost life

No spirit left to salt and season

No spirit left

to shelter from impending chaos

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Tea Party versus "Union Thugs" at Indiana Statehouse

An After-Action Report

Tish Cooper has a great guest post over at "Ancient Warrior" today.

It is a first hand, eyewitness, activist account of a tea party member standing ground with about 50-70 other tea party members at her statehouse in Indiana (with introduction by Greg at "Warrior"). 

As they stood against what Cooper pegged "Democrat Fleehadists," it wasn't a day without drama: read how two brave tea party members stood firm as a truck was presumed to be the same one which had twice earlier doused tea party members by running through a mud puddle.

It is your first recommended reading of 2011.

Here is the link to the Associated Press article, published in the "Springfield News-Leader," regarding the tea party versus union protests at the Missouri Statehouse in Jefferson City

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God's Love 2

Another "Hosea" Song
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vincent David Jericho's Radio Show

I still get a lot of "hits" at JackeHammer from people who are looking for Vincent David Jericho.  I didn't know until recently that the link I had previously provided was no longer current.  So, if you're looking for Vince and can't find him there is a new listing under "Links" in the side bar of this blog, just look for Crossing the World.

His new Web site address is:

http://www.crossing-the-world.com/, and he does a show from 7-11pm every week night.  I watched the last thirty minutes or so of his show tonight.  It was nice to see his shiny face and hear the voice of my old friend again.  :)

Galen Chadwick of the Well-Fed Neighbor Alliance is on Vince's show every Wednesday night for those of you who'd like to check that out as well.

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Just an Old Favorite

Something Fine

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guinea Feathers

You brought me a guinea feather from the barn.

I said, "...a guinea feather...."

You know, and you knew, grandma and I used to guinea egg hunt
on the Phillips' farm in Bergman.

Funny, I was busy googling for my cousin Mark
when you brought that
speckled and fading feather.

I found him on the front porch with his dachsund.

I found him at a familly reunion with grandma and grandpa,
Annabeth in the background,
full 2-D

Mark and I used to walk barefoot to Crooked Creek
(back when kids could be loosed for the day with no fear)
back in those Arkansas summer days.

Later, I would sit on the banks of Crooked Creek alone
my notebook and pen in hand, a Saul Bellow book for my companion,
the rocks a cold barren gray, the shade under
the bower, deep.

Once Debbie was there with me
once Gabriel
once a whole creative writing class, and Dee Dee,
Dee Dee was the algae queen that day.

Those days were green and golden, and I was sad, and
didn't even know I had nothing to be sad about.

Memories seem like guinea feathers,
all speckled and fading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God's Love

A Hosea Song

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Food & Ag Freedom Discussion Held

SPRINGFIELD - On Tuesday of last week (1-18) about 200 people met at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center for a discussion about Food and Agriculture Freedom. The discussion was sponsored by Greater Ozarks Property Rights Congress, Lawrence County Chapter. The speaker who led the discussion was Doreen Hannes. Hannes authors the Web log "Truth Farmer." She has been described on the Internet as an agriculture expert, but by way of introduction, following is what the flyer passed out at the meeting said about Hannes:

"Doreen Hannes has been a full time volunteer advocate for independent agriculture since 2005 and is a well-respected leader in the national movement to halt the National Animal Identification System, now known as ADT (Animal Disease Traceability). Doreen has written extensively on the topic of NAIS as well as authored and co-authored several white papers on NAIS and other topics affecting the consolidation of agriculture."

The main topic of the discussion last Tuesday, however, was House Resolution 2751. President Obama signed that resolution into law on January 4, after the Senate passed it as the "FDA Food Safety Modernization Act" on December 19, 2010.

Now, most of us take the responsibility to feed our families very seriously. It's interesting that few of us spend much time pondering the laws which govern our ability to feed ourselves. When it comes to an issue so vital as whether we will have the potential to feed ourselves in the future, we owe it to ourselves and our families to educate ourselves about the affects of this law on food freedom in our local areas, our state, nation and broader global human family.

While I could extensively quote Doreen Hannes and her comments regarding H.R. 2751, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, (or Public Law No. 111-353) I am somewhat reluctant to do so because I haven't had much opportunity to look at the Act myself. I don't, and I don't want the readers of JackeHammer, to leave the responsibility of understanding and analysing what this law will mean to us and our families in the future to someone we do not know, but I will say, based on what Hannes discussed, I am somewhat alarmed by what I have heard and have printed out the 119 page law so that I may scrutinize it at my leisure later. That is what I hope to inspire YOU to do. Then, maybe after you have looked at it Section by 405 sections you can share your thoughts here, in the comment section and we can continue the discussion here.

Hannes believes the law will have a devastating effect on local farmers. She said the law puts us under a method of good agricultural practices that, "...will put virtually everybody out of the agriculture business....It's nothing less than a recipe for global famine," she said. Hannes also believes, along with a growing number of people, the best way to meet the needs of our families is through our own local communities.

The Well-Fed Neighbor Alliance, (WFNA) which has been actively involved in local food issues in and around the Springfield area, thinks the best way to ensure the safety and security of our food supply is to further localize it. WFNA even pushes the idea that people should know their farmer personally, visit his or her farm of choice, and gain an intimate knowledge of the growing and processing of their own food.

WFNA has been working to establish a farmer's cooperative in our local region. The FDA Food Modernization Act will effect that cooperative if the Alliance's dreams come to fruition. "The WFNA Cooperative would have to comply (with the Food Modernization Act) so is very much effected (by it)," Eric Vought said. Vought is an author of "The County Restoration Handbook," a project of the Well Fed Neighbor Alliance Hosted by The Statesmen for our Constitutional Republic.

Many of the people in the crowd at the meeting were interested in how they could take action in opposition to the new law. Termed-out State Representative Mark Wright was in attendance and offered some options:

1. De-fund the bill through the U.S. House of Representatives
2. A lawsuit could be filed by farmers who have standing to do so
3. File a state bill opting Missouri out statutorily.
4. Missouri citizens could pass either a statutory or constitutional initiative petition on the ballot.

It is a matter of interest that the majority of recent wide-spread food borne illness outbreaks, thought to have been the inspiration behind this Act, had their origins among the large farming industry, already highly regulated, but some argue under-enforced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jackie Melton is a member of the WFNA and a caretaker of a WFNA "Gateway Farm"

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I'm Still Alive

...and I miss having the ability to blog regularly. I'll be back around someday, just wait.

Springfield City Council DOES Have Input on State and Federal Legislation

At least as long as they retain the service of state and federal lobbyist(s) and Council communicates with legislators

A lot of commentators at the News-Leader's Web site, including the editorial board of the News-Leader itself, are spending time today complaining about a discussion that took place at the City Council meeting on Monday.

The News-Leader editorial board complained that 40 minutes were spent on a topic of discussion that has little to do with Council responsibilities. Commentators chided Councilman Ibarra particularly, and the whole Council in general for wasting time. Most of the commentators are claiming the Council has no input on federal legislation.

This might be a good time to remind the public that the City Council has had paid lobbyists in the past, and may have paid lobbyists today who are tasked with lobbying state and federal governments. Every year the City Council updates and approves a list of your municipality's legislative priorities. The City Council has, and likely still is, using taxpayer funding to pay lobbyists to appeal to state and federal legislators regarding the interests of the City of Springfield, or at least its City officials.

It would be a fallacy to make the claim that our City Council doesn't have any input on state or federal legislation.

Apparently, the City's new legislative priority list for 2010 has not yet been added to the site map at the City's Web site. In 2009, the priority list was introduced, in part, with these words, "The following legislative priorities are established for the 2009 Session of the Missouri General Assembly: Environment and Quality of Life; Economic Development; Finance and Taxation; Municipal Administration and Intergovernmental Relations."

In 2009, I was present at the Finance and Administration Committee meeting when legislative priorities were first discussed. A reduction in the number of lobbyists Springfield retained, due to budget restraints, was also discussed and Springfield's City attorney Dan Wichmer, recommended Springfield not reduce them to zero. I can't remember for sure if Springfield retained one or two (and they called them both state and federal) lobbyists in 2009. I have inquired with the Springfield Public Information Office as to how many lobbyists the City of Springfield is retaining this year, if any. I will update this post when I receive the answer to that query.

In 2006 The Missouri Municipal League (MML) was listed as the client of 3 state lobbyists. In 2007, MML was listed as the client of 2 state lobbyists. The City of Springfield is a member of the Missouri Municipal League (see: National Institute on Money in State Politics). The MML is another way Missouri City Councils and/or City officials have sway over state legislators/legislation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Springfield City Council: Playing Politics with Resolutions?

The moment will have passed by the time I will have a chance to do the topic justice but, let me just make a couple of points regarding current City events.

On Monday night, the Mayor pulled a resolution from the City Council agenda which would have alerted the public and state legislators that the City Council was opposed to the state version of the FairTax.

It isn't unprecedented for the Springfield City Council to pass such resolutions and it isn't unprecedented for the County Commission to join the City Council in a "joint resolution" but, that isn't the point.

I'm beginning to wonder if we do not have a resolution happy Mayor on our hands.

In a newspaper article today, I have read the Mayor is "drafting" a new resolution before the Council to "scold" A T & T for recovering the costs of a settlement made to the City of Springfield.

It wouldn't seem so ridiculous to me if I didn't believe that if the City had an opportunity to cite two state statutes which allowed the City the right to recover the cost of resurfacing City streets (for instance) through some "back door" tax (sic), the City wouldn't jump all over it. I firmly believe if the City could do it and say, "According to state statute we have a right and we are doing nothing wrong," they would add such a fee in a heart beat. And, ironically, the Mayor opposes A T & T (a corporation) reimbursing its costs while losing $63,000 in taxpayer funds due to the City's Council authorized choice to place the CIP sales tax renewal election on a June ballot rather than on the April ballot that was already scheduled.

Add to the above the fact that, when all is said and done, I can clearly discern a principle of the FairTax hidden in the article I read this morning exposing all this silliness. Corporations do not pay taxes, people pay taxes. So, the City taxes A T & T and A T & T, in turn, adds a fee to its customers' bills to recover the taxes with which the City has charged it. It's a very simple lesson and O'Neal, if he had thought it through, might have realized his opposition to what A T & T is doing draws him closer to the FairTax philosophy. Irony abounds.

In the meantime, how seriously should we take Springfield City Council resolutions in the future? Are the resolutions the Mayor is proposing representative of mere political preference or are they resolutions meant to champion a principle which is representative of the view of the constituents Council members are meant to represent? I hope Council resolutions don't end up meaning less because they are based on politics rather than principles and on personal preference rather than right and wrong. Perhaps we should call for a resolution to cease frivolous resolutions.

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Municipal Government and Greene County Commission Combined Meeting Calendar: March 8 - March 12, 2010

Notes: Greene County Commission meetings are color coded blue, City meetings are color coded red. In the case of County meetings, all meetings are held at 933 N. Robberson unless otherwise noted.

Monday, 3/8/2010

7:30 AM - County - Reclaiming Futures - Location: Fountain Plaza Room, Cox, 1423 N. Jefferson, Springfield

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

8:30 AM - County - Administrative Meeting – Commissioners, Highway Administrator, et al - Location: 2065 N. Clifton, Springfield - Agenda: Driving tour of county roads and bridges

8:30 AM - City- Library Board Programs/Services/Technology Committee Library Center , 4653 South Campbell Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

9:00 AM - County - Senior Citizens Services Fund Board

1:00 PM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

1:30 PM - County - Officeholders Meeting - Location: Historic Courthouse, Room 212, 940 Boonville, Springfield

4:30 PM - County - Greene County Historic Sites Board

6:30 PM - City - City Council Meeting Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650 (agenda)

Tuesday, 3/9/2010

8:00 AM - City - Library Board Buildings & Grounds Committee Kirkpatrick, Phillips, & Miller, CPA's , 2003 E. Sunshine Contact: Debbie Eckert, (417) 883-5366

8:00 AM - City - Workforce Council of Local Elected Officials Missouri Career Center , 1514 South Glenstone Contact: Karen Dowdy, (417) 887-4343

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

8:30 AM - County - Daily Briefing with County Administrator

9:00 AM - County - Board of Equalization - Location: Historic Courthouse, Room 113, 940 Boonville, Springfield

9:00 AM - City - Board of Equalization Greene County, Room 113, 940 North Boonville Contact: Richard Struckhoff, (417) 868-4055

9:30 AM- County - Board of Zoning Adjustment - Location: Historic Courthouse, Room 212, 940 Boonville, Springfield

12:00 PM - City - Cancelled - Council Lunch Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650

1:00 PM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

1:30 PM - County - State-wide Storm Siren Drill

2:00 PM - City - Administrative Review Busch Municipal Building, Room 285, 840 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

5:00 PM - City - Watershed Committee Watershed Offices , 320 North Main Contact: Loring Bullard, (417) 866-1127

5:30 PM - City - Sherman Avenue Project Area Committee Busch Municipal Building, 2nd Floor West Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Marti Fewell, (417) 864-1039

6:00 PM - City - Mayor's Commission on Human Rights Busch Municipal Building, 1st Floor Conf. Rm, 840 Boonville Contact: Bob Hosmer, (417) 864-1834

Wednesday, 3/10/2010

8:00 AM - City - Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District Board of Directors Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Barb Baker, (417) 831-6200

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

9:00 AM - County - Daily Briefing with County Administrator

1:00 PM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

6:00 PM - City - Police Fire Pension Fund Citizens Task Force Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Sharon Smith, (417) 864-1004

6:00 PM - City - Springfield Police Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement System Board of Trustees Fire Station No.1 , 720 E. Grand Contact: Nikki White, (417) 569-6282

Thursday, 3/11/2010

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

8:30 AM - City - Springfield Police Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement System Board of Trustees Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Nikki White, (417) 569-6282

9:00 AM - County - Daily Briefing with County Administrator

1:00 PM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

6:00 PM - City - Art Museum Board of Directors Art Museum , 1111 East Brookside Contact: Jerry Berger, (417) 837-5700

Friday, 3/12/2010

12:00 PM - City - Public Health Planning Committee - Healthy Lifestyles Subcommittee Doling Family Center , 1423 W. Atlantic Contact: Carmen Parker-Bradshaw, (417) 864-1573

12:15 PM - City - Public Health Planning Committee - Access to Health Subcommittee Doling Family Center , 1423 W. Atlantic Contact: Carmen Parker-Bradshaw, (417) 864-1573

Sources: City of Springfield and Greene County Public Information Offices (With reformatting)

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Springfield, We Have a Problem

Internal Auditor Position Should be Filled As Soon as Possible and Practical

If City Manager Greg Burris or City Clerk Brenda Cirtin announced today they would be retiring next week, how much time do you believe would pass before the City Council was discussing how they would go about filling the vacant positions?

Why does it seem the City Council's Internal Auditor position is and has been treated as though it is an unimportant, backburner issue? Because, I propose it has been.

I am fully aware that Ms. Lathrom's passing only occurred one week ago this evening, and I do not mean to sound callous but, I am aware that Ms. Lathrom had been on medical leave for many months prior to her passing, and the internal auditor position, although apparently not as *sexy* as the City Manager position, is an extremely important municipal government position.

I first started writing about the internal auditor position when I was still the City Council/City Government "beat writer" for the "Community Free Press." It's been obvious from the outset that the position simply is not valued in the same way the positions of City Manager and City Clerk are valued and yet, the internal auditor position is one of only three positions whose inhabitor answers directly to the City Council and who the City Council is tasked to hire and fire.

While today's Mayor and City Council look with ingenuity (sic) to a future appointment of a Citizens' Sales Tax Oversight Committee, I wonder when they will fill what I have advocated (in my own way) as a vitally important position within City government that has, in it's very short history, been consistently given only minimal thought and value. Such a position, if utilized properly would make a Citizens Sales Tax Oversight Committee a silly and unnecessary prospect.

Before Lathrom was hired, back in January, 2008, there didn't appear to be much consensus among City Council members as to the potential value of an internal auditor. Councilman Doug Burlison said, "This proposed position (internal auditor) is, in fact, the key to any reforms that City Council may enact in response to the audit." But, then Mayor Tom Carlson, in his State of the City Report, said about the position, "(State Auditors) talked about an internal auditor, and we're going to have one of those, and so, I hope everybody's happy, but it's not that big a deal." (Community Free Press Archive edition June 18, 2008, page 1 article, "City Manager vs. Internal Auditor")

Why is it important?

A March 4, "Springfield News-Leader" "Our Voice" editorial column pointed out the City will lose $63,000 in taxpayer money by holding the CIP tax renewal election in June rather than including it in a legally mandated, already existing, April election. The editorial also pointed out that by skipping over the mandated April, 2010 election and opting to put the measure on a June ballot, it will cost OTC an extra (estimated) $32,000 because they are on the ballot alone.

City leaders gave the "News-Leader" a few reasons for holding the election in June rather than April but, admitted they could have prepared for it and put it on the April ballot if they had chosen to do so. In other words, they could have saved the taxpayer and Ozarks Technical Community College about $95,000 in combined funds.

Apparently, Mayor O'Neal didn't know putting the CIP sales tax question on a June ballot was going to cost the City taxpayers $63,000 more than if they had scheduled it for the April ballot. That alone is, to borrow a phrase from KSGF's old radio talk show host Vincent David Jericho, asinine stupidy...how could the Mayor not know that!? Why wasn't he told!? Would an internal auditor have made a difference? I'd like to think so, IF that internal auditor was valued, with his or her services properly utilized.

I hate to keep repeating the same information but, people! In Section 2.15 of the City Charter it describes the "Investigator," or Council's internal auditor:

"The council may appoint an investigator who shall serve for such term as the council may prescribe. He shall be a certified public accountant or a person specially trained and experienced in governmental or business investigation or administration. His duty shall be to keep the council informed as to the work performed, methods, and financial affairs of the city. He shall not be responsible for the keeping of accounts. He shall make such investigations of the work of all departments of the city and such reports to the council as it shall require. He shall make such other investigations as the council may direct. He shall have access to all books and records of all departments of the city. If the council desires, he shall certify to the correctness of any or all financial reports before the same shall be regarded as official."

After April Lathrom was hired, she wrote her own Policies and Procedures. They were adopted by the City Council on November 10, 2008, (see Council Bill 2008-322/Special Ordinance number 25510) but, even as late as March of last year (2009), then Council candidate Nick Ibarra questioned the efficacy and transparency of the internal auditor's position, and also in March, 2009, Councilman Burlison said, "...we do not interact with April enough, however, that is an issue I'd rather attack with 4 or 5 fresh faces. I'm not suggesting that there is any kind of communication problem, I just feel like we are not doing enough of it. If I was April, I think I would want more contact with my bosses, as well."

Today, I heard from Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee Dan Chiles. The Finance and Administration Committee is the Council Committee that was tasked with oversight of the internal auditor. Chiles seems to still have a bit of appreciation for the position that no one, to date, other than the occupant of the position, has taken very seriously at all, that is if we judge by actions instead of words.

"We haven't talked about a replacement for April. There is a hiring freeze, but I will make the case to hire an internal auditor," Chiles wrote in an email response to my query. "We promised the voters we would create and fill that position, so that is what we should do."

I would suggest to the Springfield City Council that you consider the position not as merely something you promised the voters but, rather as an invaluable and essential asset that you cannot function well without. You wouldn't try to do your job without a City Manager. You wouldn't try to do your job without a City Clerk. Why do you undervalue the essential job of the internal auditor?

The internal auditor in Kansas City, Missouri is known as the "City Auditor." His name is Gary White and he has his own Web page.

"Our goal is to conduct audits that answer questions that matter to people outside of City Hall; that enable the city to reduce, avoid or recover costs; and to alert city officials to potential problems that could undermine the public’s trust in City government," the Web page boasts, among other things.

Just including and since November of 2009, KC's City Auditor has filed two audit reports and two survey memos on his Web site. The documents are available to the public and include: Resolution Tracking, This audit was conducted in order to determine whether city staff are implementing resolutions adopted by the City Council; E-Service Systems Security, This audit was conducted in order to determine the security of the City's e-service systems; Fiscal Year 2010 Second Quarter Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results, This memo reports the second quarter results of the Fiscal Year 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey and; Fiscal Year 2010 Third Quarter Citizen Satisfaction Survey Results, This memo reports the third quarter results of the Fiscal Year 2010 Citizen Satisfaction Survey.

The Springfield City Council, if it ever decides to take the "investigator" or internal auditor position seriously, will have an invaluable oversight tool for assessing the operations of Springfield City government but, on this account, I'm afraid their eyes will continue to be wide shut.

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Vincent David Jericho Back on the Air

Well, sorta. Jericho to be live on the net

If you'd like to hear/see Vincent David Jericho, click on this Web site and scroll down the page until you see the "Watch/Listen Online" button. It's pretty self explanatory. He'll be "on" from 7 AM - 11 AM beginning Monday March 1.

Good luck and blessings to him and on him.

Note: "Jericho Only" has been added to my list of links in the right hand column.

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Municipal Government and Greene County Commission Combined Meeting Calendar: March 1 - March 5, 2010

Revised:

Notes: Greene County Commission meetings are color coded blue, City meetings are color coded red. In the case of County meetings, all meetings are held at 933 N. Robberson unless otherwise noted.

Monday, 3/1/2010

No - City - Meetings Scheduled

7:30 AM - County - Meeting – Commissioners, Republic Mayor, and Mayor Pro-Tem -Location: Hemingway’s, 2011 S. Campbell, Springfield - Agenda: Partnership Review

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

8:30 AM - County - Daily Briefing with County Administrator

9:30 AM - County - Commission Session* - Location: Historic Courthouse, Room 212, 940 Boonville, Springfield

1:00 PM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

Tuesday, 3/2/2010

8:00 AM - City - Mayor's Commission for Children Executive Committee Community Foundation , 425 E. Trafficway Contact: Denise Bredfeldt, (417) 864-1656

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

9:00 AM - County - Daily Briefing with County Administrator

10:00 AM - County - City and County Management Meeting - Agenda: Issues of Mutual Concern

12:00 PM - City - Council Lunch Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Anita Climer, (417) 864-1654

1:00 PM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

1:30 PM - City - Board of Adjustment Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Matt Schaefer, (417) 864-1100

2:00 PM - City - Administrative Review Busch Municipal Building, Room 285, 840 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

6:00 PM - City - Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development Midtown Carnegie Branch Library , 397 East Central Contact: Vern Morgan, (417) 864-1844

Wednesday, 3/3/2010

7:30 AM - County - Future of Water - Location: Panera, 500 S. National, Springfield

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

8:00 AM - City - Workforce Investment Board Missouri Career Center , 1514 South Glenstone Contact: Karen Dowdy, (417) 887-4343

9:00 AM - City - Ozark Region Leadership Team Missouri Career Center , 1514 South Glenstone Contact: Karen Dowdy, (417) 887-4343

9:00 AM - County - Daily Briefing with County Administrator

12:00 PM - City - Environmental Advisory Board Health Department, Basement Conference Room, 227 E. Chestnut Expressway Contact: Karen McKinnis, (417) 864-1623

1:00 PM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

5:30 PM - City - Landmarks Board Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Daniel Neal, (417) 864-1036

6:00 PM - City - Police Fire Pension Fund Citizens Task Force Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Sharon Smith, (417) 864-1004

Thursday, 3/4/2010

7:30 AM - County - Good Morning Springfield - Location: 425 Downtown, 425 W. Walnut, Springfield

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

9:00 AM - County - Board of Zoning Adjustment Study Session

9:30 AM - County - Daily Briefing with County Administrator

12:00 PM - City - City Council Public Involvement Committee Busch Municipal Building, 5th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Brenda Lewellen, (417) 864-1442

1:00 PM Revised - County - Instead of: Administrative and Department Functions a revision was made. The 1:00 PM meeting will be: Meeting – Commissioners, Danette Proctor - Agenda: 9-1-1 Update

5:15 PM - City - City Council Special Meeting - Closed Session Busch Municipal Building, 4th Floor Conf. Rm., 840 Boonville Contact: Brenda Cirtin, (417) 864-1650

5:30 PM - City - Building Trades Certification and Examination Board Busch Municipal Building, 1st Floor Conf. Rm, 840 Boonville Contact: Merleene Knapton, (417) 864-1059

6:30 PM - City - Planning and Zoning Commission Old City Hall, Council Chambers, 830 Boonville Contact: Mike MacPherson, (417) 864-1831

Friday, 3/5/2010

7:30 AM - City - Economic Development Planning Committee Chamber of Commerce , 202 John Q. Hammons Parkway Contact: Kasey Gillham, (417) 887-8826

7:30 AM - City- Watershed Committee Midtown Carnegie Branch Library , 397 East Central Contact: Loring Bullard, (417) 866-1127

8:00 AM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

9:00 AM - County - Daily Briefing with County Administrator

10:00 AM - County - Watershed Committee of the Ozarks Sponsors Meeting -Location: Midtown Carnegie Library, 397 Central, Springfield

1:00 PM - County - Administrative and Department Functions

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*March 1, Greene County Commission Session Agenda (9:30 AM)

1. Prayer - Jeff Reinold

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Missouri Bicycle Federation Award - Bruce Adib-yazdi, Terry Whaley

4. Resolution Supporting Passenger Rail Service

5. Appoint Mr. David Hall to the 9-1-1 Advisory Board

6. Public Hearing on Setting Speed Limits for Public School Zones (1 of 3) - Joel Keller
> FR 135, from FR 170 (Republic Road) to Ellison Street
> FR 151, from Springfield City Limits to approximately 900’ north of FR 96 (Lyons Road)
> FR 193, from Missouri Route YY south to FR 132

7. County Administrator Report - Tim Smith

8. Budget Officer’s Report - Jeff Reinold

9. Information Office Report - Jenny Edwards

10. Highway Department Report - Dan Smith

11. Emergency Management Report - Ryan Nicholls

12. Resource Management Report - Chris Coulter
> Building Regulations Office Report - Dave O’Dell
> Planning and Zoning Office Report - Kent Morris

Sources: Springfield and Greene County Public Information Offices (Calendar and agenda re-formatted for ease of use)

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Last Chance to Fill out Springfield's Online "Listening Tour" Survey

Many of you know the City Manager and/or other Springfield City staff members have been on, what they call, a "Listening Tour." Well, I don't know how attentively they listen but, if you don't take the survey at all (or haven't attended one of their presentations) then, you can rest assured, they will NOT be listening to you.

The online survey ends tomorrow so this is your final call to click on this link and take the Springfield "Listening Tour" Survey.

If you take the survey, later, when some smart aleck jerk asks you if you have contributed to the process, as though you have no right to an opinion about it if you haven't, you can say, "HEY, you smart aleck jerk! I took the online listening tour survey, did you????" and you will be righteously justified to complain, or praise, the direction in which the City of Springfield is heading.

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