Speak Out 7/10/13

Mileage reimbursement

During the last public session of a Jackson School Board meeting, newest board member Alaina Hinze asked Mr. Wade Bartels, chief financial officer, a question regarding six administrators who received a stipend of $675 each semester for reimbursement for mileage between buildings. According to Mr. Bartels, this stipend is figured with a mathematical formula and automatically given fall and spring semesters for those who travel among various buildings. However, this stipend is in addition to their tracked and documented mileage they turn in for attendance to meetings, conferences and games. Wouldn't that mileage between such closely located buildings simply be considered getting to and from work? The average taxpayer doesn't get to write off their mileage to and from work.

Student computers

Dr. Welker, the school board and administrators better not come crying to Cape taxpayers saying they need this or they need that. If they have the money to give computers to all the kids, they already have too much money in the coffers or they are behaving in a grossly negligent manner. I did a quick check of several lists of the best school districts in the country. Not one of them provides computers to the students. Cape public schools are not getting the job done, and giving computers to kids who can't or haven't even mastered the basics is the stupidest thing they've done in quite some time.

Medicaid expansion

Because of Missouri's mind-boggling refusal of federal government-financed Medicaid expansion we're going to see some very significant differences in those Missourians affected by the politically partisan decision when it comes to access to health care and health care insurance vs. those in other states whose legislators had the common sense to pass Medicaid expansion. That, combined with the Republican desire to keep citizens in the dark as to the rollout of Obamacare options beginning Oct. 1, will not keep the Affordable Care Act from being implemented. However, it will slow it down, all at the unconscionable expense of the health and well being of millions of citizens.

Police station

I was wondering why the Blue Cross building that has sat empty isn't being considered as a new police station. It's a great location with plenty of parking. I think it would save the taxpayers quite a lot of money instead of using funds to build a new building.

Flag display in Jackson

I want to thank the Jackson Fire Department for the nice display of the American flag. It was a nice display and a job well done.