Some Differences In Thinking.

The first full meeting of the City Council since the election in April was characterized by unanimous votes Tuesday. Only two issues brought out the nay sayers.

Council members Jackie Boyer and Ronnie Wells voted against the approval of a contract with G&G Construction for the erection of a new Park Department maintenance building.

Boyer voiced concern about amended specifications used in the bidding process. Modified specifications were issued after a first round of bidding resulted in bids above budgeted amounts.

"This thing has gone out for bids," Mayor Johnson said. "There were five bids, (the Public Services Committee) took the best and lowest bid. (The contractors) all had the amendments or whatever so they knew what they were bidding on."

The other issue drawing nay votes was a proposed amendment to a contract with the Hispanic Soccer League. Member Bill Putnam proposed to specify a $200 limit the City would spend on a fence for parking control. The amendment failed by a 2-8 vote with Jim McPheeters and Putnam voting yes.

Lot a times it’s just a no-brainer.

The City Council approves a lot a stuff that just has ta be done for the City to function from day to day. There are just a lot a times there will be 10-0 votes.

I would personally, however, get a little nervous if there weren’t split votes from time to time. There is no way for ten folks to agree on ever’thing all the time.

‘Course the appearance of a unanimous decision on a consistent basis has not been a problem as far as I can tell as long as anyone can remember in Carthage.

As a teacher a mine once instructed me, the majority may rule, but nothin’ in the constitution guarantees that the majority is always right. It’s always good ta have someone question a decision.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

My 1988 Nissan 200SX gave me quite a scare. I turned the ignition key and it sounded like the motor was already running. I sat there for a minute thinking that I had left my car running. No, I had the keys with me. I turned the key again and it started immediately.

This happened again about a week later to a mechanic when I had my car in the muffler shop. This was three weeks ago and it hasn’t happened since. What could it be? Will this get worse, quit happening or should I get to a repair shop? Lea

TOM: Well, I have good news and bad news, Lea. The good news is that you’re not losing your mind; you had not left your car running when you turned the key.

RAY: The bad news is that after you hear the diagnosis, you’re going to wish you had left the car running.

TOM: You’ve got a bad ring gear on your flywheel, Lea. When you turn the key to start the car, a little gear on the starter meshes with a big gear (the ring gear) on the flywheel. And turning that flywheel is what starts the engine. The problem is that the gear on your flywheel has some broken teeth.

RAY: Has it been eating at my mother’s house lately?

TOM: When you turn off the engine, and the flywheel happens to stop in just the wrong place (where the broken teeth are perfectly lined up with the starter gear), you get that horrible gnashing noise next time you turn the key. And if you’re lucky the gnashing is enough to move the flywheel a couple of degrees; just enough so on the next try, the starter hits some good teeth and the car starts right up.