Life Of Jason

Last year when I changed my diet to a mostly organic diet, I discovered that I really enjoyed cooking.  I’ve always made myself meals but never actually tried to “cook” in the way a chef would do it.  Since then, I’ve done a few things that I found from recipes online and I’ve been amazed at how food tastes.  We get into such a rush that we don’t just sit and enjoy meals and the different flavors that can be combined to make a great meal.

If you had asked me a year ago to sit down and watch a show hosted by Gordon Ramsay, I would have just laughed at you.  Even though he’s mildly entertaining when he’s giving chefs the Simon Cowell treatment it was still a show about cooking.  Now, I actually find myself watching Hell’s Kitchen and being more interested in the meals they were cooking and the presentation of the food.

I sit there and wonder what that food would taste like and wonder whether or not I could make something like that myself in the kitchen.

Then I found myself watching Ramsay’s other show on BBC America, Kitchen Nightmares.  I look at the mistakes that are being made by these restaurants and think to myself that I would have likely done the same thing when it comes to cooking in a restaurant.

What I really find interesting is that while Ramsay can be quite ascerbic, he also seems to genuinely care about the people he’s trying to help and the advice he shares is certainly invaluable and likely things people would pay thousands to get in school.

Of course, I have to wonder how much is done for television and how much is just acting up for the television.  If, for example, I was able to be a fly on the wall in the kitchen at Clary’s watching James Clary work his magic would I see him jumping on his chefs and people flying around like they were in a bee hive?  Would I instead just see people working in a quiet efficiency turning out one delicious meal after another?  Perhaps if there’s someone out there familiar with the finer dining restaurants in Springfield could share with me if what we see on TV is anything like working in the real kitchen of a restuarant like Clary’s or the Tower Club.

I actually thought of taking a part time job in one of these restaurants just so I could watch how they do what they do and see what I could learn from them.  Of course, you need actual training which I don’t have and likely can’t afford so that’s off the menu (so to speak.)

He’s not dancing with wolves but I guess he could post for a picture with one.  (They have a stuffed wolf at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, right?)

Kevin Costner is coming to Springfield on Sunday to premiere his new film Swing Vote.  The film’s premise is that somehow (for once) one man’s vote actually matters for the outcome of the election.  Costner will be having a reception at the White River Banquet Room at Bass Pro.

The $250 a person event benefits Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks and the Upper White River Basin Foundation.  Call 1-800-646-3474 for tickets.

I know that Costner takes a lot of crud from Hollywood critics and reviewers but I’ve enjoyed a lot of his films and he’s the star of one my top five films of all time…Field of Dreams.  (I’d just like to shake the guy’s hand and thank him for making that film.)  I’m kind of interested to see the new film based on the description I saw at IMDB.

So…if you happen to be at Bass Pro and someone in the bait section looks a lot like “that guy from Dances with Wolves” it just might be him…

Here’s some images of the lawsuit filed by Springfield law firm Turner Reid today on behalf of the City of Springfield versus the Skatepark Association.  (PDF courtesy of the News-Leader.)

According to Wes at the News-Leader, Missouri State University is going to be buying four vacant plots of land and two plots with old buildings next to the Jordan Valley Innovation Center.  MSU wants to create what it calls the “IDEA Commons” with IDEA meaning Innovation Design Entrepreneurship Art.

Interesting things in the story is the note that the businesses currently using JVIC are out of space and a five story addition to the south of the current building is in the development stages.  Also, MSU realizes that they won’t be able to buy this space for $1 like they did the JVIC location.

From the N-L story:

“Nietzel said he didn’t expect to pay $1 for the six additional city-owned properties, but would offer a “reasonable price” for the four vacant tracts and two tracts with old buildings on them.

City economic development director Mary Lilly Smith said city staff is researching how much money the city has invested in the six properties.

Whether the city would try to recover all its costs would be up to the city council, perhaps after weighing the potential new jobs and construction investment the IDEA Commons would generate.”

With our current budget situation, we do need an influx of cash into the city but we also can’t just give this away for nothing even if it is Missouri State and even if JVIC has brought some high paying jobs into the city.  (I asked Allen Kunkel of MSU how many of those jobs were filled by Springfield or Greene County residents and how many were move-ins.  He said that all of the MSU staff were southwest Missouri residents and that the businesses in JVIC were a mix but that they all lived here now and “the spending impact to Springfield/Greene County is significant.”  So at least some of our local residents were able to land a few of those high paying jobs.)

I’m also curious to see what this price is going to be.  After all, if JVIC is as successful as it has been then it should have boosted the property values of these surrounding properties, right?

Look, I’m sure the city will take a little less than market value because such an expansion would bring additional revenue over time that will outgrow whatever we would get from an increased purchase price.  (At least MSU can’t pull a Robocop and scream “I’d buy that for a dollar!” this time around, though…)  I just hope that we end up getting what is a fair deal to the city and I hope we all pay close attention to what is done with the money from that sale.

The Springfield P.D. will promote one of it’s own to the position of Police Major, the second highest rank in the department, reporting directly to the Chief of Police.

Police Lieutenant Kevin Routh has been employed with the Springfield Police Department since 1986. During his tenure, he has held almost every position within the police department, from Cadet to Reserve Officer, and then through the ranks as Detention officer, Patrol Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant and effective July 6th, Major.

Routh has also served in a variety of specialized assignments including the Special Response Team, Major Crimes Response Team, Crime and Vice Unit and the Community Oriented Police Section.

Once promoted, Routh will be assigned to the Investigations Division.

I was shocked this morning at the initial news that a three-year-old girl had jumped from her mother’s car north of Springfield.  My first thought was to wonder how to this happened and later this afternoon I heard something that made my heart sink because it hit a very real fear that I have…

The girl was autistic.

I know this is a worry of mine and I take steps to keep Eli as secure as possible in the car.  The child locks are on and I lock the windows so he can’t open them.  (If he could, he would always put them down.)  Fortunately, I have air conditioning in the car so I don’t have to put the windows down to try and cool the inside of the car.

Now, Eli always takes off his seat belt.  When we leave anywhere, he’s buckled but usually within ten minutes of being on the way somewhere he’s unbuckled unless he has his Leapster or something else to distract him from his seat belt.  Usually Dale will alert me that Eli’s taking off his seat belt and he puts it back on for him.

You know, it breaks my heart that Dale’s only seven and has to take care of his brother so much.  I just know when Dale gets older he’s going to have a real heart for helping people because he’s done it his whole life with Eli.

Anyway…I digress.  I felt this mother’s pain this morning because when you have an autistic child you never know when something like this is going to happen.  In her case, I can easily see how she wouldn’t have heard her daughter jumping out of the window.  The sound of rushing air with the open windows and the music turned up to try and soothe the girl would likely cover the “click” of a seat belt coming open and going out the window.

According to the reports I’ve seen, the mother immediately turned when she realized the girl was not in the back seat and returned to the last place she knew the girl was there while calling 911.  It looks like the mother did all she could under the circumstances.  After all, you don’t think that you need to find some other kind of seat belt harness for your child and the cost that goes into specially installing a restraint system.

My prayers are with the family right now both for the girl’s healing and for the people that are going immediately brand this woman a bad mother without ever knowing the struggles of dealing with an autistic child.

I haven’t done a lot of political activism on this blog but I have an issue that I think is significant enough that I’d like to call on all my blog’s readers to join with me to try and get our state legislature to change a current law.

Recently, Sarah Overstreet of the News-Leader wrote a column in which she pointed out that the current state law says that videotapes of open record sessions only have to kept for one year past the date of the approval of the official written minutes.  I think all of us would agree that a videotape (with audio, of course) of a public meeting would be a much more accurate record than a written version of the events approved at a later date.

(Note:  this is not by any means implying those who do the written record now are not doing their job.  This is just saying that an unedited, complete video would be more accurate than anything a human could write because of the impossibility of a complete video record leaving out factual information.)

I’d like to ask all of you to join with me in writing our State Representatives and State Senators to change the current law to require the video records be kept along with the written minutes in perpetuity as official records of the municipalities and counties of our state.   If you are speaking to someone who is running for state office, bring this issue to their attention and ask them how they feel about keeping video records of open meetings.

This is not something that is terribly expensive to require of communities even in an unfunded mandate and it is something that will increase accuracy and accessibility to our government entities.  For any citizen to be able to get a tape of a meeting from the past to see what was actually said and done by public officials could be a great help as we go forward as a community.

I hope you will agree with me and write our representatives and talk with our candidates.   If you disagree, feel free to debate in the comment section of this post.  Lively discussion is always welcome.

A big thanks to Mike Lindskog and the Springfield Cardinals for hosting an Autism Awareness day at Hammons Field on Sunday, August 3rd.  Walk Now For Autism-Southwest Missouri has tickets available for the day and some of the proceeds will benefit autism research through Autism Speaks.

If you’re someone who’s wanted to go to a Cards game this season and haven’t yet this would be a wonderful time to see the Cardinals drill Tulsa.  CLICK HERE to go to the Walk Now For Autism site when you can purchase your tickets online or get a form to mail in for your tickets.  All orders must be in by July 15th so that the tickets can be mailed to you in advance of the game.

Tickets are $9 each and I believe they’re in a special section on the third base side of the stadium.  Game time is 6:10 pm.

And to those who are supportive of autism awareness and businesses that help support the cause, please tell the Cardinals how much we appreciate their stepping up to help make the community aware of autism.  Send an e-mail to Springfield Cardinals announcer Mike Lindskog and tell them how much you appreciate the team taking the time to do this.

Springfield City Council meets tonight.  On the agenda includes the accepting of a grant to start a reverse 911 system in Greene County.  In case you don’t know a Reverse 911 System it’s a system where the police can call a mass group of citizens should there be a real emergency in town.

Hey, I know for a fact you can sleep right through those tornado sirens.  Most of us don’t sleep through a phone call.  This might not be a bad idea…it seems like a simple way to help try and save lives.

Click on any of the bill titles to see a PDF of the bill.

SPEAKERS MUST SIGN UP WITH THE CITY CLERK TO SPEAK TO AN ISSUE ON THE AGENDA.
SPEAKERS ARE TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO FIVE MINUTES.

Note: Sponsorship does not denote Council member approval or support.

* * * *

1. ROLL CALL.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. – June 16, 2008.

3. FINALIZATION AND APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDAS. CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK TO OR REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDAS MUST DO SO AT THIS TIME.

4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS.

5. Swear in Robert Torp and Carol Mihalevich to the Board of Adjustment.

6. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS RAISED AT THE JUNE 16, 2008 MEETING AND CITY MANAGER’S REPORT.

7. COUNCIL BILLS FOR PUBLIC HEARING. CITIZENS MAY SPEAK. NOT ANTICIPATED TO BE VOTED ON.

8. COUNCIL BILL 2008-192. (Manley) A general ordinance amending the Springfield Land Development Code, Section 1-1600, Zoning Maps, by rezoning approximately 0.26 acres of land generally located at 420 South Grant Avenue, more particularly described in this ordinance, from a GR, General Retail District, to a CC, Center City District, (Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend approval). (By: Missouri-Kansas Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local Union #15; 420 South Grant Avenue; Z-15-2008.)

9. FIRST READING BILLS. CITIZENS MAY SPEAK. NOT ANTICIPATED TO BE VOTED ON.

10. COUNCIL BILL 2008-193. (Manley, Rushefsky, Whayne, & Wylie)A special ordinance amending Special Ordinance No. 24774 concerning the level of incentives to be offered under the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Ordinance Program qualifying businesses that become certified at the Silver level or higher under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) program. (Springfield Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board of Directors and staff recommend approval).

11. COUNCIL BILL 2008-194. (Carlson)A special ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, on behalf of the City of Springfield, to enter into an agreement to permit City Utilities to use reclaimed water from the Southwest Treatment Plant to cool towers at the Southwest 2 Power Plant.

12. COUNCIL BILL 2008-195. (Carlson)A special ordinance amending the budget for the City of Springfield, Missouri, in the General Fund for the fiscal year 2007-2008 in the amount of $172,000 to decrease revenue and expense appropriations in the General Fund in the same amount and transferring unexpended appropriations from one department to another in accordance with Section 5.17 of the City Charter.

13. RESOLUTIONS.

14. EMERGENCY BILLS. CITIZENS MAY SPEAK. MAY BE VOTED ON.

15. COUNCIL BILL 2008-056. SUBSTITUTE NO. 1. (Carlson)A special ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute on behalf of the City, a development agreement between the City of Springfield, Missouri, and 910 Springfield, L.L.C. for the development of an office building; the provision of parking rights in an existing car park facility; the provision of tax incentives; authorizing the execution of documents and the taking of actions consistent therewith; and declaring an emergency.

16. PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

17. GRANTS.

18. AMENDED BILLS.

19. SECOND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE. CITIZENS HAVE SPOKEN. MAY BE VOTED ON.

20. COUNCIL BILL 2008-173. (Burlison)A general ordinance amending the Land Development Code, Article I, Zoning, Division IV, relating to the AO – Airport Overlay Districts; and amending Division II to adopt a definition for airport runway. (Both Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend approval.)

21. COUNCIL BILL 2008-175. (Manley)A general ordinance amending the Springfield Land Development Code, Section 1-1600, Zoning Maps, by rezoning approximately 4.72 acres of land generally located on a portion of 1744 West Catalpa Street, more particularly described in this ordinance, from an R-SF, Single-Family Residential District, to an R-MD, Medium-Density Multi-Family Residential District; and establishing Conditional Overlay District No. 16. (Both Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend approval.) (By: Mary J Faucett, et al; 1744 W. Catalpa Street (portions of); Z-13-2008 with Conditional Overly District #16.)

22. COUNCIL BILL 2008-176. (Wylie)A general ordinance amending the Springfield Land Development Code, Section 1-1600, Zoning Maps, by rezoning approximately 27.45 acres of land generally located at the 3900 block of East Battlefield Road, more particularly described in this ordinance, from Planned Development District No. 261 to Planned Development District No. 327; repealing that portion of General Ordinance 5359 relating to this 27.45 acres. (Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend approval.) (By: Keith Keltner Corp.; 3900 block n/s of East Battlefield Road; Planned Development 327.)

23. COUNCIL BILL 2008-177. (Carlson)A special ordinance amending the provisions of the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 Consolidated Plan Action Plans to reallocate certain grant fund allocations, and provide for the application of Small Business Development Loan revolving fund income towards City Section 108 debt service. (Staff and Citizen Advisory Committee for Community Development recommend approval.)

24. UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

25. PETITIONS, REMONSTRANCES, AND COMMUNICATIONS.

26. Mr. John Miller wishes to address City Council.

27. NEW BUSINESS.

28. As per RSMo. 109.230 (4), City records that are on file in the City Clerk’s office and have met the retention schedule will be destroyed in compliance with the guidelines established by the Secretary of State’s office.

29. MISCELLANEOUS.

30. CONSENT AGENDA – FIRST READING BILLS. SEE ITEM # 3.

31.COUNCIL BILL 2008-196. (Carlson)A special ordinance authorizing the City Manager to make a joint application with Greene County, Missouri, for and to accept an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the United States Department of Justice for the purpose of installing and implementing a Reverse 911 system; to enter into an intergovernemental agreement with Greene County, Missouri; and to amend the budget provided for the Police Department of the City of Springfield, Missouri, for fiscal year 2008-2009, in the amount of $36,647.00.

32. COUNCIL BILL 2008-197. (Manley)A special ordinance authorizing the Director of Planning and Development to accept the public streets and easements to the City of Springfield as shown on the Preliminary Plat of Kauffman Corners Subdivision, generally located at 3048 S. Kauffman Avenue, upon the applicant filing and recording a final plat that substantially conforms to the preliminary plat; and authorizing the City Clerk to sign the final plat upon compliance with the terms of this ordinance. (Planning and Zoning Commission has approved the Preliminary Plat. Both Planning and Zoning Commission and staff recommend that City Council accept the public streets and easements.)

33. CONSENT AGENDA – ONE READING BILLS. SEE ITEM # 3.

34.COUNCIL BILL 2008-198. (Whayne) A resolution approving the plans, construction specifications, and the bid of Hunter Chase & Associates, Inc. for the construction of the Commercial Street Streetscape Phase 3 Project (Plan No. 7PW6013) in the amount of $492,600.60.

35.COUNCIL BILL 2008-199. (Rushefsky) A special ordinance to accept the bid of Steele Excavation & Septic Service, LLC in the amount of $133,889.75 for the construction of sanitary sewers in Sanitary Sewer District No. 107 of Section No. 5, located in the vicinity of Fort Avenue and Kerr Street in the City of Springfield, Missouri; declaring the work to be necessary; stating the intention to pay for all or part of the improvements from the proceeds of bonds; specifying those costs and expenses to be specifically assessed against the properties in the district and the method by which the costs will be apportioned; setting forth the manner of payment, the lien of the assessments and the duration of the lien; setting forth the interest rate to be charged on the tax bills; authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, of the City of Springfield, Missouri, to enter into a contract and to approve the bond for said improvement; and authorizing progress payments to be made to the contractor.

36.COUNCIL BILL 2008-200. (Whayne)A special ordinance to establish and define the boundaries and adopt the plat, plans, specifications, and sealed estimate of construction costs, and authorize acquisition of necessary right(s)-of-way, including condemnation thereof, for Sanitary Sewer District No. 233 of Section No. 6 of the main sewers of the City of Springfield, Missouri, located in the general vicinity of Robberson Avenue and Turner Street; further provide that all labor shall be paid the prevailing wages; provide for participation by the City in the cost of construction; direct the City Manager, or his designee, to advertise for bids for the construction of said sewers; and provide for payment therefor.

37. COUNCIL BILL 2008-201. (Whayne)A special ordinance to repeal Special Ordinance No. 24686, enacted by City Council on November 15, 2004, and to redefine the boundaries of Sanitary Sewer District No. 160 of Section No. 16 of the main sewers of the City of Springfield, located in the general vicinity of Commercial Street and O’Hara Avenue.

38. CONSENT AGENDA – SECOND READING BILLS. CITIZENS HAVE SPOKEN. MAY BE VOTED ON.

39.COUNCIL BILL 2008-178. (Carlson)A special ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, on behalf of the City of Springfield, to enter into an agreement with the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, including the 2008-2009 budget and marketing plan needed to continue the program to encourage tourism and conventions in the City.

40.COUNCIL BILL 2008-179. (Carlson)A special ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, on behalf of the City of Springfield, Missouri to enter into an agreement with the Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission and Foundation, Inc. (“Sports Commission”) whereby the City will provide the Sports Commission with a share of the City’s collection fees from the Hotel/Motel tax to fund the Sports Commission’s efforts to bring regional and national sporting events to the City.

41. COUNCIL BILL 2008-180. (Wylie)A special ordinance amending the budget for the City of Springfield, Missouri, for the Public Works Department in the amount of $1,000,000 to appropriate proceeds received by the City from Greene County for the Capital Improvement Program for 2005-2009, specifically for improvements on Blackman Road between Sunshine and Sunset Streets.

42. COUNCIL BILL 2008-181. (Rushefsky)A special ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, on behalf of the City of Springfield, to enter into an agreement with the Board of Governors of Missouri State University to construct priority storm water improvements within and around the campus of Missouri State University and provide for cost sharing for such improvements.

43. COUNCIL BILL 2008-183. (Carlson)A special ordinance authorizing the Interim City Manager, or Assistant City Manager, on behalf of the City of Springfield, to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad for the purpose of installing and maintaining improved warning devices on Haseltine Road at no cost to the City of Springfield.

44. COUNCIL BILL 2008-184. (Carlson)A special ordinance authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, on behalf of the City of Springfield, to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Missouri, Department of Public Safety, for the use by the Springfield Police Department of the State’s Missouri Criminal Justice Data Exchange System.

45. Confirm the following appointment to the Art Museum Board: Paula Ingram with term to expire June 1, 2011.

46. Confirm the following reappointments to the Art Museum Board: Connie Henry and Earl Holmer with terms to expire June 1, 2011.

47. Confirm the following appointment to the Personnel Board: Bob Vanaman with term to expire March 1, 2010.

48. Confirm the following appointment to the Police Civilian Appeal Board: Fred Ellison with term to expire May 1, 2011.

49. Confirm the following reappointments to the Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development: Derek White and Stephanie Kennedy with terms to expire May 1, 2011.

50. Confirm the following appointments to the Springfield/Greene County Environmental Advisory Board: Rev. Kenneth Chumbley with term to expire October 1, 2009 and Ernest DeCamp with term to expire October 1, 2011.

51. Confirm the following appointment to the Board of Public Utilities: Lisa Crump with term to expire December 1, 2009.

* * * * END OF CONSENT AGENDAS * * * *

52. ADJOURN.

Amy & I were searching the web looking for good salad recipes and I thought I’d throw this out on the blog.  What restaurants or businesses make the best salads in Springfield and which one of their salads do you think is the best?

Here’s a chance for us to salute places we can eat healthy and still eat well.