Today's Feature

Agency Requests.

The Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Hearings began with the Agency budget requests on Monday evening. City Administrator Tom Short initiated discussions with the committee by giving an overview of the budget in its rough form. Short said that $3.8 million would need to be cut by the committee in order to balance the budget. Short then gave an outline of each area of the budget including expenses and revenues. and where some of the major cost increases have occurred.

The department spoke with representatives from 8 City agencies, including the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Carthage Chamber of Commerce, the Humane Society, the Over-60 Center, Carthage Youth Softball, American Legion Baseball, Carthage Little League and the Carthage Public Library. With the exception of clarifications and a few questions the Committee had little discussion with the agency representatives. 4 of the 8 agencies requested increases over last year, the other 4 staying the same.

Of the four with increased requests the largest increase was requested by the Carthage Humane Society. Society Board members Kaylene Cole, Connie Shull and treasurer Brian Schmidt were present to speak with the committee about the request, which is increased to $40,000 from last year’s $20,400.

The Humane Society has a contract with the City of Carthage, stipulating that all animals caught by the Carthage Animal Control Officer (ACO) be taken to the Shelter. Schmidt told the committee that an increase in the volume of those animals, along with extended operating hours at the shelter were primary reasons for the requested increase in funding.

According to the documentation presented by the Society representatives, last year the shelter took in 3,897 animals, of which 963 were brought by the City ACO. State regulations require that the Society keep animals brought by the ACO for 5 to 7 days before taking any action, be it adoption or euthanization. Schmidt told the committee that the 963 animals brought by the ACO this year was roughly double the number brought last year, which the Society representatives attributed to a very efficient ACO. Schmidt added that each of those animals which must be held for the state regulated period of time take space that could be used for adoptable animals from other shelters. The state does not have a 5-7 day holding period if the animals are transferred from a different shelter. Schmidt referred to the situation as an "economic disadvantage" for the Shelter.

Committee member Claude Newport asked how the Society recoups expenses for the animals taken from other shelters. Schmidt said that the Society charges a fee from the other shelters, and added that the fee had recently been increased to help offset the cost of keeping the animals and maintaining the shelter.

Schmidt said that if the Shelter continues to operate on the roughly $20,000 which it has been receiving, it will deplete any other sources of funding that could be used to improve quality of the shelter.

Committee chair Bill Fortune thanked the Society representatives for the presentation, but made no promises concerning the requested increase.

"I can’t guarantee you’ll get it," said Fortune. "It’s a significant increase."

"Admittedly, it’s a huge increase," agreed Schmidt.

The committee will further discuss the requests during this evening’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.

Mornin'

I remember back in the sixty’s when there were choices on late night TV. The late nighter that gave Carson the best run for his money was Dick Cavet. I don’t really remember much that went on. It prob’ly doesn’t matter much.

It’s been hard to miss all the hubbub goin’ on ‘bout the late night TV hosts. Even if ya don’t watch much TV, it seems ever-one is makin’ a big deal over it.

‘Course now havin’ two or three choices at the same time is a lot more confusin’ cause of the common use of the remote control.

It wouldn’t be so bad if the current late shows would stagger their monologues a little. Then it would be an easy thing to catch what is prob’ly the highlight of all of ‘em. Maybe you could just tape one and watch one of the others. Who’d want to enjoy that much fun.

This is some fact, but mostly,
Just Jake Talkin’.

Here’s A Tip
By JoAnn Derson

"I mostly take digital pictures, but I kind of miss having a photo album. Well, I made one, of sorts: I keep the photos sorted on my computer by month and year anyway, so I just printed out a ‘contact sheet’ for each month. It’s a collection of thumbnail-size photos, and I put them in a three-ring binder. When I am looking for a particular photo or looking for inspiration for a scrapbooking project, I browse the book." -- C.T. in Montana

It bears repeating: The best thing you can do to both reduce your cooling costs and protect your HVAC system is change your filter monthly. A dirty filter increases the energy needed to cool air, and it can damage equipment. Make it a point to change the filter when the month changes. Buy filters in bulk and label them by month to keep track, or buy one that is washable and reuse.

Get more juice out of a lemon by rolling it firmly on a countertop before slicing. If the lemon has been refrigerated, put it in the microwave for 10 seconds, roll, then cut. You’ll double your juice.

"I am all for using utensils in unusual ways. After you brown ground beef, you can break it up into mostly uniform pieces using a pastry blender. You can use a whisk to break up boiled potatoes for homestyle mashed potatoes. Or if you have a potato masher, you can use it to break up frozen juice concentrate when mixing up a batch of juice." -- D.S. in California

Have some leftover wine? Try freezing it in ice-cube trays, and then you can pop those cubes into a bag. They are great for adding to recipes.