Council Sludge Fest.

A motion by Public Works Committee Chair Bill Fortune to pay a submitted bill for a little less than $500 met with surprising opposition at last Tuesday’s regular Council meeting. Payment of the bill, which was for removal of sludge from the fuel tanks pulled from the Myers Park property, was recommended by the Public Works Committee.

Mid-American Environmental of Carthage submitted the successful bid of $6,000 for the removal last summer. Fortune’s committee reviewed the contract during its last meeting and determined the charge was legitimate even though it exceeded the bid.

"If we owe the money we should pay it," said Council member Bill Johnson.

"That wasn’t in the contract," replied Council member Art Dunaway.

Johnson asked if there wasn’t a clause in the contract that allowed the contractor to recoup any costs associated with sludge removal.

"I don’t know," Dunaway responded, "I didn’t read the contract."

The matter was placed back in the Public Works Committee for further study.

If ya got a hankerin’ for a street sign Main Street Carthage has about 500 of ‘em for sale. The Council voted Tuesday to sell the signs to the organization rather than scrap ‘em. They are hopin’ to see a profit after the markers are sorted and sold.

I don’t think there is a "Jake" street in Carthage, so I prob’ly won’t end up with one a the treasures, but I’m told that several have already called anticipatin’ the sale. If ya got a particular street that appeals to ya, give ‘em a call.

The sellin’ is the result of the Street Department completin’ the replacement of the old signs with new one’s that even reflect so ya can read ‘em at night. Some poles have also been replaced. Ever’thing is clean and sparklin’.

Tom Shelley and his crew was recognized durin’ the Council meetin’ after a letter was read praisin’ the timely way the Department took care of a citizen’s concern. Shelley has apparently taken advantage of the lack of snow this season.

This is some fact, but mostly, Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars.

Tom and Ray:

I’m a bit of a rarity. I’m 23 and love my Volvo 740. It’s a 1991 with 130,000 miles.

While most of my friends prefer sportier cars or big trucks, I couldn’t be happier with my squared-off Swede. However, something weird has been going on recently. When I’m driving at 55 mph, the car develops a slight vibration. The vibration appears at about 50 mph and disappears at about 60 mph. The vibration isn’t very intense, and I’m not too bothered by it. I’m just wondering what it is-Josh

Ray: Well I’d say something is definitely out of balance here, Josh.

Tom: Aside from your taste in cars.

Ray: It sounds as awful lot like a wheel that’s out of balance. That’s what usually creates a shimmy at a specific speed.

Tom: Perhaps the last time you followed one of your friends in a BMW up onto the sidewalk, you knocked off a wheel weight and left one of the tires unbalanced.

Ray: For 20 or 30 bucks, I’d have all four tires rebalanced by a mechanic. And while you’re there, ask him to check for any early signs of tread separation in the tires, which could also cause a shimmy.

Tom: And by the way, if he can see the air inside the tires when he inspects them, that means it’s time for some new rubber, Josh.

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