New Golf Carts on Agenda.

The City Council Public Services Committee is recommending that the Council approve the lease/purchase for 50 new golf carts. The Council is scheduled to meet for its regular meeting tomorrow evening.

According to minutes of the Committee meeting it was explained that the low bid would be Yamaha if they could be purchased before January 1. If not, then the low bid would be the Club Car OS. Club Car, in their proposal, had also offered a range/utility vehicle and a self contained beverage vehicle at no charge. Even though these were used vehicles they have value and would actually allow use of two carts that are normally used for the range or marshalling. This was not asked for in the bid request, it was just offered as part of their bid. Park Director Alan Bull felt the City should look at the another Club Car bid that included the Precedence car. Mr. Bull and Golf Course Manager Mark Peterson both felt the City would get "more bang for the buck" with this car. Their research found that the trade-in value of these runs from $100 to $200 more per car. Mr. Bull said the City could purchase the better car and the yearly payments would be lower than the last lease purchase on the trade in cars.

Committee member Lee Carlson moved to recommend the Council approve the purchase of fifty Precedence golf cars from Clear Creek Vehicles in the amount of $105,675.00. Motion carried with member Charlie Bastin voting no.

The committee also voted to recommend a lease/purchase agreement. There were six bids with UMB Bank being the low bidder at 3% interest and fees not to exceed $25.00.

The motion carried with Bastin abstaining.

I’ve never had one of those ant farms. You know, the little plastic jobs with a green top and base. Ya fill it up with dirt and throw in a handful of ants and watch ‘em go.

I suppose most folks have an aversion to insects crawlin’ round anywhere in their house, let alone out on the coffee table or a book shelf.

I’ve spent more time than I’d prob’ly care to admit watchin’ ants though. I never did figure out where they were all goin’ in such a hurry.

I suppose it’s like the guy on Laugh In used to say, "I like dogs better than fleas because ya don’t have to bend over so far to pet them."

I bet a rolly-polly farm or a tater bug farm would be a lot a fun too, only a little slower paced than those hyper ants.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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Weekly Columns

Stringing Lights

Q: Every year, we string outdoor lights not just around the edge of the roof but around the backyard, trees, etc. This year I noticed that about half the lights I strung did not light up when I turned them on. The lights seem to stop working in the middle of the string. What’s going on? -- Buster in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

A: Grab some replacement bulbs (the same type and size, rated for outdoor lights) and start following the strings to the first bulb that isn’t lit. Take a close look at the bulb -- if you can see a tiny dark spot in the middle or the glass is generally darker than that of nearby bulbs, you’ve probably located your burnt bulb. Another more telling clue is that the entire string beyond the bulb is also not lighting up.

The reason the string behind the burned-out bulb doesn’t light is because in most Christmas light strings, the bulb assemblies act as individual fuses. When a bulb burns out -- the filament inside the glass breaks, preventing electricity from traveling along it -- the bulb acts as a circuit breaker of sorts and stops electricity from conducting all the way along the wire.

In newer strands, you’ll see the lights go out behind the burned-out bulb but work up to that point. Older light strands would completely break the circuit, meaning no lights would work -- and leading to much more tedious time spent searching for that elusive burnt bulb.

To replace, simply pop out the old bulb (you may need to unhook a small plastic latch at the base of the bulb receptacle to pop out the bulb assembly), being careful not to break the glass, and snap in a new bulb of the same type. Test the strand by plugging it in. Work your way along the strand and replace any other burned-out bulbs.

HOME TIP: Use only light strands rated for outdoor use on outside lighting.