Today's Feature

Reviewed CIP Lists.

The Budget Ways and Means Committee on Monday evening reviewed the City department heads’ five-year Capital Improvement plans. Department representatives present at the meeting included; Public Works Director Chad Wampler, Fire Chief John Cooper, Parks Director Alan Bull, Street Commissioner Tom Shelley, Police Chief Dennis Veach, City Administrator Tom Short and City Clerk Lynn Shelley.

Capital improvement lists estimate costs for capital projects and equipment purchases such as vehicles and computers, as requested by each department.

The committee reviewed each departments’ requests, focusing primarily on the requests for the 2008 fiscal year budget. The two largest projects included in the CIP for the 2008 fiscal year are the Fairview Interchange and the West Side Sewer improvements, listed under the Public Works Department budget. These two projects total $6 million. The total for all departments for the 2008 fiscal year is $8.8 million.

The committee and discussed only a few of the items throughout the nearly 2 hour meeting. The proposed sub-station for the Fire Department to be located on the south end of town was a topic of discussion. The committee noted that the item had been in the planning stages for many years, and that one potential location would expire as a possibility this year. This location is north of the Precious Moments hotel. Chief Cooper mentioned that other location were available and some might be more advantageous.

Parks Director Alan Bull noted that he had included costs for a comprehensive tree inventory in the Parks CIP list. Bull said that following several tree seminars he felt that taking inventory of the City trees would provide good information for the City to use in planning for the planting of new trees and maintenance of older trees. The amount listed for a tree inventory is $32,000.

The lists will be further discussed during the budget hearings which are scheduled to begin April 23.

I’m don’t have any big problem with the situation, I just don’t think most folks understand exactly what they’re in for when they put that little Maple out in the parkway in front of their house. A little plannin’ on the future growth of the plant is prob’ly in order.

‘Sides that, if it grows for long, it could take out a chunk of the City sidewalk that you have to also are responsible for. Just be aware of what’s expected.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Here's A Tip
By JoAnn Derson

• If you are on a budget, check your yellow pages for local specialty schools. You could find yourself on the receiving end of a great deal for dentistry, veterinary care, massages and haircuts, among other things. Check the schools’ Web pages or call to inquire about any programs they have.

• "The baby-oil bandage trick goes back generations in my family. Whenever it’s time to take off a Band-Aid, we use a baby-oil-soaked cotton ball to lubricate the whole area. It comes off in a snap." -- A.T. in Washington

• "My husband constantly forgets to empty the last load of clothes from the dryer. I don’t mind, because he does most of the laundry in the first place. I just throw a damp towel in the dryer with the wrinkly clothes, and they straighten up quickly." -- E.V. in Michigan

• Shop after 6 p.m. the evening before a sale is advertised to begin. According to the National Retail Federation, many retailers program the registers the night before, so the sale price may already come up in the register, even if the store has not signed the selling floor yet. Ask the associate in advance for any possible upcoming sales, especially on big-ticket items.

• "Teens (at least mine) tend to get bored with articles of clothing before the item is worn out. I found a great store called Plato’s Closet that has in-style teen and early 20s clothes for a great resale price. I swear, my girls get twice as much clothes for less money. Now if I could just get them to wear less than three outfits a day, I might save money on laundry, too!" -- J.J. in Florida