More Annexation.

The City Council moved through its regular meeting in less than an hour Tuesday evening.

The Council approved 9-1 the annexation of property at 1615 S. Baker Boulevard owned by the First Assembly of God Church. Later in the meeting a resolution was approved that will begin the process of annexing additional property owned by the church. The Council had balked earlier at bringing in just the property at 1615 Baker without the additional connected property also being annexed.

Also approved were contracts with the Carthage Soccer League and the R-9 School District for use of various park facilities. A motion by Council member Bill Putnam to allow school golf team members free year-round passes at the Municipal Golf Course was defeated 2-8. Golf team members are not charged for team practice under the current contract language.

Public Services Committee Chair Larry Ross reported that the committee was reluctant to pay $1,400 for a change order for the new Park Department maintenance building. Ross told the Council that the change order was the result of bid specifications and the engineering drawings not corresponding.

According to Ross, electric door openers were specified but the drawings did not show the openers. As a result, wiring for the openers had to be retrofitted and the committee did not feel the City should have to pay the extra expense incurred. There was no action taken.

The near completion of the new Post Office addition gives additional security of the downtown area as the hub of the community. But, the expanding development of the south business district will continue to pressure the area surrounding the Square to develop and maintain an identity that attracts locals and tourists alike.

There is little doubt that new development is a source of jobs and revenue for the community. The downtown area can offer alternatives to the typical shopping experience that can also capture the revenue and provide employment and should not be overlooked in the scheme of economic assets.

Survival of the downtown retail industry could depend on a unified effort of promotion and marketing.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

My son in Florida has been having overheating problems with his ’85 VW Vanagon. On a trip to visit us recently, one of his lower coolant hoses blew. While he was here, one on the upper right side blew. On his way back home, the upper left side blew. He says up to about 60 m.p.h., it immediately goes up. He took it to a dealer, who replaced one more hose and the radiator cap, but the temperature gauge still reads hot. Any thoughts? -Len.

RAY: My first thought is, boy, am I glad I don’t drive around in a VW Vanagon!

TOM: No, he means thoughts about his son’s car, you knucklehead. Len, I think your boy has a plugged up radiator. That’s what’s causing the overheating at high speed and the buildup of excess pressure in the cooling system, which is causing those old hoses to blow.

RAY: If it’s not a plugged radiator, it could be a blown head-gasket. That would allow hot combustion gasses to get into the coolant, and that could also be responsible for the excess pressure and temperature.

TOM: I’d check for the bad head gasket first. Just have your mechanic remove the radiator cap and hold his emissions wand over the opening. If the emissions tester detects excessive hydrocarbons (i.e., more than 50 parts per million) in the coolant, then the head gasket (or the head) needs to be replaced.

RAY: If there’s no sign of combustion gasses in the coolant, then I’d have the radiator removed and flow tested. And if it tests poorly, as I suspect it will, he’ll have to put in a new one. And then his Vanagon will be as good as new-which wasn’t that good, but what do you want from us?