No More Talk.

There will be no more talk about the proposed Building Maintenance Code ordinances in the Public Works committee. A motion by member Charlie Bastin to table discussion of the ordinances passed 3-1. Bastin, Lujene Clark, and Jim McPheeters voted for, Committee Chair Bill Fortune voted against. The vote to table requires a two-thirds majority vote to bring the issue back to discussion.

The full Council has postponed the first reading of the ordinances several times to give citizens and the Committee adequate consideration. A motion to postpone requires a certain date that the issue will be brought back for discussion. The proposed update of the various building and construction codes is scheduled to be back on the Council agenda for the March 13 meeting. Bastin stated that he will move to table the ordinances when they are considered by the full Council.

The vote to table any further Committee action means that there will be no Committee recommendations for adjustments or modifications of the proposed ordinances. The purpose of several meetings since November with citizens participation were to allow the Committee to come up with recommendations that would assure the code was reasonable. Without Committee recommendations, the Council will now have to sort through the issue and any amendments during regular Council sessions.

Another motion by Bastin to adopt a policy of only taking action on building maintenance problems after a complaint was filed was a standoff at 2-2. Bastin and McPheeters for, Fortune and Clark against. This will also likely be taken to the full Council for resolution.

I’m sure some of the property owners who have been attending the hearings on the Building Maintenance Code were not completely happy with amendments that may have been recommended by the Public Works Committee.

The fact is that there appeared to be some support for making the tenants more responsible for certain problems and the change in the appeal Board may have given property owners more representation. Without Committee recommendations, whatever progress may have been accomplished by the endless discussion is probably lost.

‘Course it is always easier to do nothing than it is to attempt to improve or come up with a better solution.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

When the big kids are busy doing their homework, try one of these learning activities with your eager 5- or 6-year-old.

• Make puzzles. Cut two magazine pictures, drawings or extra family photos into several large pieces. Mix up the cut shapes. First sort the pieces by picture, then try to put them back together again.

• Play a fun alphabet hunt game. Help your child print his name on strips of paper, one letter per strip. If your child has friends over, do the same for each of them. Hide the letters in another room, then call out "Time to go on an alphabet hunt!" The kids will love searching for the letters. See how long it takes to spell their names!

• Make a scented picture. When your child wants to draw a picture, try an unusual technique. Use a piece of sandpaper instead of paper and make the drawing with a cinnamon stick. It’s fun to do and the spicy scent will no doubt send you racing to the bakery for a cinnamon roll snack.

• Grow a spring village. Scoop potting soil into a 10-inch flowerpot drainage saucer. Sprinkle rye grass seed or wheat berry seeds on top of the soil. Mist with water and keep soil damp. You may wish to cover the saucer with plastic wrap until the seeds germinate (about 4 days). When the seeds sprout and grow, clip pathways in the fast growing grass, and add miniature toys and people to create a charming village.