Carl Junction voters to decide issues for center, street projects

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March 22, 2008

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Sat Mar 22, 2008, 09:33 PM CDT

By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — A $4.1 million bond issue for a new community center and a $365,000 bond issue for street projects will be on the April 8 ballot for Carl Junction residents.

Residents in the town’s 1st Ward also will decide from among three candidates running for that City Council position. One candidate on the ballot has ceased his campaign.

Steve Lawford, Carl Junction community and economic development director, said the proposed new community center would house City Hall, a gymnasium, community meeting rooms and a senior center. The 320,000-square-foot building would be built just north of the police station, if voters approve it.

City Clerk Maribeth Matney said city government moved into the current City Hall, at 800 E. Pennell, in 1999. She said there is no longer enough space for city employees or for storage. The building previously was used as a clinic and was donated to the city.

Lawford said discussion of a community center has been discussed at annual city planning retreats for several years.

“Citizens have requested we have a community center,” Lawford said. “We’ve never had an opportunity to pursue anything until now.”

The $365,000 bond issue for street projects would include a redesign of the intersection at Briarbrook Drive and Fir Road. Lawford said the corner has a high volume of traffic with few traffic controls. He said there is a stop sign and a right turn lane, but no turn lanes from Fir Road to get onto Briarbrook Drive.

“It can be kind of a booger getting out of there in the morning,” Lawford said.

He said the bond issue also would allow the city to extend South Main Street to connect with Joplin Street.

Both bond issues would require a total 23-cent debt-service levy. Lawford said the bond issues would extend a current levy for an additional 20 years. The property-tax levy otherwise would expire, reducing the amount of property taxes.

The annual tax impact for the owner of a house in Carl Junction with an appraised value of $100,000 would be $43.70. The owner of a car with a market value of $15,000 would pay personal property taxes of $11.39 annually to support the bond issues.

Approval for each bond issue would require a four-sevenths majority, which is 57.1 percent.

City Council

In the 1st Ward City Council race, veteran incumbent Councilwoman Barbara Evans has two challengers, Julie Alford and Donald Marshall. A fourth person on the ballot, Ron Daniel, has dropped out of the race.

Evans, 65, of 106 N. Grimes, is a retired school cook who has lived in Carl Junction her entire life. She graduated from Carl Junction High School. She has served six terms, 12 years, on the City Council.

“I’ve enjoyed serving and helping the people,” Evans said of her reason for seeking re-election. “I just really care about what happens here.”

Alford, 47, of 309 Temple, is a student at Crowder College and works for Integrity Home Health Care. She graduated from high school in Fremont, Calif., and has lived in Carl Junction for the past 23 years. She narrowly lost when she ran for City Council two years ago.

Alford said business recruitment is one of her goals.

“The few businesses we had, we lost,” she said.

Marshall, 67, of 1203 Scott Drive, is a deputy with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. He graduated from high school in Stockton and graduated from the police academy at Missouri Southern State College. He has lived in Carl Junction for 27 years and previously served as a councilman for six years. He said his tenure on the council was about 18 years ago.

“I know all the codes and city ordinances,” Marshall said. “I just think I could do them some good.”

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Carl Junction voters to decide issues for center, street projects

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