Over 60 Center Renovation.

The City Council held their regular meeting Tuesday evening in City Hall. The Council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance allowing the Mayor to enter into contract with Alumbaugh Construction in the amount of $318,000 for the expansion and renovation of the Carthage Over 60 Center. City Administrator Tom Short stated that 10 days were needed after the signing of the Ordinance, in order for the paper work to be handled at the state level.

To fund the renovation project, the City put forth $30,000 as a cash match to received $297,600 from a Community Development Block Grant through the state and were approved for $100,000 in foundation funds.

"I’m not sure when construction will begin," said Short. "Alumbaugh gave us 125 calendar days to complete the project."

On the agenda was the Council election for Mayor Pro Tem. The Council elected Jim Woestman to be Mayor Pro Tem for the next two years.

The new six City Council members were swore in by City Clerk Lynn Campbell. First Ward, Claude Newport for the two year term; First Ward, Dave Woods for the one year unexpired term; Second Ward, Mike Harris for the two year term; Third Ward, incumbent Jackie Boyer for the two year term; Fourth Ward, Bill Johnson for the two year term; Fifth Ward, Don Stearnes for the two year term.

The Council discussed and all agreed that up to $3,000 can be used from Council Contingency to fund the inventory tags needed by the City. Tom Short explained that the City must start taking a physical inventory of all its fixed assets.

I’ve never checked into the procedure for gettin’ the refund offered on most soft drink cans. I see that Iowa offers a five cent refund.

Back when bottles had a deposit on them for two cents the grocer would give ya cash money. On a good afternoon I could gather enough for a coke and a candy bar. ‘Course that only amounted to ten cents back then, but still worth the effort.

A kid nowadays makin’ five cents a can could do pretty well if the cans were available. There has to be folks up there that don’t think savin’ the can is worth the nickel.

I suppose the real set up would be for a kid that lived on the Missouri side of the border collectin’ cans and takin’ ‘em north for the refund. I’m thinkin’ there’s a catch in this line a thinkin’ somewhere.

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:

I have a 1989 Ford Bronco with a 351 Windsor engine. The engine needs to be rebuilt. I have three choices: rebuild it myself, pay a mechanic to do the work, or buy a remanufactured one on the Internet. If I choose to buy a remanufactured one, how can I tell if the company is a good one or not? Each company tells me how great it is and what super parts it uses. How do I know if the "new" parts are really the best, as they say they are? Several companies have the same prices and use the same parts. Even the Web pages look the same. How can I tell which company to use? Do you have any suggestions on how to tell a good rebuilder from a not-so-good one? — Jeff

RAY: It’s a good question, Jeff. Before the Internet, if you wanted to buy a remanufactured engine, you’d either go to your car dealer or your parts supplier, and THEY would have an engine supplier they trusted.

TOM: The advantage of the Internet is that now you can buy directly from the manufacturer, but you really don’t know anything about the manufacturer’s reputation.

RAY: And yes, some companies sell the same product through several slightly different Web sites, hoping to grab as much business as possible.

TOM: Your best bet is to talk to some good local garages and dealers about who they use. Since they have to guarantee both the engine AND their labor, they’re going to be very careful about who they buy engines from. Trust us — no mechanic wants to pull out an engine twice.