The negotiations for property for a new airport were delayed by at least two weeks when the City Council failed to advance Council bill 00-41 during their regular meeting Tuesday evening.

The bill would have authorized a contract between the City and Joyce Liggett of Pro-100 Realtors to serve as negotiator for acquisition of the property. The bill carried language that allowed the required two readings in one meeting with a simple majority vote. Without that specific language a unanimous vote is required to advance to second reading. After hearing statements from several representatives of the realtor community opposed to the contract during the citizens participation period, there was no motion to advance to second reading. The bill is scheduled for vote on June 27.

In other business, Mayor Kenneth Johnson broke a 5-5 tie vote and moved a proposed plat change for the Myers Park Development to the Zoning Commission for approval. The vote against the new proposal by Council member Jim McPheeters seemed curious to some as he had said earlier in the meeting that the current plan "sucks."

The Council voted Tuesday to end the tradition of openin’ Memorial Hall as a storm shelter. The new policy will take affect October 1.

Some argued that it’s not much for the City to do to keep the shelter open a few times a year. Others noted problems with havin’ someone at the shelter to supervise. Liability concerns were also raised.

The notion that more folks get hurt tryin’ to drive to a storm shelter than findin’ immediate cover was mentions several times.

Council members Stearnes, Whitledge, Dunaway and Bastin voted against stoppin’ the practice.

There are a couple-three months of time to find a new spot if ya need shelter, until then, I guess you’re covered.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

by Tom & Ray Magliozz

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am the proud owner of two vehicles with horizontally mounted filers. Both of them are Fords: a 1988 Bronco and a 1993 Escort Wagon. Do you have any tips for removing these oil filters without creating a mess? Letting the engine drain a long time before removing the filter helps some, but who can wait 24 hours for the oil to drain? I’ve tried pre-wrapping the filter with a plastic bag or newspaper, I’ve tried hanging funnels, and most recently, I intentionally punctured the filter to allow it to drain into a cup before removing it. My results: a worse mess!

This never happened on my previous cars whose filters hung down at a 45-degree angle. Do you know the answer to changing these filters without ending up with oil all over me?- Phillip

TOM: Sure. The answer is your local gas station, or Quickie Lube, Phillip. Research clearly shows that if you stand in the waiting room, the mess-at least form your point of view-is reduced significantly.

RAY: There is no good answer, Phillip. We make a mess when we change these types of filters, too. We use a huge drain bucket that’s about 2½ feet across. And that catches most of it.

TOM: And you can buy a drain bucket like that yourself at your local auto parts store. It’s actually a transmission oil drain bucket, and it’s designed to catch oil dripping from a large transmission oil pan.

RAY: Even that won’t get all of it, Phillip. Some of the oil will still run down the side of the engine and drip long after you’ve cleaned up and gone in for dinner.

TOM: So I guess the only way to eliminate 100 percent of the mess is to have it done by somebody else. Do what I do. I use the transmission fluid drain bucket, and I do all my work in my brother’s driveway.