Today's Feature

Special Use Permit Approved.

Several Citizen-Proposed Restrictions Included.

Carthage City Council approved a special use permit for 1926 South Garrison at the meeting Tuesday evening. The permit was requested by property owner Vince Scott and will allow the operator of a restaurant in the former Hazlett’s building to serve liquor by the drink as long as 60% of the business’s total income is derived from the sale of prepared food.

At the previous Council meeting, Citizen Ivan Hager provided a list of 7 restrictions that some of the neighbors wished to see included with the permit. At that time, Mayor Jim Woestman scheduled a meeting between City Administrator Tom Short, Public Works Director Chad Wampler and Scott to review the restrictions.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Tom Short told Council that the meeting had taken place and that an agreement was reached. The information from the meeting was included in the Council packets, according to Short.

During the citizen’s participation period Hager expressed concerns to Council about the outcome of the meeting, saying that the neighbors had never heard if the restrictions were approved, despite multiple phone calls to City officials and Council representatives.

"How are we going to discuss something that we can’t see?" Hager asked.

During the reading of the ordinance, it was made known that Scott had voluntarily agreed to 4 of the 7 citizen-proposed restrictions. These restrictions included; No alcohol served before 10:30 a.m., No alcohol served after the kitchen has been closed, openings in the fence to the alley must not be opposite a neighboring driveway, and any attempt to circumvent the 60/40% food to alcohol ratio will result in the withdrawal of the permit.

Two of the other restrictions on the list were included in different forms. The restriction requesting that no concerts be held is already required by the current zoning. Bumper blocks are to be installed around the parking lot instead of the requested fence.

The only restriction which was not addressed at all dealt with closing times. City Administrator Short said that the City felt free enterprise should be sufficient and that the City would not impose any designated closing times.

The inclusion of the restrictions was approved unanimously. The permit was approved by Council in an 8 to 2 vote. Those in favor included Diane Sharits, Cynthia Curry, Bill Welch, Bill Johnson, Dan Rife, Larry Ross, Claude Newport and Mike Harris. Those against included Tom Flanigan and Ronnie Wells.

Referendum Not Applicable.

At the Council meeting Tuesday a letter from the City Clerk to citizens Jess and Peggy Kessinger was distributed. The Kessingers, with 8 other Carthage citizens recently signed an affidavit for a referendum to repeal the special use permit allowing establishments to sell liquor by the drink when 60% gross income is derived from the sale of prepared food.

The letter informs the citizens that the referendum is not applicable for the purpose of overturning the permit. The City Charter states that citizens may require Council reconsideration for repeal or force to public vote any ordinance, except for ordinances related to issues of zoning. In addition to zoning, there are several other items in the charter for which a referendum is not applicable, including; the budget or capital program, any emergency ordinance, ordinances levying special assessments or providing the issuance of special tax bills, and appropriation of money or levy of taxes.

As the adoption of a special use permit is a zoning issue, the referendum will not take effect.

Stench Report:
Wednesday,
5/24/06

No Stench Detected on Carthage Square

Some take for granted the arrival of the Mail ever’ mornin’. They even go so far as to complain to business owners if "their" copy is picked up by others. This enthusiasm for the mornin’ paper has, over the years, made various business owners aware of the high interest our readers hold for the Mornin’ Mail and has resulted in new sponsors supportin’ this endeavor.

We hope our readers also appreciate the counter space offered by distribution points throughout the City. Take a few seconds to let the owners or managers know you are aware of their efforts. Readers, sponsors, and distribution points are the three legs that support this stool.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Every once in a while, I will come to a stop in my 2001 Chevy Venture, and just as I complete the stop, the horn will honk. It scares the crap out of me, because I think some idiot is honking at me before I realize it is my own car. At first, I thought it might be caused by those signal activators that firetrucks have to keep a light green or change a signal, because the first two times it happened, a firetruck with sirens blazing was close. Today, it happened at a stop sign with no emergency vehicles nearby. What could cause this? - Shannon

TOM: Well, fortunately for you - and us - Shannon, horn technology is not rocket science.

RAY: There are a couple of metal contacts underneath the padding in the middle of your steering wheel. When you push on the padding, you push these tow contacts together. That completes an electrical circuit, and blows the horn.

TOM: So, one possibility is that these contacts have gotten too close together through the years from lots of horn use. Are you a heavy honker, Shannon?

RAY: The other possibility is that the horn circuit is closing somewhere else down the line. The next thing I’d suspect is a bad horn ring in your multifunction switch. That’s the switch inside your steering column that controls stuff like the directionals and wipers. If the horn ring is bad, the whole switch might need to be replaced.

TOM: Start by having your mechanic check the horn contacts in the steering wheel pad. Just tell him you’ll be waiting outside in case he sets off the airbag by accident.

RAY: If the problem isn’t right there under the pad, then you’ll have to decide if you want your mechanic to start digging deeper. Or you can practice looking annoyed in the rearview mirror when the horn blows, as if it’s the guy behind you who’s honking.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Happy Harvick and Toyota

Q: Greg, things are starting to heat up as to Toyota naming its drivers for next year in Nextel Cup. So far, Kevin Harvick is being mentioned, as are Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliot. Any more rumors to add to this? -- A Reader, via e-mail

A: Talk is that Harvick, especially since he is so hot right now in the Childress Busch and Cup cars, is the leading candidate. Although many feel that since Harvick is currently winning, he will stay put at Childress, I’m thinking exactly the opposite.

I feel Harvick is in a great position to bargain with Toyota for a much better deal, including, but not limited to, team ownership in the Busch Series, where he now owns a car driven by Tony Stewart and Ron Hornaday. I also think Harvick and his wife will look to own a Nextel Cup team down the road, so perhaps something written into the contract that stipulates this consideration would help him along in "offering his services" to Toyota.

Michael Waltrip in the 55 NAPA Toyota is a done deal, and maybe Dave Blaney in the 22 CAT car for one year to prove himself. My guess is that Harvick in a Toyota Camry could well become a reality.

As for Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott, I’d give Jarrett a 40 percent chance of signing with Toyota, but 80 percent if he brings UPS with him. Elliot, meanwhile, would be a great Toyota part-time driver. Remember, this is all speculation, not gospel.