Council Sets Tax Levy.

The City Council set the City tax levy at ninety-five cents per hundred dollars assessed valuation during the regular meeting Tuesday evening. Member Lujene Clark opposed the rate which was higher that she felt was necessary. The levy is the combination of forty-four cents for general revenue, twenty-two cents for the Library, nineteen cents for Parks and Recreation, and ten cents for the City Public Health fund.

The Council also voted 9-1 to allow the reduction of several line items in the Capital Improvement budget and the resulting funds to be used for the Garrison and Chestnut intersection improvements. Clark voted against. Bids for the new traffic signals and construction were approximately $35,000 higher than the $100,000 that was allowed in the budget.

A motion from Public Safety Committee Chair Charlie Bastin to paint the Police building to stop moisture from seeping into the structure was approved with a 7-3 vote. The manufacturer of the blocks for the exterior walls has indicated a willingness to help pay to remedy the ongoing problem. Negotiations for a resolution will continue.

Noticed there hasn’t been near the yard mowin’ goin’ on for the last couple a weeks. Even those who keep the water flowin’ are gettin’ those yellow spots showin’ up in the lawn. I suppose what dry spell we’re havin’ doesn’t compare much to those havin’ ta keep outa the way of range fires in the West. Like they always say, it could be worse.

I still haven’t heard from anyone who knows how ta tell a bean from a pea. Maybe most really don’t care. Maybe somethin’ will sprout up when the weather cools a bit.

This is the time a year I always like ta be a little leery ‘bout reachin’ to the back of the root cellar. I always get a start if somethin’ slithers off. ‘Course I’m not afraid a snakes, just don’t care ta keep close company.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

We own a 1984 Chevy Van, which we bought used. Since we’ve owned it, it has not passed our state emissions test. We bring it in, and it doesn’t pass.

Then we take it to our mechanic, and he brings it in. He gets it to pass every time. Can you tell me what he’s doing to the van to get it to pass?-Luie

TOM: Well, there are two possibilities, Luie. One is that he’s using the technique known in the automobile industry as the "Double Jackson Method."

RAY: That’s where he hands the inspector two folded-up Andrew Jacksons and says, "Buddy, pass me, will ya?" That’s illegal, immoral and unethical.

TOM: Not to mention expensive.

RAY: So it’s more likely that he’s playing with your timing. On a lot of marginal cars, if you retard the timing enough, you can usually get it to pass the emissions test. The problem is that with the spark occurring so late, the car has almost no power, making it practically undrivable. When it’s really warmed up, you might get it to run well enough as not to arouse suspicion. And that’s what I suspect he’s doing.

TOM: Right. He gets the van good and warm, then stops around the corner from the testing station and retards the timing. The access to the engine is right between the seats, so he doesn’t even have to get out and pop the hood!

RAY: Then he drives the thing around the corner, passes the emissions test, and as he’s backing out of the garage bay, he resets the timing and goes on his way.

TOM:And that’s illegal, immoral and unethical, too!

RAY: Not to mention wrong.