Sunday, August 06, 2017
This Week in the Missouri Senate
The costs continued to mount as the legislature finally finished its second special session. The Missouri Senate's role and the last bill passed is explained in the accompanying video.
Saturday, August 05, 2017
Billy Long: No recent president had had to deal with the gridlock Trump has faced
After last Novembers election, the incoming Trump administration reached out to me in order to assist in staffing several agencies. Their request was for me to submit names, of both Republicans and Democrats from my district that would be willing to serve our country.
This was a time-consuming effort, as I made lots of calls to individuals to assess what if any interest they may have in working in different agencies. Whether it was the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Agriculture, etc., I was determined to send names of our areas best and brightest to the President. Job titles from Undersecretary and on down the line were included.
So on July 26th, when I saw on my calendar that I had a morning meeting with HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson and a noon meeting with HHS Secretary Dr. Tom Price, I was anxious to see how the staffing process was going and if any 7th District folks were under serious consideration for positions. Dr. Carson shook his head and said: “Billy, I’m the only Senate confirmed member of my team to this point,” then he added (half kidding), “one thing about it, I’ve had to learn everything about every department myself.” At lunch when I posed the same question to Dr. Price, the answer was similar: “So far we have three Senate confirmed positions filled, and that’s including myself.”
President Trump has been in office for over six months, yet many in Washington seem to have a hard time accepting the results of the election. No recent president has had to deal with the type of gridlock President Trump has faced. At this point during President Obama’s presidency, he had 228 nominees confirmed. President Bush had 208. How many does President Trump have? Just 60. That’s unacceptable. There are more than 1,200 presidential appointments with Senate confirmation positions to fill, and roughly half are key positions that play an important role for an effective executive branch.
I understand the Senate, just like the House, has procedures that need to be followed to confirm these appointments. However, many Senate Democrats have gone out of their way to make this process longer than it should be and has been for past administrations.
It’s time to stop wasting valuable time and get these agencies functioning for the American people. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to work towards quickly confirming President Trump’s nominees. The American people deserve better.
Thursday, August 03, 2017
Agenda posted for Monday Joplin City Council meeting
COUNCIL AGENDA
Monday, August 7, 2017
6:00 P.M., Council Chambers
Monday, August 7, 2017
6:00 P.M., Council Chambers
1.
Call To Order
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America
Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America
2.
Roll Call
3.
Presentations
1.
Proclamation Presentation To Angela Jobes, Lead Peer Counselor For The City Of Joplin Health Department, To Proclaim August 2017 As Missouri Breastfeeding Month.
2.
Proclamation To Recognize The Outstanding Work Of The Meals On Wheels Program.
3.
Presentation On Carver Nursery- The Early Head Start Would Like To Partner With The City Of Joplin To Utilize The Carver Nursery To Provide High Quality Child Care Services For 8-16 Infants And Toddlers, In A Full-Day, Full-Year Program, Paul Bloomberg, Parks Director
4.
Finalization Of Consent Agenda
5.
Reports And Communications
6.
Citizen Requests And Petitions
7.
Public Hearings
1.
Public Hearing Procedures
2.
COUNCIL BILL 2017-269
AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2004-256, passed by the Council of the City of Joplin, Missouri, November 15, 2004, by removing from District R-1 and including in District C-3 property as described below and located Northeast corner of I-44 and US Highway 66 in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri.
3.
RESOLUTION NO. 2017-009
A RESOLUTION granting a Special Use Permit (First Request) to Giap and Angela Vu for the development of a parking lot located 2829 South Joplin Avenue, in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri.
4.
COUNCIL BILL 2017-270
AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2004-256, passed by the Council of the City of Joplin, Missouri, November 15, 2004, by removing from District R-1 and including in District M-2 property as described below and located 230 acres north of Highway FF and east of Prigmor Road in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri.
8.
Consent Agenda
1.
9.
Resolutions
10.
Ordinances - Emergency
1.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-144
AN ORDINANCE approving the Transportation Commission Cost Apportionment Agreement with Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, in a not to exceed amount of Four Hundred Nine Thousand Four Hundred Fourteen ($409,414.00) for the construction of intersection improvements at 32nd & Indiana Avenue authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin; and containing an emergency clause.
2.
COUNCIL BILL NO 2017-145
AN ORDINANCE approving an agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for Federal funding for design costs to replace sidewalks along Main Street from 11th Street to 15th Street authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin; and containing an emergency clause.
3.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-146
AN ORDINANCE approving an agreement for Olsson Associates Inc. in the not to exceed amount of One Hundred Sixty-Nine Thousand Two Hundred Eight and 00/100 Dollars ($169,208.00) for professional engineering consulting services for Main Street from 11th to 15th Street improvements authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin; and containing an emergency clause.
4.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-371
AN ORDINANCE approving the contract by and between the City of Joplin and Nelson Demolition for the repair & securing of the structure located at 1411 Campbell Parkway in the City of Joplin, Missouri, for the amount of One Thousand Two Hundred and 00/100 Dollar ($1,200.00); providing how the cost thereof shall be paid; how the assessment thereof shall be made; and containing an emergency clause.
5.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-372
AN ORDINANCE approving the contract by and between the City of Joplin and Nelson Demolition for the demolition of the structure(s) and clearing of lot area and located at 1909 S. Moffet in the City of Joplin, Missouri, for the amount of Three Thousand Two Hundred Ninety- Nine and 00/100 Dollars (3,299.00); providing how the cost thereof shall be paid; how the assessment thereof shall be made; and containing an emergency clause.
6.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-373
AN ORDINANCE approving the contract by and between the City of Joplin and Nelson Demolition for the demolition of the structure(s) and clearing of lot area located at 1108 McKinley in the City of Joplin, Missouri, for Two Thousand Four Hundred Ninety- Nine and 00/100 Dollars (2,499.00); providing how the cost thereof shall be paid; how the assessment thereof shall be made; and containing an emergency clause.
7.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-513
AN ORDINANCE approving the Real Estate Contract by and between the City of Joplin, Missouri, a Municipal Corporation, and Casey Harrison for the sale of approximately 6,250 square feet of land at 2014 Porter; and authorizing the City Manager to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin; and containing an emergency clause.
11.
Ordinances - First Reading
1.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-006
AN ORDINANCE re-adopting Chapter 2, Administration, of the Joplin City Code, Section 2-107, "Financial interest disclosure", requiring certain officials and employees of the City of Joplin to file Financial Interest Disclosure Statements as described herein.
2.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-606
An ordinance approving the applications of Four-State Trucks/Chrome Shop Mafia, for Guilty by Association; Ozark Christian College, for 2018 Conference Series; Active Lifestyle Inc., for Joplin Memorial Marathon; Rufus Racing, for Summer Roundup Triathlon; Joplin Disc Golf Club for 13th Annual Four State Open; MSSU Alumni Association for Alumni Tracking Software; George A. Spiva Center for the Arts for a Veterans Art Exhibit; George Washington Carver Birthplace Association, for the Marketing the Park’s 75thAnniversary year; ProMusica for 2018 Concert Series; Alliance of Southwest Missouri for Hope Conference; Emancipation Celebration Committee for Emancipation Park Day Celebration; Downtown Joplin Alliance for 2018 Events Marketing; Central Christian Center for Joyful Hearts Conference; Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce for the 18th Annual Carl Junction Bluegrass Festival; Joplin Art Fest Committee for the Joplin Arts Fest, and Historic Murphysburg Preservation, Inc. for Heritage Homes Tour , for utilization of FY2018 Festivals and Celebrations support pursuant to Ordinance No. 2000-148, as authorized by the voters on November 7, 2000; authorizing the City Manager to execute appropriate agreements with each such organization for the utilization of such funds.
3.
COUNCIL BILL NO. 2017-608
This Council Bill seeks permission from council for the city manager to sign a user’s agreement with Tempest, Inc. for Customer Relations Management (CRM) software for the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the not to exceed price of Fifteen Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($15,000.00), through the 2020 fiscal year.
12.
Ordinances - Second Reading And Third Reading
13.
Unfinished Business
14.
New Business
1.
Set The Date For The Public Hearing On The FY 2017-18 Proposed Budget For August 21, 2017.
2.
Set The Date For The Public Hearing On The Property Tax Rate For August 28, 2017.
3.
News From The PIO
Former Joplin R-8 athletic director Starkweather takes Springfield job
Jeff Starkweather, who just retired as athletic director for the Joplin R-8 School District after 11 years has taken a similar position with Springfield Public Schools.
According to a news release, Starkweather will serve as interim director of athletics and activities during the 2017-2018 school year, working part-time.
A search committee will hire an athletic director sometime this year to take over by July 1.
From the news release:
(Starkweather) joined the Joplin team in 1995 as boys basketball coach. Starkweather earned a bachelor's degree from Missouri Southern State University and a master's degree from University of Alabama-Birmingham.
"We are pleased that Jeff is willing to step in to temporarily fill this vacancy," said Superintendent John Jungmann. "This will be an important year for our athletic and activities programs with the expansion of middle school opportunities. Using the talent of a seasoned professional in this temporary capacity will help us make a smooth transition."
Effective July 1, the athletic department reports to Dr. Shane Dublin, executive director of secondary learning. Dr. Courtney Martin, director of student services, will temporarily assist the athletics and activities team in an interim role, working alongside Marty Marsh, assistant director of athletics.
"We are pleased that Jeff is willing to step in to temporarily fill this vacancy," said Superintendent John Jungmann. "This will be an important year for our athletic and activities programs with the expansion of middle school opportunities. Using the talent of a seasoned professional in this temporary capacity will help us make a smooth transition."
Effective July 1, the athletic department reports to Dr. Shane Dublin, executive director of secondary learning. Dr. Courtney Martin, director of student services, will temporarily assist the athletics and activities team in an interim role, working alongside Marty Marsh, assistant director of athletics.
Starkweather will begin work immediately.
Class action lawsuit alleges Joplin R-8 School District cheated bus drivers, aides out of retirement funds
According to the petition, the district did not begin putting money into the Public Education Employees Retirement System of Missouri (PEERS) until 2011, though the law requires automatic enrollment for those who work 20 hours or more per week.
The district and PEERS are listed as defendants.
Plaintiffs in the case are bus driver Todd Palmer, who has worked for the district since 2000, bus aide Jack Long, who has been in that position since 2005, and Sheri Virgin, who just retired after working as a bus driver since 1997.
From the petition:
Under Missouri law, employers have certain obligations to employees who are eligible for PEERS, including making contributions on behalf of the employees. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 169.620(2). Yet, despite their eligibility, the District did not make contributions to PEERS on behalf of bus drivers and bus aides until 2011.
There was no material change in job duties or work schedules for bus drivers in 2011 that would warrant their re-classification as eligible for PEERS. Regarding their eligibility for and membership in PEERS, the District has acted uniformly with respect to all bus drivers and bus aides.
In early 2017, Plaintiffs made a demand on the District prior to filing suit. Other than a non-substantive communication, the District did not respond to the demand.
The lawyer for the plaintiffs, Matthew Lee Dameron, Jefferson City, asks that the judge certify the case as a class action, because hundreds of people have served the R-8 District as bus drivers and bus aides prior to 2011.
The lawsuit asks for a full accounting, for the bus drivers and aides to have retirement contributions made to PEERS for the time prior to 2011, plus costs and attorney fees, and for damages.
The petition notes that the district enriched itself by not paying into PEERS.
The plaintiffs are asking for a jury trial.
Former North Middle School teacher free after posting $10,000 cash bond, $40,000 surety bond
Jasper County Circuit Court online records indicate, Schweitzer, 37, Joplin, who is charged with felony statutory rape for allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old student, has posted a $10,000 cash bond and a $40,000 surety bond.
Schweitzer is scheduled to be arraigned 9 a.m. August 14 before Judge Dean Dankelson.
The charge against Schweitzer was spelled out in the probable cause statement:
On 3/29/2017 at 2518 W. 29th Street, Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri 64804, Amanda Schweitzer committed the crime of statutory rape in the first degree.
Schweitzer drove the victim, C. A. to her residence at 2518 W. 29th Street. Schweitzer led C. A. into a bedroom inside the residence and remover her and C. A.'s clothing. Schweitzer and C. A. then had sexual intercourse in the bedroom.
Schweitzer was 37 years old and C. A. was 13 years old at the time of the sexual intercourse.
Joplin Police were investigating allegations that Schweitzer sent nude photos of herself to three students, ages 14, 14, and 13 when they came across evidence that indicated she had sex with the 13-year-old.
The Joplin R-8 School District placed her on immediate administrative leave for the remainder of the school year. Schweitzer had already submitted her resignation.
The Joplin R-8 School District placed her on immediate administrative leave for the remainder of the school year. Schweitzer had already submitted her resignation.
Webb City man pleads guilty to enticing a minor
Ricky Ball was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2016.
His crimes took place between March 21, 2015, and March 26, 2015, according to the indictment.
Judge David P. Rush ordered a pre-sentence investigation.
Wednesday, August 02, 2017
McCaskill: Bipartisan bill designed to stop Backpage role in sex trafficking
(From Sen. Claire McCaskill)
I'm joining 17 of my Republican colleagues—including Senator Rob Portman from Ohio, and my fellow Missouri Senator, Roy Blunt—and many Democratic colleagues, to make sure that websites like Backpage (the number one online marketplace for sex in the U.S.) can be held liable and brought to justice.
PHOTO: Senator Portman and I release our report, Backpage's Knowing Facilitation of Online Sex Trafficking
For years, Senator Portman and I investigated Backpage to get the truth about the company's business practices, and earlier this year, we released a report outlining our findings. What we saw, frankly, was shocking. Backpage was knowingly facilitating the sale of children on its website, and deleting the evidence instead of alerting law enforcement. Using the documents we collected over the course of our two-year investigation, we joined with several other members of Congress to urge the Department of Justice to launch a criminal review of Backpage.
But until our investigation blew the lid off of Backpage's activities, the company successfully shielded itself from accountability using a federal law that was designed to protect online platforms. Our bipartisan bill today would change that, and it would protect Missouri families by making clear, to any company, that the law will not shield them if they choose to go into business with sexual predators.
As a former prosecutor of sex crimes in Kansas City, I refuse to stand by while companies sell children for profit. I was proud to stand with my colleagues to introduce this bill, and I'll continue fighting tooth and nail to protect our kids from this unspeakable evil.
SCROLL DOWN to see a timeline of my and Senator Portman's fight against Backpage. Learn more at mccaskill.senate.gov/backpage:
I'm joining 17 of my Republican colleagues—including Senator Rob Portman from Ohio, and my fellow Missouri Senator, Roy Blunt—and many Democratic colleagues, to make sure that websites like Backpage (the number one online marketplace for sex in the U.S.) can be held liable and brought to justice.
PHOTO: Senator Portman and I release our report, Backpage's Knowing Facilitation of Online Sex Trafficking
For years, Senator Portman and I investigated Backpage to get the truth about the company's business practices, and earlier this year, we released a report outlining our findings. What we saw, frankly, was shocking. Backpage was knowingly facilitating the sale of children on its website, and deleting the evidence instead of alerting law enforcement. Using the documents we collected over the course of our two-year investigation, we joined with several other members of Congress to urge the Department of Justice to launch a criminal review of Backpage.
But until our investigation blew the lid off of Backpage's activities, the company successfully shielded itself from accountability using a federal law that was designed to protect online platforms. Our bipartisan bill today would change that, and it would protect Missouri families by making clear, to any company, that the law will not shield them if they choose to go into business with sexual predators.
As a former prosecutor of sex crimes in Kansas City, I refuse to stand by while companies sell children for profit. I was proud to stand with my colleagues to introduce this bill, and I'll continue fighting tooth and nail to protect our kids from this unspeakable evil.
SCROLL DOWN to see a timeline of my and Senator Portman's fight against Backpage. Learn more at mccaskill.senate.gov/backpage:
Tuesday, August 01, 2017
Greitens' first State Board of Education picks connected to charter school movement, private schools
Greitens' first three appointments to the State Board of Education all have strong connections to charter schools and private schools, while none have any experience with public education.
Greitens' selections:
*Former Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, who is currently serving as president of Kansas Christian College, Overland Park, Kansas. Early in his adulthood, Scott taught history, music, and physical education at Mount Zion Bible School in
*House Republican Campaign Committee treasurer Eddy Justice. Earlier this year, Justice organized a forum in his home town Poplar Bluff to promote charter schools. In a letter Justice wrote to the Cape Girardeau Southeast Missouri promoting the forum, he made it clear where he stood:
While these bills vary in approach, they offer one common theme: freedom. The freedom for parents to choose how their child receives their education.I say that's as American as apple pie.
This is how Greitens described his choices in a news release issued Monday:
Melissa Gelner, Eddy Justice, and Delbert Scott were appointed as members of the State Board of Education.
Gelner is Chief Kinship Officer at Askinosie Chocolate, Executive Director of Chocolate University, and Principal at M Gelner Marketing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Tulsa.
Justice is Owner and an agent of Eddy Justice State Farm Insurance Agency. He has sustained this position for over 15 years. Justice holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from John Brown University.
Scott is President of Kansas Christian College. He previously served as a Missouri State Senator, and a Missouri State Representative. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in education, comprehensive social studies, from Southwest Missouri State College.
The three board members who will be replaced by the charter school supporters are former Rep. Maynard Wallace, who was a public school superintendent, coach and teacher, Russell Still, a former classroom teacher and member of the Columbia Board of Education and Silver Dollar City owner Peter Herschend of Branson.
Greitens has one more board position to fill. It is currently held by John Martin of Kansas City. Martin has been a public school superintendent in Kansas City, St. Louis, and University City.
When Martin is replaced, it means that Greitens and the charter school/voucher proponents will have appointed half of the state board.
Greitens' contributions from supporters of charter schools and educational vouchers included $100,000 from the familiy of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. The contributions were detailed in the October 8, 2016 Turner Report:
A search of Missouri Ethics Commission documents shows that Greitens has received at least $695,000 from people with a record of attacking public schools and teachers while pushing for charter schools and privatization.
Among those contributing to Greitens:
$275,000 from Bernard Marcus, founder of Home Depot. Marcus gave $250,000 to the misnamed Families for Better Public Schools, a pro-charter committee in Georgia. (The only thing public about charter schools is that they drain taxpayer money from public schools. The public has no say in how the schools are operated, they do not have publicly elected boards, and board meetings are seldom, if ever, open to the public.)
$50,000 from Ron Weiser, one of the top contributors to the Great Lakes Education Project, an advocacy group for expanding so-called school choice and charter schools.
$10,000 from Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
$125,000 from Julian Robertson, founder of Tiger Management, who gave $25 million to the Success Academy charter schools.
$100,000 from Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, a private equity multi-millionaire who started the Rauner College Prep Charter Schools. Rauner recently said, "Half of Chicago Public School teachers are virtually illiterate."
$100,000 (five $20,000 contributions) from the DeVos family of Michigan, which originally found the pro-voucher group All Children Matter and Amway. Dick DeVos began the effort to undermine public schools by calling them "government schools."
$10,000 from Bill Bloomfield, chairman of Baron Real Estate, who spent more than three million dollars trying unsuccessfully to elect former charter school executive Marshall Tuck as state superintendent of public instruction in California and contributed $2.1 million to Ed Voice, which fights teacher tenure laws.
$25,000 from Marlene Ricketts, Chicago Cubs owner. The Cubs charity contributes considerable money to Chicago charter schools.
The amount of money Greitens has received from public education foes may be far greater than the contributions listed above.
The Republican Governors Association-Missouri has contributed $6 million to Greitens, funneling money from the Republican Governors Association a 527c organization that does not reveal its donors.
At this point, Missourians also have no way of knowing who contributed to the $1,975,000 Greitens received from a group calling itself Seals for Truth, though that group is not 527c and will have to list its donors on its quarterly financial report which is due to the FEC by October 15. The contribution was the largest in Missouri history, until Greitens received $2.5 million from Republican Governors Association-Missouri, the largest of five contributions from the committee.
Joplin R-8 hires four teachers, two administrators, one due to "critical shortage" and accepts two resignations
In addition to the previously announced promotion of Jacob Williams to the newly-created middle school athletic director position, the board hired its former Director of Special Services Janet Earl, as an interim assistant director of student services "due to critical shortage" according to the minutes.
It can be difficult when there is a critical shortage of assistant directors of special services.
Teachers hired were Krista Ideker, Melissa Kendall, Melissa Miller and Alex Smith.
Classied employees hired were Kayla Barnhart, Meagan Brashar, Jay Brubaker, Brittney Burns, Connie Castellanos, Wayne Crandell, Sarah Crossley, Larry Enlow, Andrea Griffith, Susan Haley, Terry Henson, Kelsey Hounshell, Ashley Intessimone, Lisa Jones, Heather Kahraman, Jalyn Ledford, Debra Merman, Holly Parks, Jamie Rawlings, Mark Rhodes, Waylen Tuggle, Bethany Walles and Denisa Simpson.
Resignations were accepted from Leslie Gann and Jacqueline Voss.
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