Civil War Road Paved, Sidewalk Mall Bids In, Parking Lot Plans.

The Public Works Committee was informed Tuesday afternoon by City Engineer Steve Lett that the stretch of Civil War Road leading to the Carmar entrance from Highway 71 is completed. The final overlay of the roadway was delayed last December due to cold weather.

The repair and widening of the heavily traveled road is a short term solution according Engineering Department reports made last spring. At that time it was estimated that the improvements would last five to eight years. Carmar has estimated that more that 500 trucks a day will be moving over the road by that time. Jasper County is assisting in the repairs by paying for the final overlay.

During the same meeting bids were opened for the renovation of the sidewalk mall just off the south side of the square. The walkway has been fenced off for over a year because of safety concerns and negotiations for clear title to the property.

Four bids were received by the Engineering Department. The bids will be reviewed by the Department and recommendations will be presented at the next Public Works Committee meeting. The bids were submitted with three alternate options so, depending on which options are agreed to, it is not clear which company is actually lowest overall.

G&G Construction of Carthage, Dalton Killinger of Joplin, and Sprouls Construction of Lamar all seem to be within a few thousand dollars of $80,000 for the complete package. Dalton Killinger appears to be the low bid, but shows a completion time of 120 days, the other two show a 60 day completion time. Branco Enterprises of Neosho claimed the high bid of just over $120,000 for the complete project.

Alternate option #1 would be a handicapped accessible ramp, option # 2 would include planters, electrical receptacles, and irrigation system, option #3 would be a patterned concrete surface. G&G Construction submitted the lowest base bid, that would not include any of the above options, of $45,320.

The Committee also saw the latest draft plan for the parking lot just south of the Police Station. The plan was for approximately fifty parking spaces and includes a perimeter of grass and 10-12 trees. Assistant to the City Engineer Joe Butler told the Committee that approximately $1,500 should pay for the trees.

City Engineer Steve Lett suggested that the landscaping could be bid as a separate item from the parking lot. Council member Lujene Clark, who is not a member of the Committee but was in attendance, told the Committee that she had been working toward finding outside funding to help pay for landscaping the lot.

Clark also inquired if any type of lighting had been planned for the lot.

City Engineer Steve Lett said that lighting had not been put into the plan. Police Chief Ed Ellefsen said the lot probably would not be used much at night.

Committee member Bill Johnson reminded the Committee that the City does not provide lighting in any other lots in town.

"And when you put the lights in," said Johnson, "you have an electric bill. That electric bill will come to the City and not to CW&EP."

Clark stated that it would be more cost effective to install lights during the construction of the lot than doing it latter.

Committee member Art Dunaway suggested some lights might be placed on the Police station.

Lett asked for direction as to the type of lighting the Committee desired. The suggestion of historic type lighting as is presently on the inner part of the square was made.

"Why not make it attractive," said Committee member Jackie Boyer. "If Lujene can get landscaping money, then the City should do something more than a utility pole."

The question of maintenance of the grass and trees proposed for the new parkin’ lot south of the Police Station was raised but not very well discussed at the Public Works Committee meetin’ on Tuesday. The possibility of installin’ a sprinkler system was ‘bout all that was determined.

The more lingerin’ question of course is who’s gonna mow the grass, trim the curbs and take care of the trees?

I like the idea of trees and grass around the lot. The question is who’s gonna be in charge of it and ultimately how is the City gonna pay for the eternal maintenance?

I’d suppose the cost ta contract the mowin’ and clippin’ for a season ta be around $500 just as a guess. No big deal, just a consideration. Most would prob’ly figure it’s worth it, they just don’t want the fundin’ ta come out of their pocket. May bring a new meanin’ to the term "sod busters."

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

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray

I did a front-end brake job on my ’89 Dodge Ram 150 truck. I took the front rotors off and had them turned at a local shop. I put in new pads and put everything back together correctly. I drove away the next day and experience a slight vibration that had the sound of a low hum, like big, off-road tires on payment. It only occurs when applying the brakes firmly. I checked to be sure everything is tightened correctly, but I still have the hum. What could be causing this?-Phil

Ray: What’s causing this? The guy at the local shop that turned your rotors, Phil.

Tom: He did a lousy job. He did, what we call in the trade, a "record cut" because the rotor looks like an old 33 rpm record, but with deeper grooves in it.

Ray: Ideally, the rotors should be perfectly smooth. You put the rotor on the lathe, and as the rotor spins, you move the blade from the inside to the outside. But if you move the blade too quickly across the spinning rotor, cut too deeply, or use a dull cutting tip, you’ll end up with grooves. And when the brake pads press up against the grooved rotor, you get that hum.

Tom: So you can either wait until the metallic particles in your brake pads wear down the grooves and smooth them out or you can go back and ask them to redo the rotors- assuming you have enough thickness left in the rotor to cut it again. Good luck, Phil

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