subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Thu, Nov 26 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
email this story   E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Globe/Garry Jeffries U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt (right) talks with, among others, Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn on Wednesday at the Joplin police station. The occasion was an annual meeting Blunt conducts with area law-enforcement personnel.

Published August 13, 2008 09:45 pm - Offsetting the high cost of gasoline was one of the topics on which local law-enforcement officers sounded off during a meeting Wednesday with U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.

Gas prices on agenda as congressman meets with law enforcement



By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

Offsetting the high cost of gasoline was one of the topics on which local law-enforcement officers sounded off during a meeting Wednesday with U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.

Fighting drugs and improving communication also came up during the gathering at the Joplin police station.

“I think the three have sort of an equitable importance to them,” Joplin police Chief Lane Roberts said after the meeting.

Blunt, the Republican House whip, has been conducting a series of districtwide meetings with law enforcement, something he has done annually.

Blunt said he believes high energy prices are affecting both the budgets of law-enforcement agencies, and the operating revenues generated for cities and counties.

“At a time when income is going down because so much of people’s income is going to gasoline, there’s no sales tax on gasoline,” he said. “That $30 extra that went into your gas tank might have gone to a restaurant bill, or a clothing bill or something else with a sales tax.”

Roberts said high energy costs are having “unanticipated effects” on local law enforcement, particularly with jail overcrowding.

“People who can’t afford to get to work economically ... or people who can’t afford to pay their fines and opt for jail time seem to be resulting in reduced revenues and increased jail populations,” he said.

“It’s not just reduced revenue, it’s increased output,” added Jeff Merriman, a lieutenant with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department. “When those guys are in jail, we’re paying for them to be there. It’s a double whammy.”

Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn asked Blunt to look into whether the federal government could take funds out of the Social Security or disability checks of inmates to reimburse agencies for the cost of their incarceration.

“First of all, it would help our county coffers to pay and upkeep these folks,” he said. “Secondly, it might serve as a deterrent for those people not to want to come back to jail.”

Dunn said the per diem allowance for inmates at the Jasper County Jail is between $40 and $45.

“It’s encouraging to me that he would take the time,” Roberts said of Blunt. “He seems to be listening, and his history is that he’s responsive. So this is a big deal.”



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements


Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Transportation

HONDA, 2007 FIT SPORT,
customized interior package, automatic, air, AM/FM/CD, cruise, great mpg, low miles, excellent condition, $11,800. (417)...>MORE

1998 CHEVROLET TRACKER
removable hard tops, automatic, air, CD, sharp, $2500. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

2002 FORD TAURUS SE
nice car, 3.0 liter V6, $2900. 417-850-0731....>MORE

1993 CHEVROLET LONG BED
runs good, 4.3 V6, new transmission, needs body parts, $400. (417)438-2508...>MORE

JEEP 2000 CHEROKEE SPORT
JEEP, 2000 Cherokee Sport, 6 1/2” lift, 35” foggers, locked front end, welded rear end, off road use, winch not included...>MORE

2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
4 door, sharp, loaded, leather, CD, sunroof, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

TOYOTA 2004 TACOMA PRERUNNER
Toyota, 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, TRD off road, double cab, V6, new tires, CD, bed liner, lid cover, 100,000 miles, excelle...>MORE

1999 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED
4x4, leather loaded, $3500. 417-850-0731....>MORE

HONDA 2001 CIVIC EX
HONDA, 2001 Civic EX, 4 door, automatic, 94,000 miles, $5800; 1998 Accord, 4 door, $4200; 1999 Honda Prelude, automatic...>MORE

OLDSMOBILE 2003 SILHOUETTE VAN
OLDSMOBILE, 2003 Silhouette mini van, 107,000 miles, scooter/wheelchair hoist, nice, $7000. (417)776-3219....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

NEWER 3 BR/2 BA
Lots of upgrades and great location. $149,000 but all offers considered. 903 Katlin, Carl Junction. Pictures www.fsboloc...>MORE

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

YORKIES
12 weeks old, 2 males, AKC, 1st shots, $175. 417-291-6590, Webb City...>MORE

REWARD $50,000 REWARD

Offered for any information leading to conviction of any person or persons known to have been involved in alleged
...>MORE

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE
Pear-shaped, one carat, diamond solitaire in gold setting. $2,000. Please call 417-825-3238...>MORE

INDIAN HEAD PENNIES
INDIAN HEAD PENNIES, 35% Civil War II nickels, V nickels, Buffalo nickels, lots of other coins. Garage full of antiques ...>MORE

POODLES
POODLES, standard pups, born 10/10, registered, shots, wormed, family raised. Adorable personalities! 417-673-3892....>MORE

ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPPY
male, AKC, fawn/white, champion bloodlines, $900 or best offer. (417)396-3340...>MORE

ANGUS HEIFERS
6 Augus heifers, good foundation stock. (417)358-7519...>MORE

POODLE, FULL BLOODED
POODLE, full blooded, $75 or best offer. (417)385-8710 after 4:30 p.m....>MORE

5TH WHEEL
5TH WHEEL, 2004 Prowler Regal, 26’, 2 slides, loaded, nice. (620)674-2127....>MORE

NEW IN BOX
New in box, Lucchese cowboy boots, black, size 9D, $200. (620)231-9256...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition