A look at the W. 32nd widening project

(From the City of Joplin)

Here's a peek at the West 32nd Street widening project showing the hills and valleys that will be leveled as well as the terrain surrounding the roadway. Project Pics are taken from the east looking west. Work will continue until mid to late 2023, weather permitting.

This improvement will widen 32nd Street from Schifferdecker Ave. west to Central City Road and add a center lane and a sidewalk-shared use path. The project is funded through Capital Improvement Sales Tax approved by voters in 2014.

Webb City Football Coach John Roderique announces retirement

(From Webb City R-7 School District)

The following release is a statement from Coach John Roderique.

I am so proud to be a part of this amazing community, school and Webb City Football.

For the past 26 years, I've been able to do what I love, with the people I love- every single day.

What an honor and privilege it has been. Thank you to the administrators, teachers and staff. And, special thanks to the assistant coaches and young men who have poured their hearts into our program.

Webb City Football is rooted in pride and tradition and I stand firm on the quote that "Great things can be accomplished when everyone works together and nobody cares who gets the credit."

This quote epitomizes the players and coaches I've had the opportunity to work with throughout the years. God has blessed me abundantly.

I'm excited (and a little sad) to announce my retirement at the end of the school year. I have loved my role as the head football coach and athletic director at Webb City High School and will cherish the friendships and memories. From the bottom of my heart- thank you all.

Coach Rod

Joplin Police Department officer killed in line of duty 55 years ago today

(From the Joplin Police Department)

Today we remember Joplin Patrolman Robert M. Clifton who died on December 5th, 1967 serving the citizens of Joplin. He had served for 6 1/2 years and died at the age of 34. Please join us as we recognize Patrolman Clifton and his service and sacrifice to our community on this day 55 years ago.

From the Officer Down Memorial Page:

Patrolman Bob Clifton was shot and killed when he and another officer stopped a vehicle for a routine inspection at 2803 S. Main Street.

The vehicle was occupied by four men and a juvenile girl who had just robbed and beaten a grocery store operator in Bowie, Texas, several hours earlier. Patrolman Clifton observed their vehicle exit I-44 and stop at a restaurant before driving into the southern part of the city. 

He stopped the car and had ordered the occupants to exit after he grew suspicious of them. The driver pulled a gun opened fire on Patrolman Clifton, fatally wounding him. Another officer who was pulling up to the scene returned fire and fatally wounded the subject.

The other four occupants were returned to authorities in Texas to face robbery charges.

Patrolman Clifton had served with the Joplin Police Department for 6-1/2 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.

School shootings spur legislation for stricter gun safety regulations in Missouri

By Rebecca Rivas

Missouri Independent

After the tragic St. Louis school shooting on Oct. 24 where a shooter killed a 15-year-old student and a health teacher, Missouri Democrats vowed to push legislation establishing stricter gun safety regulations.

On Thursday — the first day legislators could pre-file bills — state Rep. David Smith, D-Columbia, filed legislation to prohibit anyone under 20 from purchasing semi-automatic or automatic weapons.

 

“While we cannot stop all gun violence we can mitigate it, and one way we can do that is by limiting the sale of lethal weapons to those who may not yet have the developmental stability to use them responsibly,” Smith said in a press release Thursday.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, also proposed a constitutional amendment to require background checks for all firearm transfers of ownership and a permit to conceal carry a firearm.

Still likely to come is legislation to establish extreme risk protection orders — or red flag laws — allowing judges to temporarily separate at-risk individuals from their firearms.

Nine days before the shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, the mother of the shooter, 19-year-old Orlando Harris, asked police to take the gun away from him because she was concerned about his mental state. Police said state law didn’t give them the authority to take Harris’ weapon.

“The state of Missouri does not have a red flag law,” St. Louis Police Sgt. Charles Wall said in a statement to the media in October. “That means SLMPD officers did not have clear authority to temporarily seize the rifle when they responded to the suspect’s home when called by the suspect’s mother on 10/15/22.”








Republicans, who hold super majorities in both the House and Senate, have largely panned these proposals as an infringement on Second Amendment rights.

Gov. Mike Parson said tougher gun laws won’t stop gun violence.

“You got a criminal that committed a criminal act, you know, and all the laws in the world are not going to stop those things,” Parson said in the shooting’s aftermath.

Republican State Rep. Chris Dinkins, of Lesterville, filed a bill to expand the school protection officer program, which offers security training resources for teachers or administrators who want to carry a firearm in school in a security capacity. Dinkins’ bill would expand the 2014 school protection officer law and allow school districts to open up the program to any school personnel.

A separate 2009 law gave school officials and school boards the authority to decide if a person with a concealed carry permit could carry a gun on school campuses.

The protection officer program largely focused on helping rural schools that don’t have access to school security guards and where it can take law enforcement 45 minutes to respond to a call, supporters said.

Smith said the lethal shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas in May 2022 contributed to his decision to file his legislation. The shooters in Buffalo and Uvalde were both 18 years old when they perpetrated those shootings, and they both legally purchased the firearms they used to kill 10 and 21 people, respectively.

His bill would make it a class A misdemeanor for anyone under the age of 20 to buy or lease a semi-automatic or automatic firearm, as well as for those who sell or lease a semi-automatic or automatic firearm to someone under 20.

“In the past few months, we have seen truly horrific acts of violence committed by deeply mentally unstable teenagers using firearms they legally purchased,” Smith said. “Had this bill been in place, the mass shooter who terrorized Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis in October would not have been able to obtain the firearm he used to kill a student and a teacher.”

(Photo by Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent)

Billy Long: Who will be the Speaker of the House

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

As the 117th Congress comes to a close, the work of selecting the new Speaker of the House has already begun. Each party has nominated their candidate, and on January 3, 2023, the full House of Representatives will vote for the Speaker. But how does that process work? And what happens if somebody doesn’t get enough votes.

Just before the 118th Congress is sworn in, all Members-elect will meet in the House chamber to vote on the Speaker. Each party will formally nominate their candidates for the post. 

For the Republicans this will be current Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and the Democrats will nominate Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). 

After the nominating speeches, the Clerk of the House will call the roll of Members-elect in alphabetical order. Once a Member-elect’s name is called, they will rise and state the last name of the candidate they wish to vote for. Then the votes are tallied, and if a candidate has the majority of the votes of Members-elect present and voting, they are declared the Speaker.

With the new Republican majority being only a few votes, there has been some talk about a contested race for Speaker. A few Members-elect have voiced opposition to Leader McCarthy, and that puts the vote in question. 

Leader McCarthy won in the House Republican Conference with 188 votes, far less than the requisite majority. The majority of the full House is 218, but that is not the number required to actually win the Speakership. 

I stated earlier that the winner must receive a majority of the Members-elect present and voting. That means that if there are any vacancies or not all Members-elect are present for the vote, then the number required to win is less. The same is true if any Members-elect vote “present” meaning they simply record that they were in the chamber at the time, but do not record a vote for any candidate. 

If that happens, then the winning candidate must only receive the majority of those who voted for a candidate in the election. This has happened three times in recent history, in 1997 for Speaker Newt Gingrich, in 2015 for Speaker John Boehner and in 2021 for Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Each of them were elected with 216 votes, two less than the full majority of the House. 

If nobody receives the majority of voting Members-elect, than the roll is called again, until a Speaker is declared. The last time this happened was in 1923, when nine ballots were required to elect the Speaker.

There has been talk about what might happen if Leader McCarthy doesn’t receive the requisite votes to win. Some Members have talked about working with the Democrats to pick a more “moderate” Republican if several ballots are required. 

My hope is that when the 118th Congress convenes, they will be able to elect the Speaker on the first ballot, avoiding a process that we have not seen in exactly 100 years.

Nancy Hughes: The best bargain of all

“The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him – may your hearts live forever!” Psalm 22:26 (NIV)

My husband loved to shop for groceries. The only problem was that he almost always shopped on his way home from work in the evening. Translation: he walked down each aisle with an empty stomach and came home with an empty wallet.

If that wasn’t enough, a strange phenomenon occurred. My husband’s poor memory: (“Huh? You asked me to take out the trash? When? I don’t seem to recall . . .”) suddenly came alive and he was able to remember every name-brand food item ever seen on television! And THAT translated into a huge grocery bill made up of items that we absolutely did not need.

Another big part of that phenomenon included so-called bargains. If it appeared to be a good deal, the bargain found a resting place in my husband’s grocery cart. For example, he was very excited about the twelve jars of baby food advertised at $3.00 off but we didn’t have a baby. And yes, the sack of cat food on sale for $6.00 off WAS a steal . . . IF you owned a cat!

Walking in a grocery store with an empty stomach can be costly. But even more costly is walking through life without a relationship with Jesus. Please hear my heart on this one: we can shop around to find something else to fill our “shopping carts.” And In our hunger to fill the void inside each of us, we can look for bargains that we don’t really need, like a bigger home or a more expensive vehicle. We may even try filling our carts with drugs or alcohol or time spent in chat rooms on the internet.

In our emptiness, we may search for the perfect bargain and overlook the Perfect One who meets all our needs and satisfies our hunger as nothing else can. My husband came home with grocery “bargains” that he would never have bought if his physical hunger had been satisfied.

In the same way, when our spiritual hunger is filled with a relationship with Jesus, we will avoid falling into the trap of filling our hearts with “bargains” we do not need. Satisfy your spiritual hunger with a “shopping cart” filled with mercy, love, and forgiveness from the Lord and you will never need to shop for “bargains” again.

Father, I am so grateful that you desire a relationship with me. Thank you for filling up the emptiness in my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up

Reflect

Have you ever tried to fill the emptiness of your life with “bargains” that did not satisfy?

Did you feel “full” of satisfaction or still empty?

Apply

Journal each “bargain” that you have ever considered to fill the hunger in your heart. Beside each one, journal whether or not your hunger was satisfied.

Then look up a Scripture that shows how Jesus can fill that hunger, write it down and praise Him for His faithfulness.

Power

Psalm 22:26 (NIV) “The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him – may your hearts live forever!”

Romans 15:13 (NIV) “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 5:6 (NIV) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

***

Nancy Hughes' latest book is available on Amazon.

Five years ago today: Jayda Kyle, 3, child abuse victim, dies at Children's Mercy Hospital

It was five years ago today that 3-year-old Jayda Kyle, a victim of child abuse, died at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

For the next couple of years, the photo that accompanies this post, was seen constantly on social media as people followed every twist and turn in the investigation into what happened to the child and offered their opinions, often based on rumor.

A Carl Junction Police Department news release was the first information provided to the public:

On Tuesday, Nov. 28th, 2017 at 9:03 p.m., the Carl Junction Police Department was notified of a 911 medical call at 405 Meadow Lake Drive in reference to a 3-year-old female not conscious and not breathing.

The child, Jayda Kyle, was transported by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Joplin, and then life-flighted to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. We began an investigation that night, and have since been assisted by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday, December 1, 2017 at 3:56 p.m., Jayda was pronounced deceased at Children’s Mercy. An autopsy was conducted on Monday, December 4, 2017 and the pathologist ruled that the cause of death was due to a head injury.

The investigation has resulted in the arrest of 22-year-old Jalen Da’Shawn Vaden for child abuse resulting in death, which is a Class A felony. Charges are being sought with the Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office.

The final paragraph in the news release became the subject of speculation in the community.

The Carl Junction Police Department has not had any prior dealings with either adult in the household.

It was not a typical statement to put in a news release and indicated the stories that were circulating in the community that the case was being handled differently because the child's grandfather, Judd McPherson, was an attorney and had previously been a law enforcement officer.

When the probable cause statement was filed in Jasper County Circuit Court December 7, 2017, it further outlined the case against Jalen Vaden.

Vaden told police he "became upset over the child not being dressed in the pajamas he instructed her to put on." He picked the child up and threw her, causing her to hit her head on the floor, according to the probable cause statement.

A short time later, Vaden said, Jayda left the room still not wearing the pajamas. He said he threw her on the bed, then grabbed her by the leg and threw her face first on the floor.

When he returned, Vaden told the officers, he found Jayda "bleeding and unresponsive."

The meaning of the last paragraph in the Carl Junction Police Department news release became clear after Jasper County Children's Division documents obtained by the Turner Report included claims that McPherson had attempted to"manipulate/direct" the investigation and said McPherson and his wife Carmen, the parents of Jayda's mother, Devyn Kyle, had given "inconsistent statements" to investigators.

On 11/29/2017 at 3:46 a.m., Judd McPherson contacted me stating that all doctors had said this was a medical thing. However, medical records show that Devyn and family were notified by Dr. Michelle Pannell at Mercy in Joplin on 11/28/2017 at 10:37 p.m. that this was suspected non-accidental head trauma.

Children's Division was informed by law enforcement that while completing interviews of witnesses that Dr. Pannell stated Devyn was explaining that she found Jayda lying on the floor in her room at which point either Carmen or Judd corrected her and stated, "You mean when he found her" (talking about Jalen)."

When Children's Division determined that custody of Jayda's brother would go to another family member, McPherson did not take it well, according to the report.

When informing Judd of the current situation, he first asked who the judge was who signed the order, then he stated he would be getting that changed and ended the call. During this call, Judd did not ask any questions about the abuse and doctors have stated the family has not asked them either as to what or who could have caused it.

The report also revealed that Carmen McPherson and not Devyn Kyle rode the helicopter to Children's Mercy Hospital with Jayda.

Judd McPherson said that was due to the weight limit, according to the report, but Devyn Kyle told investigating officers and the Children's Division that she and Vaden "went home to change."

The report says McPherson received a court order allowing Jalen Vaden to have contact with Jayda at the hospital "after she had been diagnosed with abusive head trauma and knowing he was one of her caretakers at the time."

Jasper County Juvenile office documents dated November 30, 2017 revealed Jayda Kyle was likely already brain dead when she arrived at Children's Mercy Hospital, but she was not stable enough for doctors to do the test. They were able to determine that she appeared to have no brain activity:

"Initially, the ED doctor stated he believed the child had suffered an aneurysm. Jayda was then seen by a neurosurgeon with the SCAN team who reported the amount of brain bleed and retinal damage is non-natural causes."

The tests showed that Jayda had a severely torn retina.

"Due to this, she is reportedly blind."

Though Vaden, who was Devyn Kyle's live-in boyfriend, had confessed to committing the crime, he sent a letter to Jayda's father, Mack Kyle, telling a different story.

"I've prayed for you everyday since I got to this hell hole," Vaden said. "I pray that you know I didn't do this to J."

In the conclusion to his letter, Vaden told Kyle, "I pray for your peace and strength. I don't want to pretend like I know you so well, but the thing I do know, I know you've been through a lot in life to say the absolute very least. I have no words, nor are there any."

Vaden said he knew each day was a challenge for Kyle, but that he had to "keep pushing' for his other child. "He needs you more than ever now."

Vaden added, "Those babies were my life and I have you to thank for that."

In a letter written to a friend, Vaden claimed he was being framed. 

"I just can't sit in prison for something I didn't do. I'm getting burned for being loyal to the wrong people."

Vaden was not specific about who the wrong people were.

Vaden indicated his race may have something to do with his situation.

"They always talk about constitutional rights, but they forget that the dudes who wrote it had slaves and they weren't talking about us."

During a January 3, 2019 hearing, despite his earlier protestations, Vaden pleaded guilty to felony child abuse. Under a plea bargain agreement with the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office, second degree murder charges were dismissed.

Greene County Circuit Court Judge Michael Cordonnier sentenced Vaden to 22 years in prison, with the stipulation that he would serve at least 85 percent of the sentence.

But before Cordonnier accepted the sentenced, he directed a series of questions at Vaden.

"Do you realize if you plead guilty your right to a trial will be lost forever."

"Yes, sir," Vaden answered.

Following the questioning, Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney Theresa Kenney detailed the evidence that would have been presented against Vaden had he elected to have a trial.

The details from the probable cause statement were recounted, but Kenney added others which explained why investigators zeroed in on Vaden rather than the other adult who was in the home at 405 Meadow Lake Drive in Carl Junction the night of November 27, 2017, Jayda's mother, Devyn Kyle.

When Carl Junction Police Department officers arrived, emergency medical personnel were already working on Jayda, Kenney said.

Vaden had blood on his shirt and there was blood on the floor in the child's room as well as on the bed.

After it was determined that Jayda Kyle's death did not come as a result of any medical condition, but rather from abuse, investigators questioned Vaden and Kyle separately after advising them of their Miranda rights.

Kenney said that in the videotaped interview, Vaden told officers he did not intend to hurt Jayda, but "he just snapped."

Vaden demonstrated on a doll what he had done to the child, including throwing her on the floor and causing her to hit her head, Kenney said, and then officers left the room as Vaden wrote on a piece of paper a description of the exact locations in the child's room where the incidents of abuse had taken place.

Vaden's descriptions of what he had done to Jayda and where he had done it matched up completely with the physical evidence from the crime scene and the medical evidence, Kenney said.

Kenney said the family of Jayda Kyle, some of whom were in the courtroom, were fully informed about the plea agreement.

Cordonnier asked if family members had any impact statements. Kenney said they did not wish to make any statements.

Another wrinkle was added to the case following the hearing when Vaden's attorney, Tracey Martin, issued a statement from Vaden:

Jalen has authorized me to make a statement on his behalf following his guilty plea.

Jalen continues to assert that his "confession" was not accurate or truthful.

However, he does take responsibility for a reckless, tragic accident that resulted in the death of a beautiful child. He feels extreme guilt and remorse for all of the families and individuals that continue to grieve for that precious little girl.

It has taken a lot of time to look at every piece of evidence and follow every lead. After a thorough review of the evidence, and the additional medical evidence only released last month, it became clear that Jayda's death was the result of reckless action.



Jalen had no intent to hurt or injure Jayda and unfortunately, that does not change the outcome.

He wants to personally apologize to both the Kyle and McPherson families for their loss. He also is disgusted by how the families have been treated on social media, and asks that people allow the families to process their loss without any further bullying or mistreatment on social media or otherwise.

While this is certainly not the outcome many hoped for, we promised to thoroughly review every aspect of this case to confirm that we found the truth.



While there may be unanswered questions, we have done all we can do to find and stand on the truth. Jalen hopes that taking responsibility will allow the families and the community to move toward healing.

Unfortunately, this case resulted in a number of hurtful, inaccurate facts being shared. We hope this resolution will end the speculation and gossip that has hurt so many.

Jalen hopes the three families can heal and work together in spite of him, so that the two young boys can be reunited as brothers. They lost their sister and extended family members.

There has been enough heartbreak.

Jalen believes it is time to allow these families to heal, hopefully together, for the boys.

Despite the guilty plea and the evidence presented by Kenney, social media sites still are seeking "justice" for Valen and he has not disavowed any of the sites.

Five years after Jayda Kyle's death, there is still only one person who confessed to investigators that he committed the crime and only one person who pleaded guilty in a court of law.

Public Service Commission to Spire: Go ahead and raise your rates

(From Missouri Public Service Commission)

The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved an agreement reached by parties in a natural gas rate case filed by Spire Missouri, Inc. (Spire Missouri) which authorizes Spire Missouri to increase annual natural gas revenues by approximately $78 million above what was approved in Spire Missouri’s last rate case. 

Spire Missouri has asked that new rates take effect on December 26, 2022, but no later than January 1, 2023. When Spire Missouri filed its natural gas rate request on April 1, 2022, it sought a net increase in its annual natural gas revenues of approximately $151.9 million.

The agreement approved by the Public Service Commission was submitted by Spire Missouri, the Office of the Public Counsel, the Public Service Commission Staff, Consumers Council of Missouri, Midwest Energy Consumers Group, Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers, Symmetry Energy Solutions, LLC, Constellation NewEnergy-Gas Division, LLC, Clearwater Enterprises, L.L.C. and WoodRiver Energy, LLC. No party objected to the agreement.

“After reviewing the unopposed Agreement, the Commission determines that its terms are a reasonable resolution of the issues therein and will result in just and reasonable rates,” said the Commission. “Therefore, the Commission will approve the Agreement.”

According to the PSC Staff, the current and new customer charge as well as the current and new winter usage charge (November through April) on a per Ccf basis (per 1,000 cubic feet of natural gas) appears below.

For Spire East residential customers, the monthly customer charge will drop from $22 a month to $20 a month. The current winter usage charge (November through April) is approximately 27.6 cents per Ccf. Under the agreement, it will go to approximately 36.5 cents per Ccf.

For Spire West residential customers, the monthly customer charge will stay the same at $20 a month. The current winter usage charge (November through April) is approximately 27 cents per Ccf. Under the agreement, it will go to approximately 37.4 cents per Ccf.

This rate case generally reflected “non-gas” costs. “Non-gas” costs are operating and maintenance expenses in providing natural gas to customers in a safe and useful form. It also includes a return on investment in plant (such as meters, mains and service lines that deliver natural gas to your home or business). The actual cost of the natural gas is NOT a part of this rate case. The wholesale cost of natural gas is unregulated. The Public Service Commission reviews the natural gas purchasing practices of Spire Missouri to ensure prudent decisions are made in securing natural gas supplies for its customers.

In an agreement reached in the last Spire Missouri rate case, the natural gas company changed the name of its Low-Income Energy Affordability Program to the Payment Partner Program. That agreement provided for automatic customer referrals to energy efficiency programs and expansion of program eligibility from 185% of the federal poverty level to 200%.

In the agreement approved by the Commission in this rate case, Spire Missouri will increase shareholder contributions to the Payment Partner Program by $1 million in addition to existing contributions, bringing the total funding of the program to $3.3 million. In addition, the Payment Partner Program eligibility will be expanded to 300% of the federal poverty level through April 30, 2023.

According to the agreement, beginning on May 1, 2023, absent an alternative agreement by the Spire Limited Income Collaborative, the eligibility for the program will change to 80% of the State of Missouri median income, which, the agreement states, is consistent with the state’s guidelines for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) eligibility. The agreement states the Spire Limited Income Collaborative may recommend extension of the Payment Partner Program at 300% of the federal poverty level.

In the last rate case agreement, Spire Missouri agreed to conduct a three year pilot program to serve customers with critical needs based on the framework originally designed by Baltimore Gas and Electric known as the Maryland Critical Needs Programs. In this rate case agreement, Spire Missouri will provide, independent of the contributions to the Payment Partner Program, $500,000 to the creation of the Critical Needs Program. Parties are to continue working together through the Critical Needs Partnership to develop the details of this program.

Spire Missouri East provides natural gas service to approximately 658,260 customers in the City of St. Louis as well as the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Butler, Iron, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, Crawford, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve. Spire Missouri West provides natural gas service to approximately 527,200 customers in Andrew, Barry, Barton, Bates, Buchanan, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Dade, DeKalb, Greene, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, McDonald, Moniteau, Pettis, Platte, Ray, Saline, Stone and Vernon counties.

Sam Graves: New Republican House majority will set things right

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

On January 3, 2023, a new conservative majority will take control of the House of Representatives. We're going to have our work cut out for us.

The American people have spoken. We're sick of rising prices, fed up with the red tape holding our economy back, and tired of getting hammered at the gas pump because we're relying on oil from foreign countries.

We've heard you, and our first order of business will be reining in President Biden's reckless spending spree that's fueling inflation and rising prices. There's plenty of wasteful spending to cut. But the $80 billion liberals just gave the IRS to hire 87,000 new agents to harass American families is a great place to start.

Wasteful spending isn't the only thing that's fueling inflation. The growing federal bureaucracy is creating new headaches and bills for American businesses, farmers, and families. New rules and regulations on everything from Waters of the United States to oil drilling restrictions are increasing costs and driving up prices at the pump, all of which get passed along to you and me.

We need to cut through the red tape, particularly the new rules and regulations President Biden has implemented to choke off America's domestic oil production. By cutting back American energy production, the President has made us more reliant on foreign oil. As long as we're relying on Venezuela and the Middle East, we're stuck paying whatever price they demand for oil. We need to lower prices for folks to fill up their vehicles and equipment. To do that, we need to make American energy independent.

We also have to conduct rigorous oversight of the Administration and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. For the last two years, the liberal majority in the House has let the Administration run roughshod over them and interpret the law as they see fit—that will no longer fly.








Our infrastructure dollars should be spent on projects that strengthen our supply chain and improve roads and bridges. We can't afford to waste our tax dollars on Green New Deal priorities this Administration pulls out of thin air. When they try to do things like restrict grants to projects that add needed lanes to existing highways and build new roads like they did last year, we will shine a light on that and hold them accountable.

Above all else, the new conservative majority in Congress should listen to the American people and work to make life easier and more affordable for families. The cost of just getting by in this country has skyrocketed under the Biden Administration. It's time for the House to take action and that’s exactly what we’re going to do in the next Congress.

Agenda posted for Joplin City Council meeting

JOPLIN CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2022
5th FLOOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS
602 S. MAIN ST. JOPLIN MO
6:00 P.M.

1.

Call To Order

Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America

2.

Roll Call

3.

Presentations

1.

Boards And Commissions Recognition

Documents:

1. B-C COMP TERMS 2022-RECOG 12-5-22.PDF

2.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Project Updates

Documents:

1. JOPLIN CITY COUNCIL - ARPA PROGRAM UPDATE 12.05.PDF

3.

Broadband Deployment Status Update

Documents:

1. BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT STATUS CITY COUNCIL UPDATE 12-5.PDF

4.

Solid Waste Master Plan Update

Documents:

1. SOLID WASTE MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION.PDF
2. JOPLIN ENERGY DRAFT-11-30-22.PDF
3. JOPLIN SWMP-DRAFT-11-30-22.PDF

4.

Finalization Of Consent Agenda

5.

Reports And Communications

1.

News From The Public Information Office

6.

Citizen Requests And Petitions

1.

Brian Evans Requested To Speak On Joplin Government's Support For Local Small Businesses And Fiscal Responsibility.

2.

Ryan Jackson Requested To Speak On The City Attorney And His Negligence Of Duty.

7.

Public Hearings

1.

Public Hearing Procedures

Documents:

1. PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURES.PDF

2.

RESOLUTION NO. 2022-019

A RESOLUTION granting a Special Use Permit (1st Request) for the operation of a Residential Concert House located at 2120 E 24th St in the City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri.

Documents:

1. RS2022-019SUMMARY.PDF
2. RS2022-019REPORT.PDF
3. RS2022-019APP.PDF
4. APPSUPLIMENTAL.PDF
5. RS2022-019MINUTES.PDF
6. RS2022-019MAP.PDF
7. RS2022-019.PDF

3.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2022-290

AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2022-274, passed by the Council of the City of Joplin, Missouri, August 1, 2022, by removing from District C-3 (Commercial) and including in District M-2 (Heavy Industrial) property as described below and located at 6902 E 32nd St, City of Joplin, Newton County, Missouri.

Documents:

1. CB2022-290SUMMARY.PDF
2. CB2022-290REPORT.PDF
3. CB2022-290APP.PDF
4. CB2022-290MINUTES.PDF
5. CB2022-290MAP.PDF
6. CB2022-290.PDF

4.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2022-289

AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2022-274, passed by the Council of the City of Joplin, Missouri, August 1, 2022, by removing from District C-3 (Commercial) and including in District R-2 (Two Family Residential) property as described below and located at 3024 E 9th St, City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri.

Documents:

1. CB2022-289SUMMARY.PDF
2. CB2022-289REPORT.PDF
3. CB2022-289APP.PDF
4. CB2022-289MINUTES.PDF
5. CB2022-289MAP.PDF
6. CB2022-289.PDF

5.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2022-291

AN ORDINANCE providing the vacation of a utility easement lying on property described as McClelland Terrace and W 32nd St, City of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri.

Documents:

1. CB2022-291SUMMARY.PDF
2. CB2022-291REPORT.PDF
3. CB2022-291APP.PDF
4. JOP-100-6805.PDF
5. PLACEAFTERJOP-100-6805.PDF
6. CB2022-291MINUTES.PDF
7. CB2022-291MAP.PDF
8. CB2022-291.PDF

8.

Consent Agenda

1.

Minutes Of The November 21, 2022, City Council Meeting

Documents:

1. NOVEMBER 21, 2022 MINUTES.PDF

2.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2022-152

AN ORDINANCE approving a purchase order for Nine Hundred Sixty-five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($965,000.00) with Ace Pipe Cleaning, Inc., for the 2022 Evaluation and Rehabilitation Toolbox for Wastewater Collection System Project; authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2022-152.PDF

3.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2022-153

AN ORDINANCE approving a work authorization with Allgeier, Martin and Associates, Inc. in the not to exceed amount of Ninety-Six Thousand Nine Hundred and 00/100 Dollars ($96,900.00) for the Wastewater Collection System Rehabilitation Toolbox Project; and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2022-153.PDF

9.

Resolutions

10.

Ordinances - Emergency

1.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2022-367

AN ORDINANCE approving the contract by and between the City of Joplin and B & D Yardbuilders for the demolition of the structure(s) and clearing of a lot located at 820 E Broadway St. in the City of Joplin, Missouri, for Three Thousand One Hundred Eighty Seven dollars & Seventeen cents ($3,187.17); providing how the cost thereof shall be paid; how the assessment thereof shall be made; and containing an emergency clause.

Documents:

1. SUMMARY (GREEN) 820 BROAD (003).PDF
2. PICTURE2.PDF
3. PICTURE3.PDF
4. PICTURE4.PDF
5. PICTURE5.PDF
6. CB-367 BID TAB.PDF
7. CB 2022-367 820 BROAD.PDF

2.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2022-368

AN ORDINANCE approving the contract by and between the City of Joplin and B & D Yardbuilders for the demolition of the structure(s) and clearing of a lot located at 1406 S. Moffet Ave. in the City of Joplin, Missouri, for Two Thousand Eight Hundred dollars & Seventeen cents ($2,800.17); providing how the cost thereof shall be paid; how the assessment thereof shall be made; and containing an emergency clause.

Documents:

1. CB-368 SUMMARY.PDF
2. CB-368 PICTURES.PDF
3. BID TABULATION 1406 S MOFFET AVE.PDF
4. CB 2022 - 368 MOFFET 1406 (005).PDF

11.

Ordinances - First Reading

12.

Ordinances - Second Reading And Third Reading

1.

COUNCIL BILL NO. 2022-157

AN ORDINANCE approving Amendment 1 to Work Authorization OLS-OC20-09 with Olsson in the not to exceed amount of Fifty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred and 00/100 dollars ($58,300.00) for professional engineering consulting services for intersection improvements at 4th and Murphy Blvd; and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to execute the same by and on behalf of the City of Joplin.

Documents:

1. CB2022-157.PDF

13.

Unfinished Business

14.

New Business

1.

CASE NO. 059-22

Case 059-22: Site Plan Review – W 32nd and McClelland – A request to review the Site Plan for future development – Crossland Realty Group.

Documents:

1. 059-22SUMMARY.PDF
2. 059-22REPORT.PDF
3. 059-22APP.PDF
4. 059-22MINUTES.PDF
5. 059MAP.PDF