10
Wednesday, August 21, 1974
University Daily Kansan
New CPA Director Carol Ann Boone Helps an Inquirer Find Answer to a Problem
By LARRY GREWACH
Kansan Staff Reporter
CPA Goal to End Student Problems
The main purpose of the Consumer Protection Association is to solve and prevent consumer problems, according to CPA Director Carol Boone.
The CPA housing and food surveys, Boone said, are examples of the organization's efforts to improve food access.
Boone, who became CPA director July 1, said recently that the organization also stressed consumer education. She said problems would be prevented if the consumer was aware of his rights and responsibilities.
KAY TURNEY, Hays junior and former interim CPA director, said that the organization was started in October 1972 by several University of Kansas law students.
as an extension of their community work.
"We didn't have a small claims court, we couldn't make long distance telephone calls, we had no cooperation from Legal Aid or the attorney general because we were new," she said. "Nobody knew exactly how we were going to work."
"The community was pretty much putting off at arm's distance because they didn't know how we were going to organize." Turnew said.
Now, however, CPA Director Boone said, the organization was in frequent contact with both the attorney general's office and the Douglas County Legal Aid Society. She said she wanted the CPA to branch out into the community.
THE CPA, which has an office in 29
Kansas Union, has 30 volunteer staffers
during the school year. A board of directors, chosen by the membership, sets policy for the organization. In addition, the board meets the chairmen of the standing committees.
"The grievance committee is probably the most active because it deals on a formal basis with complaints filed by the consumer," Boone said.
"They meet once a week with the director and each member is assigned X-number of days."
To file a complaint, the consumer must go to the CPA office and fill out two forms in duplicate. The report should include an account number credited account of the consumer's problem.
"We ask that they be specific with dates as well as they can, and with details," she
said. "And they have it notorized so that this paper becomes an instrument in legal action."
AFTER THE FORMAL COMPIANT is filed, the business firm involved is contacted, usually by letter. The CPA sends a complaint and an outline of CPA procedures.
Boone said that if there was no response to the complaint, they advised the consumer to contact a licensed agent.
“It’s a very simple procedure and it costs only $2,” she said. “If your case wins, you are awarded back the $5 plus the amount of money you are suing for.”
The CPA also collects information on businesses. Boone said this included compliance information.
"OUR FILES are open to the public," she said. "If people have questions regarding business concerns in Lawrence or they want recommendations or references on a certain business, we are at liberty to look in the files and say 'Yes, this business has a good reputation' or 'We have had several complaints, the nature being this.'"
Value of Endowment Land Estimated to Be $9 Million
A recently released report from the University of Kansas Endowment Association indicated that the assessed valuation of the land owned by the association had increased during the past year to a total of more than $9 million.
National Bank Building, McColum
Parker Hall and the scholarship halls.
Henry said many of the buildings owned by the association and used by the University were leased to the state for one dollar a year.
Henry said that the revenue-producing properties were managed in a usual business image. He said, for example, that his fashion was overseized by six farm managers.
The association also holds revenueproducing mineral rights in Texas and Colorado.
The Association's local holdings include two natural history areas used for wildlife research by the University, the Kansas Center for Research, Inc., the old 1st Center for Research, Inc.
The figure, given by Martin Henry, property management director, included 33,000 acres of rural property in 28 Kansas counties.
Kirsten's Welcomes You Back
Those properties that are operated by the association for profit are taxed at the regular rate, Henry said. However, the association has asked that land that is non-revenue producing be removed from the tax rolls.
Henry could give no total amount paid in real estate taxes during the past year. In 1973 the association paid $6,774.42 in taxes, according to last year's report.
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Allen said the city government objected to the Whomper being downtown.
Whomper Achieves Independence Reclamation Center Now Near 6th & New Hampshire
The University found itself in constant financial straits requiring the recourse and at odds with the city over the $100 million the Whipple
The Whomper was begun in January 1971 with funds from the student activity fee allocated by the Student Senate. The machine was donated by the Kansas City Coca-Cola Bottling Company and is used for waste recycling. The machine recycles waste glass, metal and aluminum.
By MIKE HOLLAND Kansan Staff Reporter
A desire to see whether the Whomper can be self-supporting is the primary reason the reclamation center was turned over to an organization independent of the University, Arly Allen, Whomper board member said recently.
Alleged mismanagement and logistical problems, such as shipping glass, put the Whomper in financial straits. The reclamation center was moved from its original location at Stadium because of conflicts with commencement exercises.
"Nobody wanted a junkyard in the middle of town," Allen said. "Besides, the rent was extraordinarily high, $300 a month. The student funding was running out, so they decided to move again last May."
"The University officials did not want the people to see the trash piled up on the north side," Allen said. "So, they leased a building at 8th and New Hampshire streets and moved the trash to that location."
Allen said he was contacted by Kathy Allen, then director of the reclamation center.
"The University was constantly losing money on the project," Arly Allen said. "It had also accumulated several debts. When we decided to move, the funding from the University stopped and we became an independent organization."
at Hillcrest
The Whomper is presently located at the paper factory near Sixth and New Hampshire streets.
He said that although the Whomper was one of the ten oldest reclamation centers in the country, its future looked financially uncertain.
"When we moved, we closed down our operation, but not our expenses," he said. "We still needed to pay personnel to haul the equipment."
"At the same time," Allen said, "we must invest $200 to make a power transition at our present location. Before we closed our operation, we maintained a profit of about $60. Now, our income is at zero and our expenses continue to mount."
Allen said that if the Whomper failed, the failure could be attributed to either poor management or wrong environmental attitude.
"If it is poor management, I can be replaced." he said.
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"If the latter is responsible for its failure, the Whormer should not be operated at the present time, but at a time when recycling materials from junkyards is more economically feasible than mining the minerals from the earth," he said.
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