Discussion Without Meetings.

Despite the fact that the City Council Public Works Committee has failed to gather a quorum for its last two meetings, the discussion over adopting an updated property maintenance code is still in progress.

The City Engineering Department has composed a fourteen page response to written suggestions submitted by a property owners group. The suggestions ranged from minor modifications in the language to the deletion of entire sections of the proposed regulations. In general the Engineering Department response is to leave the proposed code pretty much as is.

The Engineering Department says several of the suggested changes would shift more of the maintenance responsibilities to the occupant of a rental rather than the owner. Their document states that "ultimately the owner must be responsible for maintaining all elements of the structure."

Members of the property owners group have argued that enforcement of the existing code has made operating rental property unprofitable in Carthage. They also have stated that they think Codes Inspectors unfairly concentrate on the older parts of town.

I’m not sure if schedules are returnin’ to normal after the blizzard of ‘00, or folks are just gettin’ accustomed to the sudden change. Seems like at least most of the typical activities are beginnin’ to function.

Just as I was resigned to havin’ settled the question of how to spell the cipher "0" as ought, I received a not from another reader and a copy of a magazine page. The article mentioned a thirty-aught-six rifle. Just because that spelling is not as common as ought, I’ve decided that is the standard for this publication from now on. ‘Sides I saw it in print, so it must be acceptable.

As we move from double-aught to aught-one, it’s good to that policy issue put to rest.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Oak Street health & herbs

Natural Nutrition

by Mari An Willis

This season of holiday stress and extreme cold have brought about some strange actions. I for one have a favorite bante rooster who lost his brother and has now bonded to me!!! Imagine that. Unfortunately, he has been more trouble than the birds who just wait for me to feed them and go on their way, rooster follows me about while I chore and just hates to go back in his pen although he has a frost bitten comb from being exposed to the elements. We are just as susceptible to these cold temps and wind chills. My fish supplier "flash freezes" products at temperatures higher than ours with the wind chill figured in. So....cover up and limit your time out. This is the time of year to hit the echinacea and the goldenseal or a Wellness Formula for prevention. I find the flu homeopathic works great at the first sign of symptoms. I did find it somewhat confusing to tell if I was just thawing out or if the ache and heavy head were the "first signs." They must have been as I took a vile of Oscillococcinum (pronounced o-sill-o-cox-see-num) and within an hour or so had given up all those symptoms.

A MUST is drinking more water than you think you need. We tend to shy away from drinking cold stuff, so leave the water to get to room temperature. Add lemon for some extra vitamin C. If you have a wood stove or dry heat, please know that dehydration can lower the immune system. Great time for herbal teas.

May you have a Happy & Healthy Holiday Season.