The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Carthage, Jasper County

Discussion

May 14, 2008

Carthage council advances two annexation proposals

By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Two annexation measures that could result in questions on the November ballot have been advanced by the Carthage City Council.

Council members on Tuesday adopted a resolution outlining plans to annex an area near Fir Road and Grand Avenue, and conducted a public hearing on the proposed annexation of more than 300 acres near Civil War Road and Juniper Lane.

The Fir Road and Grand Avenue annexation would involve T’s Corner, a convenience store at 2807 S. Grand Ave., and residential property to the west. All of the property is surrounded by the city.

Council action Tuesday was designed to meet deadlines for putting an involuntary-annexation measure on the ballot for November, though city officials also are talking with landowners about coming into the city voluntarily, said Tom Short, city administrator.

“We need to develop a plan of intent to serve that area and seek a declaratory judgment from circuit court,” he said. “We want to prepare for the election, and if the landowners decide to come in voluntarily, we could cancel the vote.”

He said several homeowners in the residential area have contacted the city and expressed an interest in annexation.

Shannon Meister, owner of T’s Corner, said Wednesday that she did not want to comment on the city’s proposal.

A voluntary annexation is being sought by Americold Logistics, which owns the property near Civil War Road and Juniper Lane.

No one spoke at a public hearing on the proposed annexation.

The land is being considered for an industrial park, and the council also is considering a November election on a half-cent sales tax for economic development that would be used to prepare the area for industrial prospects. That plan has not received council approval, but it has been endorsed by the council’s budget committee.

The city more than a year ago adopted a policy identifying “islands” surrounded by city property as priorities for annexation.

In other business, council members heard from consultant Jim Kaatz on a wage and benefits study and new pay plan recently completed for the city. Department heads and city workers also raised questions about the pay plan that they said, in some cases, would devalue city workers.

Kaatz said the procedure included developing new job descriptions and job evaluations that ranked jobs based on a point system; a salary survey comparing Carthage salaries with those of 15 other cities; and a survey of compensation plans. Kaatz said Carthage salaries were “in line with the labor market, though there were some pockets that needed to be brought up.”

He said Carthage pays more of the family share of city workers’ health insurance than some other cities, though co-pays are higher. He also said Carthage offers fewer vacation days than some other cites.

Questions and comments from workers and department heads had to do with longtime workers who they said would be penalized when they “topped out” in the new plan. Kaatz said the workers still would get a cost-of-living increase and would have the opportunity for higher pay through promotions.

“One-third of my workers have 20 or more years, and sometimes the vacancies for promotion aren’t there,” said police Chief Greg Dagnan.

Kaatz said he would revisit some of the job classifications after questions about step assignments from some department heads.

“I think this system is designed for a city that hires more new people and not for one where the workers have been here for years,” said Sandy Baker

Council members adopted a motion accepting the plan, after eliciting an opinion from Nate Dally, city attorney, that changes could be made after adoption. The vote was 9-1, with Dan Rife dissenting.





Plan costs



Implementing the new pay plan and adding a 2 percent cost-of-living increase would cost $162,000, though $50,000 of that has been figured into the city budget that goes into effect July 1, said Tom Short, city administrator.

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