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STATS HISTORICAL SOCIETY HITT & LQKRY aT. GERV COLUMBIA t MQ, 6520I 7 1 st Year No. 161 GihmI Marniitul It's II rtlmsriaw March 2 1. 1 979 4 Section 38 Pu& o 1 5 ( nt 10- year-- old Lisa Bewick watches the show -- "" Public greets spring at MFA celebration By Cathy Standing Mlssoorian staff writer An uninformed driver traveling down West Broadway Tuesday night might have wondered if last week-end's circus really had left town. Clowns and laughing people, most holding colorful balloons, spent the warm evening milling around the lawn of the MFA Insurance Cos. build-ing at 1817 W. Broadway. Columbians young and old alike were celebrating the ' official" arrival of spring, which MFA marked by turning on its fountain for the first time this year. Perhaps even more interesting than the fountain, however, were the people and preparations behind the annual event. The clowns were made- u- p MFA employees who had volunteered or had been drafted to pass out about 6,000 balloons and as many packages of flower seeds to spectators. Other MFA employees inside the building quickly finished filling balloons with helium as the Hickman , - High School band began to play outside. One whole hallway in what normally is a businesslike office was transformed into a long balloon- and- stringmaz- e. As guests milled around the lawn, children played with balloons and the anticipation mounted. One MFA employee, Jim Huckabay, sat alone in the MFA basement fan room, patiently awaiting his signal to turn on the fountain to provide the evening's featured entertainment. Hundreds of people come each year to welcome spring by watching the colorful waters rise for the first time. This year the event was as popular as ever. After everyone waited a short time, Gene Madden, the man in charge of the evening, gave Huckabay the signal from outside. The waters rose a second later, exactly as planned, spotlighted in blue and orange. A loud cheer from the crowd ex-pressed unanimous appreciation, signaling that spring had come once again. ifeJHSBfiSBS vShIHSHKSilivvHv m l91sW imT S r ESP& HBHaBBBB MFA custodian E. W. Buckner prepares balloons 1 Rain, snow mark spring's arrival United Press International A snowstorm the last hurrah of one of the worst winters in history swept across the Southwest Tuesday and rain and warm weather bolstered the threat of major spring flooding in the nation's midsection. Spring arrived late Tuesday in most of the country, but folks in the Eastern time zone had to wait until Wednesday. The National Weather Service reported the vernal equinox marking the official beginning of spring oc-curred at 11 : 22 p. m. CST Wednesday. Rain spread over the lower elevations of the Southwest. Rain also fell in the South and across much of the Midwest. Flash flood watches and warnings were posted for South Texas. Persistent rains fed already glutted rivers and streams across the nation's midsection, where runoff from the winter's record snows and spring rains is expected to trigger some of the worst flooding on record. Flood warnings remained in the Rock River Basin of Illinois as the Rock, Pecatonica and Kishwaukee rivers continued to rise. Some roads were closed but no major flood damage was reported. The Fox River pushed over its banks in Illinois' Kane and McHenry counties, causing minor flooding in low- lyi- ng areas. A flood warning covered the entire length of the Fox River in Illinois. Fog covered much of northern Illinois where a farmer discovered wreckage of a small plane that crashed near DeKalb, killing six men. Authorities said the accident may have occurred as early as 1 a. m. Monday and gone unde-tected because of dense fog that blanketed the area since the weekend. A winter storm brewing in the South-west spread snow over higher elevations of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Southern California. Monticello, Utah, reported up to 10 inches ( 25 centimeters) of new snow. Interstate 70 was snowpacked and dangerous in the Fremont, Utah. area. Roads in the Flagstaff, Ariz., area also were packed with snow. Winter storm warnings were in effect for the mountains of Arizona and heavy snow warnings were issued for the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. Wind- whippe- d snow pushed over North Dakota and parts of South Dakota, making travel hazardous. U. S.- Saii- di ties strained By YouseffM. Ibrahim New York Times RIYADH, Saudi Arabia The United States' relationship with Saudi Arabia, once a model of understanding and co-ordination, has grown clouded with question marks and, from the Saudi perspective at least, many unpleasant surprises. " We have been observing the United States' actions over the past year and at every turn of events asking ourselves, ' Why are they doing this? " said a Saudi deputy minister who is a senior spokesman for the government here. " People out there are beginning to wonder if the Americans know what they are doing." Insight The questions, he said, were many. " Why is the United States stepping from one fiasco to another? In Ethiopia, in Somalia, in Afghanistan, the United States left the field to the Russians without as much as an attempt to stop them. We persuaded the Somalis to kick the Russians out, and we were stunned when the United States refused to give mem weapons with which they could resist a Soviet- inspire- d aggression from Ethiopia." Then, he said, the United States failed to anticipate what happened in Iran or to give advice to the shah until it was too late to rescue the situation. " Now the United States is doing it again," he said. " It is pushing a Middle East peace agreement that is bound to fail. When this happens and we have told the Americans that it will happen it will only add to the unrest in this region and further damage America's real in-terests." He said Saudi Arabia was only " mildly impressed" with the United States' action in supporting Yemen against its Marxist neighbor, Southern Yemen, adding that " it took a long time to get some movement there and a lot of prodding." Saudi officials who are critical of the ( See SAUDIS, Page 16A) . - Ira town today 4 pan. State auditor James An-tonio speaks, University Memorial Union auditorium. 7: 36 p. m. " TV Dinner Theatre," University Studio Theater. 8: 15 pan. Esterhazy Quartet performs with pianist Santiago Rodriguez, University Fine Arts Recital Hall. Movie listings on Page ISA Index Classified 1M2A CooksTV 9B Ojphriao People MB I Becaed MA Sports " A Huge profits of firms irk White House WASHINGTON ( UPI) - Profits earned by U. S. business firms during the first three months of President Carter's anti- inflati- on drive surged by 26.4 percent over the same period a year earlier, the government reported Tuesday. The jump for the final quarter of 1978 was the biggest for a comparable period in nearly three decades and drew sharp White House criticism of the business world. Hamilton Jordan, the president's top domestic adviser, said the administra-tion would " take steps to deal with this." He did not give details. " We think profits are unnecessarily high," Jordan told a National Press Club audience. " It makes it very dif-ficult to go to labor unions and ask them to abide by our 7 percent guideline when profits are that high." Alfred Kahn. the administration's chief inflation monitor, said the large profits boost " puts business on trial in the eyes of the American people" and " underscores the importance of our intensified price monitoring activity." " The very large increase in profits . . . will strengthen the widespread belief that many American businesses aren't assuming their full responsibility to fight inflation," said Kahn. This was promptly disputed by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, the busi-ness lobby. " The profits data cannot be used as a scapegoat for bad govern-ment policies that are causing in-flation," said Jack Carlson, the chamber's chief economist AFL- CI- O president George Meany was expected to comment today on the booming profits. Even before the Commerce Depart-ment released the figures, Kahn used the word " catastrophe" to describe the profits situation. While these higher earnings could benefit the economy as a whole, the report came at a particularly touchy time for the administration, which is hammering away at unions to abide by its voluntary 7 percent wage guideline. " After labor takes one look at these figures, we may be in big trouble." said one administration official. " We've got our fingers crossed." Unions argue it would be unfair for their members to accept lower wage settlements while inflation is raging at double- dig- it levels, and the new profits report surely will stiffen their position even more. The Commerce Department said tax profits earned by U. S. business firms during the October- Decemb- er period of 1978 were at an annual rate of $ 225.3 billion 26.4 percent above the same period a year before. Even more signficantly. this surge came just as Carter's voluntary wage- pric- e guidelines were put in place. The percentage increase was the largest for a fourth- quart- er period since 1950, when profits skyrocketed by 84 percent, the Commerce Department said. The new report also contained these other fourth- quart- er developments: The overall economy grew at an annual rate of 6.9 percent, after ad-justment for inflation considerably stronger than previously believed. v Inflation accelerated at an 8.2 percent annual rate during the fourth quarter, up slightly from the 8.1 percent initially reported. The Commerce Department said that in addition to the year- to- ye- ar com-parison, corporate profits earned during the fourth quarter were 9.7 percent higher than in the previous three months a compounded annual rate of 44.8 percent. Kahn. chairman of the Council on Wage and Price Stability, could barely control his anger during a recent speech in Chicago discussing corporate profits. " At a time when the president has called on all of us to show restraint and we are asking labor to settle for what looks at the moment like a decline in real income," he said, " reports of record- hig- h corporate profits are almost as much of a catastrophe" as the recent sharp surges in wholesale and consumer prices. Those profits, coupled with higher prices, he said, have many people convinced " the business community has not been doing its share in the anti- inflati- on fight . . . and may not care." The administration has received re-ports that the Teamsters union is seeking wage increases of 13 to 15 percent over the first year of a new contract with the trucking industry and 33 to 35 percent over three years. Kahn has warned the government may move rapidly to deregulate the trucking industry if the Teamsters win such a large contract. House gives M. U. $ 152 million including 6A salary increase State capital bureau JEFFERSON CITY With summary speed, the House tentatively approved Tuesday a $ 152 million operating budget for the University of Missouri campuses, including a 6.5 percent pay raise for faculty and staff. The University budget was part of an appropriations package that included the entire Department of Higher Education budget. After 30 minutes of discussion, the House passed the budget, which represents a $ 14 million increase over last year, on a voice vote. The figure is a compromise between the $ 155 million requested by the University and the $ 147.6 million recommended by Gov. Joseph Teasdale. The House is expected to give final approval to the budget Thursday. During discussion of the bill. Rep. Thomas Zych. D- S- t. Louis, asked House Appropriations Chairman Wayne Goode. D- Norma-ndy, if the committee had considered the issue of University football ticket prices in making its decision. But Goode said the committee had not discussed the tickets. " That's a separate issue," he said. The only other discussion came when Rep. Paul Page, R- Leba- non, proposed a $ 700,000 cut in the recommended ap-propriation of $ 2.4 million to Harris- Stow- e College in St. Louis. The proposal was defeated 70 to 81. Downtown board promises political voice By Mark Pawlosky Missoarian staff writer At its first meeting Tuesday night, the board, of directors of the newly created special downtown tax district indicated it will voice strong opinions in political issues involving the downtown area. The members, who were sworn in by Columbia Mayor Les Proctor, generally favored proposals that would strengthen , the downtown area eco-nomically as well as physically. " We are a special- intere- st group representing a special area in Columbia,' said Mark Landrum, president of First National Bank and Trust Co. and newly elected chairman of the committee. " And I wonder if we shouldn't act like a special- intere- st group where political positions are concerned?" be asked five of the eigM board members present. " Landrum, with support from the board, favored letting the candidates for the City Council election know where the board stands on downtown issues, and, if possible, influence the candidates' stands on the issues. " I tMnk one detrimental thing is if we take a position not in favor of the council. After the election, they may say the hell with you guys and wipe us out," Landrum said. Proctor was at the meeting to give the board members a brief description of their duties. Along with Landrum, the board is made up of several well- know- n Columbians. Dave Bear in, a local attorney, created public clamor last year when he tore down the canopy in front of the buildings he owns along Broadway at Eighth Street. Larry Hamman, owner of Rainbows, a specialty shop on Ninth Street, has been vocal about the problems that face downtown, and he believes that if some-thing isn't done to improve the down-town area, businesses as well as resi-dents will suffer. " I think the forming of the special tax district is very important to Columbia. Columbia is at a make or break point, and if steps aren't taken to help it, the area could be seriously hurt," Hamman said. Other members on the board are Warren Dalton, a retired downtown merchant; David Rogers, attorney; Lee Ann Duncan, owner of the Bird Cage Gift Shop; Sidney Neate, retired merchant; Red Weir, owner of the Red Weir Athletic Supplies, and Jose Lind-ner. In addition to electing Landrum chairman, the board also selected Rogers as vice chairman and Lindner as secretary. In forming the board's policy, Lan-drum and Dalton wanted to make sure that projects proposed are well thought out. Dalton said the mistakes made in constructing the downtown loop should not be repeated. " I think we have to re- educ- ate the public and tell them that we want them shopping back in downtown. We lost 20 percent of the downtown traffic when the loop was put up. We need a marketing plan and good publicity," Dalton said. Landrum, who supported the loop because he thought it meant the preser-vation of downtown, disagreed with Dalton's approach to the problem. " Parking, not selling, is the main purpose of this committee," he said. Landrum said the best way to ap-proach and solve the problems con-fronting the board, is to have on- goi- ng communication with the board's constituents, who he identified as down-town residents and merchants. " I think we have an obligation to be forthright and open to solutions and opinions of our constituents. I hope to have quite a bit of constituent input," he said. Monday night, the City Council directed the board to report on down-town parking needs within 60 days. The district gets its money from charging a property tax on downtown businesses. It also may levy additional property and business license taxes to fund downtown improvements. The board also approved holding its meetings the second Tuesday of each month at 7. p. m. at the Coanty- Cit- y Building. The board will bold a special meeting at 7 p. m. Tuesday in the County- Cit- y Building. Weir, Hamman and Neate were absent from the first meeting.
Object Description
Title | Columbia Missourian Newspaper 1979-03-21 |
Description | Vol. 71ST YEAR, No. 161 |
Subject |
Columbia (Mo.) -- Newspapers Boone County (Mo.) -- Newspapers |
Coverage | United States -- Missouri -- Boone County -- Columbia |
Language | English |
Date.Search | 1979-03-21 |
Type | Newspapers |
Format | |
Collection Name | Columbia Missourian Newspaper Collection |
Publisher.Digital | University of Missour Library Systems |
Rights | These pages may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for distribution or publication. |
Contributing Institution |
State Historical Society of Missouri University of Missouri--Columbia. School of Journalism |
Copy Request | Contact the State Historical Society of Missouri at: (800) 747-6366 or (573) 882-7083 or email contact@shsmo.org. Some fees apply: http://shsmo.org/research/researchfees |
County |
Boone County (Mo.) |
Description
Title | Full Page |
Date.Search | 1979-03-21 |
Type | page |
Contributing Institution |
State Historical Society of Missouri University of Missouri School of Journalism |
Copy Request | Contact the State Historical Society of Missouri at: (800) 747-6366 or (573) 882-7083 or email contact@shsmo.org. Some fees apply: http://shsmo.org/research/researchfees |
Item.Transcript | STATS HISTORICAL SOCIETY HITT & LQKRY aT. GERV COLUMBIA t MQ, 6520I 7 1 st Year No. 161 GihmI Marniitul It's II rtlmsriaw March 2 1. 1 979 4 Section 38 Pu& o 1 5 ( nt 10- year-- old Lisa Bewick watches the show -- "" Public greets spring at MFA celebration By Cathy Standing Mlssoorian staff writer An uninformed driver traveling down West Broadway Tuesday night might have wondered if last week-end's circus really had left town. Clowns and laughing people, most holding colorful balloons, spent the warm evening milling around the lawn of the MFA Insurance Cos. build-ing at 1817 W. Broadway. Columbians young and old alike were celebrating the ' official" arrival of spring, which MFA marked by turning on its fountain for the first time this year. Perhaps even more interesting than the fountain, however, were the people and preparations behind the annual event. The clowns were made- u- p MFA employees who had volunteered or had been drafted to pass out about 6,000 balloons and as many packages of flower seeds to spectators. Other MFA employees inside the building quickly finished filling balloons with helium as the Hickman , - High School band began to play outside. One whole hallway in what normally is a businesslike office was transformed into a long balloon- and- stringmaz- e. As guests milled around the lawn, children played with balloons and the anticipation mounted. One MFA employee, Jim Huckabay, sat alone in the MFA basement fan room, patiently awaiting his signal to turn on the fountain to provide the evening's featured entertainment. Hundreds of people come each year to welcome spring by watching the colorful waters rise for the first time. This year the event was as popular as ever. After everyone waited a short time, Gene Madden, the man in charge of the evening, gave Huckabay the signal from outside. The waters rose a second later, exactly as planned, spotlighted in blue and orange. A loud cheer from the crowd ex-pressed unanimous appreciation, signaling that spring had come once again. ifeJHSBfiSBS vShIHSHKSilivvHv m l91sW imT S r ESP& HBHaBBBB MFA custodian E. W. Buckner prepares balloons 1 Rain, snow mark spring's arrival United Press International A snowstorm the last hurrah of one of the worst winters in history swept across the Southwest Tuesday and rain and warm weather bolstered the threat of major spring flooding in the nation's midsection. Spring arrived late Tuesday in most of the country, but folks in the Eastern time zone had to wait until Wednesday. The National Weather Service reported the vernal equinox marking the official beginning of spring oc-curred at 11 : 22 p. m. CST Wednesday. Rain spread over the lower elevations of the Southwest. Rain also fell in the South and across much of the Midwest. Flash flood watches and warnings were posted for South Texas. Persistent rains fed already glutted rivers and streams across the nation's midsection, where runoff from the winter's record snows and spring rains is expected to trigger some of the worst flooding on record. Flood warnings remained in the Rock River Basin of Illinois as the Rock, Pecatonica and Kishwaukee rivers continued to rise. Some roads were closed but no major flood damage was reported. The Fox River pushed over its banks in Illinois' Kane and McHenry counties, causing minor flooding in low- lyi- ng areas. A flood warning covered the entire length of the Fox River in Illinois. Fog covered much of northern Illinois where a farmer discovered wreckage of a small plane that crashed near DeKalb, killing six men. Authorities said the accident may have occurred as early as 1 a. m. Monday and gone unde-tected because of dense fog that blanketed the area since the weekend. A winter storm brewing in the South-west spread snow over higher elevations of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Southern California. Monticello, Utah, reported up to 10 inches ( 25 centimeters) of new snow. Interstate 70 was snowpacked and dangerous in the Fremont, Utah. area. Roads in the Flagstaff, Ariz., area also were packed with snow. Winter storm warnings were in effect for the mountains of Arizona and heavy snow warnings were issued for the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. Wind- whippe- d snow pushed over North Dakota and parts of South Dakota, making travel hazardous. U. S.- Saii- di ties strained By YouseffM. Ibrahim New York Times RIYADH, Saudi Arabia The United States' relationship with Saudi Arabia, once a model of understanding and co-ordination, has grown clouded with question marks and, from the Saudi perspective at least, many unpleasant surprises. " We have been observing the United States' actions over the past year and at every turn of events asking ourselves, ' Why are they doing this? " said a Saudi deputy minister who is a senior spokesman for the government here. " People out there are beginning to wonder if the Americans know what they are doing." Insight The questions, he said, were many. " Why is the United States stepping from one fiasco to another? In Ethiopia, in Somalia, in Afghanistan, the United States left the field to the Russians without as much as an attempt to stop them. We persuaded the Somalis to kick the Russians out, and we were stunned when the United States refused to give mem weapons with which they could resist a Soviet- inspire- d aggression from Ethiopia." Then, he said, the United States failed to anticipate what happened in Iran or to give advice to the shah until it was too late to rescue the situation. " Now the United States is doing it again," he said. " It is pushing a Middle East peace agreement that is bound to fail. When this happens and we have told the Americans that it will happen it will only add to the unrest in this region and further damage America's real in-terests." He said Saudi Arabia was only " mildly impressed" with the United States' action in supporting Yemen against its Marxist neighbor, Southern Yemen, adding that " it took a long time to get some movement there and a lot of prodding." Saudi officials who are critical of the ( See SAUDIS, Page 16A) . - Ira town today 4 pan. State auditor James An-tonio speaks, University Memorial Union auditorium. 7: 36 p. m. " TV Dinner Theatre," University Studio Theater. 8: 15 pan. Esterhazy Quartet performs with pianist Santiago Rodriguez, University Fine Arts Recital Hall. Movie listings on Page ISA Index Classified 1M2A CooksTV 9B Ojphriao People MB I Becaed MA Sports " A Huge profits of firms irk White House WASHINGTON ( UPI) - Profits earned by U. S. business firms during the first three months of President Carter's anti- inflati- on drive surged by 26.4 percent over the same period a year earlier, the government reported Tuesday. The jump for the final quarter of 1978 was the biggest for a comparable period in nearly three decades and drew sharp White House criticism of the business world. Hamilton Jordan, the president's top domestic adviser, said the administra-tion would " take steps to deal with this." He did not give details. " We think profits are unnecessarily high," Jordan told a National Press Club audience. " It makes it very dif-ficult to go to labor unions and ask them to abide by our 7 percent guideline when profits are that high." Alfred Kahn. the administration's chief inflation monitor, said the large profits boost " puts business on trial in the eyes of the American people" and " underscores the importance of our intensified price monitoring activity." " The very large increase in profits . . . will strengthen the widespread belief that many American businesses aren't assuming their full responsibility to fight inflation," said Kahn. This was promptly disputed by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, the busi-ness lobby. " The profits data cannot be used as a scapegoat for bad govern-ment policies that are causing in-flation," said Jack Carlson, the chamber's chief economist AFL- CI- O president George Meany was expected to comment today on the booming profits. Even before the Commerce Depart-ment released the figures, Kahn used the word " catastrophe" to describe the profits situation. While these higher earnings could benefit the economy as a whole, the report came at a particularly touchy time for the administration, which is hammering away at unions to abide by its voluntary 7 percent wage guideline. " After labor takes one look at these figures, we may be in big trouble." said one administration official. " We've got our fingers crossed." Unions argue it would be unfair for their members to accept lower wage settlements while inflation is raging at double- dig- it levels, and the new profits report surely will stiffen their position even more. The Commerce Department said tax profits earned by U. S. business firms during the October- Decemb- er period of 1978 were at an annual rate of $ 225.3 billion 26.4 percent above the same period a year before. Even more signficantly. this surge came just as Carter's voluntary wage- pric- e guidelines were put in place. The percentage increase was the largest for a fourth- quart- er period since 1950, when profits skyrocketed by 84 percent, the Commerce Department said. The new report also contained these other fourth- quart- er developments: The overall economy grew at an annual rate of 6.9 percent, after ad-justment for inflation considerably stronger than previously believed. v Inflation accelerated at an 8.2 percent annual rate during the fourth quarter, up slightly from the 8.1 percent initially reported. The Commerce Department said that in addition to the year- to- ye- ar com-parison, corporate profits earned during the fourth quarter were 9.7 percent higher than in the previous three months a compounded annual rate of 44.8 percent. Kahn. chairman of the Council on Wage and Price Stability, could barely control his anger during a recent speech in Chicago discussing corporate profits. " At a time when the president has called on all of us to show restraint and we are asking labor to settle for what looks at the moment like a decline in real income," he said, " reports of record- hig- h corporate profits are almost as much of a catastrophe" as the recent sharp surges in wholesale and consumer prices. Those profits, coupled with higher prices, he said, have many people convinced " the business community has not been doing its share in the anti- inflati- on fight . . . and may not care." The administration has received re-ports that the Teamsters union is seeking wage increases of 13 to 15 percent over the first year of a new contract with the trucking industry and 33 to 35 percent over three years. Kahn has warned the government may move rapidly to deregulate the trucking industry if the Teamsters win such a large contract. House gives M. U. $ 152 million including 6A salary increase State capital bureau JEFFERSON CITY With summary speed, the House tentatively approved Tuesday a $ 152 million operating budget for the University of Missouri campuses, including a 6.5 percent pay raise for faculty and staff. The University budget was part of an appropriations package that included the entire Department of Higher Education budget. After 30 minutes of discussion, the House passed the budget, which represents a $ 14 million increase over last year, on a voice vote. The figure is a compromise between the $ 155 million requested by the University and the $ 147.6 million recommended by Gov. Joseph Teasdale. The House is expected to give final approval to the budget Thursday. During discussion of the bill. Rep. Thomas Zych. D- S- t. Louis, asked House Appropriations Chairman Wayne Goode. D- Norma-ndy, if the committee had considered the issue of University football ticket prices in making its decision. But Goode said the committee had not discussed the tickets. " That's a separate issue," he said. The only other discussion came when Rep. Paul Page, R- Leba- non, proposed a $ 700,000 cut in the recommended ap-propriation of $ 2.4 million to Harris- Stow- e College in St. Louis. The proposal was defeated 70 to 81. Downtown board promises political voice By Mark Pawlosky Missoarian staff writer At its first meeting Tuesday night, the board, of directors of the newly created special downtown tax district indicated it will voice strong opinions in political issues involving the downtown area. The members, who were sworn in by Columbia Mayor Les Proctor, generally favored proposals that would strengthen , the downtown area eco-nomically as well as physically. " We are a special- intere- st group representing a special area in Columbia,' said Mark Landrum, president of First National Bank and Trust Co. and newly elected chairman of the committee. " And I wonder if we shouldn't act like a special- intere- st group where political positions are concerned?" be asked five of the eigM board members present. " Landrum, with support from the board, favored letting the candidates for the City Council election know where the board stands on downtown issues, and, if possible, influence the candidates' stands on the issues. " I tMnk one detrimental thing is if we take a position not in favor of the council. After the election, they may say the hell with you guys and wipe us out," Landrum said. Proctor was at the meeting to give the board members a brief description of their duties. Along with Landrum, the board is made up of several well- know- n Columbians. Dave Bear in, a local attorney, created public clamor last year when he tore down the canopy in front of the buildings he owns along Broadway at Eighth Street. Larry Hamman, owner of Rainbows, a specialty shop on Ninth Street, has been vocal about the problems that face downtown, and he believes that if some-thing isn't done to improve the down-town area, businesses as well as resi-dents will suffer. " I think the forming of the special tax district is very important to Columbia. Columbia is at a make or break point, and if steps aren't taken to help it, the area could be seriously hurt," Hamman said. Other members on the board are Warren Dalton, a retired downtown merchant; David Rogers, attorney; Lee Ann Duncan, owner of the Bird Cage Gift Shop; Sidney Neate, retired merchant; Red Weir, owner of the Red Weir Athletic Supplies, and Jose Lind-ner. In addition to electing Landrum chairman, the board also selected Rogers as vice chairman and Lindner as secretary. In forming the board's policy, Lan-drum and Dalton wanted to make sure that projects proposed are well thought out. Dalton said the mistakes made in constructing the downtown loop should not be repeated. " I think we have to re- educ- ate the public and tell them that we want them shopping back in downtown. We lost 20 percent of the downtown traffic when the loop was put up. We need a marketing plan and good publicity," Dalton said. Landrum, who supported the loop because he thought it meant the preser-vation of downtown, disagreed with Dalton's approach to the problem. " Parking, not selling, is the main purpose of this committee," he said. Landrum said the best way to ap-proach and solve the problems con-fronting the board, is to have on- goi- ng communication with the board's constituents, who he identified as down-town residents and merchants. " I think we have an obligation to be forthright and open to solutions and opinions of our constituents. I hope to have quite a bit of constituent input," he said. Monday night, the City Council directed the board to report on down-town parking needs within 60 days. The district gets its money from charging a property tax on downtown businesses. It also may levy additional property and business license taxes to fund downtown improvements. The board also approved holding its meetings the second Tuesday of each month at 7. p. m. at the Coanty- Cit- y Building. The board will bold a special meeting at 7 p. m. Tuesday in the County- Cit- y Building. Weir, Hamman and Neate were absent from the first meeting. |