Square Streetscape Meets Opposition.

Kathy Gilpin of Carthage Jewelers approached the County Commissioners Thursday after their regular meeting concerning plans by the Main Street Carthage Design Committee to beautify the square.

Gilpin said the proposed plans for a "Streetscape" include among other things benches, trees, planters and decorative sidewalks.

Gilpin has previously expressed opposition to trees and benches in front of her store.

"I have a business," said Gilpin. "I’m engaged in commerce. The courthouse lawn has trees and benches."

"Signage is very important," says Gilpin. "The best way to destroy retail commerce downtown is to cover up all the signs so no on knows what’s there. If you plant a tree in front of a sign, you can’t see the sign."

Main Street Carthage Director Diane Sherits defends the Design Committee’s recent efforts.

"We are in the preliminary stages," Sherits said in an interview Thursday, "of putting together an comprehensive plan should the property owners in the Courthouse Square Historic District come to a mutual decision regarding an overall plan to improve the esthetic appearance of downtown Carthage.

"There were two meetings. The first concerned fund-raising. A landscape architect came to the second meeting and talked about different ideas relative to improving the area. Some of the suggestions included different styles of sidewalks, trash bins, benches and bicycle racks on the square. There is no business in Carthage that offers a bicycle rack even though we have bike tours who travel route 66.

"This is an opportunity for the residents and business owners to come together for the purpose of site improvement. Once the proposed allover plan is approved, and a cost estimate is obtained, we can, as a group, apply for grant money to ease the burden of the cost of sidewalk replacement. The average residential sidewalk is 5-6 feet wide. Sidewalks on the square are 14-feet wide. If we come together we can do a lot of good things. Right now we are not even close, we’re in the pre-planning stage. Trees and benches are just two of many ideas put forth by the architect."

The Carthage Square Historic District is an area that is roughly bounded by Central, 5th Street, Lyon Street and parts of Maple Street."

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

There was somewhat of a milestone celebrated last Friday mornin’. The first sidewalk to be completed under the City’s new incentive program for individual property owners.

Members of the Engineerin’ Department showed up to inspect the sidewalk and will now notify the City Clerk that ever’thing meets specs. A check for a little over $600 will be authorized to help pay for the sidewalk replacement. Under the program, the City will reimburse a buck fifty per square foot of qualified replacement.

There are currently thirty-some individuals on the list for consideration. If all of ‘em complete their sidewalks, there will still be about $25,000 left for more work. It appears there is interest.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Workman's Loan

Super Handyman

Dear Al: We just finished painting the outside trim on our house. The best way to mask off the many window panes that we had was a plain old bar of soap. We would just run it around the inside of the glass pane before painting. Paint would not penetrate the soap film. It was easy to remove. We found we could leave it up until the paint was completely set - unlike masking tape, which was hard to remove the next day.

Q: We have had an influx or field mice. We noticed that there are mortar joints that are missing in many places in the bottom course of bricks. I started filling these gaps with mortar, when a neighbor said they were supposed to be there. Is that true? If so, why?

A: Those weep holes are there to allow any condensation that might form within the walls to get out. The holes also ventilate the cavity between the brick and the sheathing.

You can seal them against the mouse invasion by cutting strips of hardware cloth the same width as the weep holes. Make the strips about 3 inches long. Bend the ends to form a "U" and slip the ends into the weep holes.

That way, the holes are covered against entrance but still let moisture out and air in.