Jim Woestman, Carthage mayor, attended the session. The Joplin zone includes land in Carthage and the Carthage R-9 School District, and Joplin and Carthage have adopted an agreement that will allow projects to be administered by a committee named to oversee a separate enterprise zone for Carthage and the county.

“I was opposed to the idea at first, but after learning more about it, I think it will be good for the area, and that’s what we’re after,” Woestman said. “We need to think regionally.”

The commission also approved a revised fee schedule with Allgeier, Martin & Associates Inc., the firm that designs the county’s bridge and culvert projects. Jim Honey, Eastern District commissioner, said overall costs should not change, because the county will pay more on some projects and less on others.

Darieus Adams presided at the meeting in the absence of John Bartosh, presiding commissioner, who was attending a training session on boards of equalization in Springfield.

Attendance, next meeting: Adams and Honey attended. The next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 17.

County offices: 358-0421 or 625-4350.

Budget action

Final action on the proposed budget amendments will come next Thursday, after a public hearing on the proposed changes.