City Budget Considerations.

The City Council Budget/Ways and Means Committee faces a longer than usual agenda for its regular meeting this evening at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

First on the agenda is the consideration and discussion of the reallocation of funds that were set aside in the budget for the acquisition of land for a new airport. The Council voted to end negotiations for the proposed airport site leaving about $450,000 of unappropriated funds. Using the funds for infrastructure costs in the Myers Park Development has been suggested by some Council members.

The Committee is also scheduled to discuss placing the question of increasing the lodging tax from 2% to 4% on the ballot in April. The cost of placing the question on the ballot would be minimal because of other City elections. The Finance Committee recommended the action at its last meeting.

Also scheduled is consideration of a contract with Phillips Ward & Associates to assist with the 2001 4th of July Celebration.

A contract with Victorian Carthage to manage a portion of the activities proposed for July 4th is also scheduled for discussion.

Ya gotta be careful out there.

Bein’ the Christmas season, you have to be on the look out for folks actin’ a little strange. I’ve had several occasions in the last few days where I was caught off guard ‘cause of people bein’ courteous. Maybe I just notice it more this time a year, but be on your toes.

I’ve witnessed two or three cars stoppin’ at pedestrian cross walks to let folks walkin’ get across. I know that happens on occasion, but around Christmas people just seem ta be more likely to actually take a minute to consider the other guy.

What ya gotta do is watch out for the guy watchin’ out for the other guy. He may not be noticin’ you’re in a hurry and followin’ a little close when he stops in the road.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Workman's Loan

The Super Handyman

by Al & Kelly Carrell

Dear Kelly: I love my rock fireplace, but the stones were starting to look dull, so I decided to try to enhance the color and clean them up.

I mixed two parts of boiled linseed oil with one part turpentine. Then I put the container with the mixture into a large pan of hot water to warm it up a bit. I wiped the mixture on the stones with a rag and then wiped off the excess. It’s been a couple of months now, and friends are still remarking how great it looks. - S. A.

As turpentine and boiled linseed oil are flammable, keep them away from flames. Use rubber gloves, and allow for plenty of ventilation. Also, to be on the safe side, rinse the stones after you’ve cleaned them, and then wait a day or so before using the fireplace.

Dear Al: Sometimes when I try to use my old masking tape, it is too dry and sticks to itself and makes a real mess. I have found that you can revive a roll of tape in a microwave. A few seconds on high, and your tape will act like new again. It also works on electrical tape and the white tape used for bandaging. - P. A.

Just make sure the tape dispenser isn’t made of metal.

Dear Al & Kelly: Sometimes when I am drilling or cutting a hole in a narrow board, I find that the wood splits. I have tried, and proved that you can put clamps around the narrow board to hold the sides together when you cut, and that way the wood is much less likely to split. - C. P.