During Tuesday evening’s public works meeting, City Engineering Department Head Joe Butler updated members of the committee on the status of capital improvements for the 1998-1999 fiscal year.

"I wish we had all of the projects bid out," said Butler. "But it just takes time."

Butler’s report was received favorably by committee members.

"I am very pleased by what has been accomplished in the last year," said Tricia Brewer. "We have seen some major accomplishments take place."

Butler also informed members that he would have the Sidewalk Ordinance ready for the next Public Works committee meeting.

"A few people are waiting on the ordinance before working on their sidewalks," explained Butler. "They are hoping the City will provide some sort of incentive funds."

Butler highlighted eight projects, which are in various stages of completion.

· The intersection at Macon and Baker. $15,000 has been budgeted. The engineering reports are being completed right now. The bids will be taken once the report is completed.

· Elk Street Improvements: $35,000 initially budgeted, $31,600 added to the project by City Council action in January. The bid of $92,323 (which was the lowest bid) has been awarded to Southard Construction. Work is expected to begin on this project within the next two to three weeks.

· The traffic signal at Central and Garrison. $90,000 budgeted for the project. Butler said he is opening the bids on March 1st. However, he is not expecting more than three to four bids for this project. Butler said there is a limited number of businesses who work on traffic signals in this area. He expects a low return on bids because for the last three signals installed in Joplin only received one bid a piece.

· Fairview and River; Hawthorne to Pearl. $280,000 budgeted. Originally set as one project, now being bid out as two individual projects due to the increase in the Elk Street Project. Fairview and River will receive first priority. The Hawthorne to Pearl part of the project might be delayed until the next fiscal year due to cost and time constraints. This project is ready to bid as of March 1st.

· The City owned sidewalk project: This project is "well underway, and well under budget" according to Butler. This project was originally budgeted $50,000. Under projected figures right now, the project will cost approximately $38,349.90 after McCune Brooks Hospital and Carthage Water and Electric reimburse the city $7,948.71 for work on their sidewalks. The $38,349.90 includes the additional $1,584 cost approved during last week’s Council meeting, to add additional sidewalk work in Central Park.

· The Memorial Hall Underground Storage Tank. $4,000 was budgeted for the project. This has been completed, and the UST has received a "clean bill of health" from the Department of Natural Resources. The project was underbid at $3,375.

· ISTEA Projects: $46,000 has been budgeted for these projects. Butler said he is waiting to receive information from the State Highway Department before the project can progress.

· Wood Avenue Ditch: $10,000 budgeted, it cost $6,500 to complete. This project is finished.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I never too VoAg in high school. Most of the kids liked workin' on various projects usin' the weldin' equipment. My brother made an outdoor cooker that we actually used a few times.

My most vivid memory from visits to the "class room" where the various equipment was kept was all the rods hangin' from the ceilin'. I just couldn't figure out their function. Come ta find out they were weldin' rods sharpened on the grinder by the students and then flipped up so they stuck. Must a been three or four dozen in various parts of the room. When the weldin' rod inventory started reachin' a dangerous state, the guys would get up on a buddy's shoulders and grab a few to finish his project. Real inventive kids I grew up with.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars.

Dear Tom and Ray:

My son in Florida has been having overheating problems with his '85 VW Vanagon. On a trip to visit us recently, one of his lower coolant hoses blew. While he was here, one on the upper right side blew. On his way back home, the upper left side blew. He says up to about 60 m.p.h., it immediately goes up. He took it to a dealer, who replaced one more hose and the radiator cap, but the temperature gauge still reads hot. Any thoughts? -Len.

RAY: My first thought is, boy, am I glad I don't drive around in a VW Vanagon!

TOM: No, he means thoughts about his son's car, you knucklehead. Len, I think your boy has a plugged up radiator. That's what's causing the overheating at high speed and the buildup of excess pressure in the cooling system, which is causing those old hoses to blow.

RAY: If it's not a plugged radiator, it could be a blown head-gasket. That would allow hot combustion gasses to get into the coolant, and that could also be responsible for the excess pressure and temperature.

TOM: I'd check for the bad head gasket first. Just have your mechanic remove the radiator cap and hold his emissions wand over the opening. If the emissions tester detects excessive hydrocarbons (i.e., more than 50 parts per million) in the coolant, then the head gasket (or the head) needs to be replaced.

RAY: If there's no sign of combustion gasses in the coolant, then I'd have the radiator removed and flow tested. And if it tests poorly, as I suspect it will, he'll have to put in a new one. And then his Vanagon will be as good as new-which wasn't that good, but what do you want from us?

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