Budget/Contracts Considered.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on adopting fiscal year 2002-2003 annual operating and capital budget during tomorrow evening’s regular meeting in City Hall at 7:30. Other related annual contracts are also scheduled for vote.

The agenda includes the authorization of a contract with Main Street Carthage for development and educational services in the amount of $20,400; authorization of a contract with the Carthage Humane Society for services i the amount of $15,600; authorization of an agreement for tourism and marketing services with the Carthage Convention and Visitors Bureau in the amount of $136,000; and the authorization of a contract with Fireworks Spectacular for the July 4 fireworks display.

Under new business the Council will consider an appeal by Kristen Shannon for the issuance of a special use permit for a day care center at 1324 S. Garrison.

The Council will also consider a resolution to designate the Carthage Convention and Visitors Bureau as the Destination Marketing Organization for the City. This allows the CVB to apply for state grants.

This year’s July 4 celebrations seems ta be shapin’ up to be another good one. Although some of the activities have been scaled down a bit, the budget for the event has been drastically cut.

After two years of over $30,000 bein’ spent on activities and promotion, in addition to the twenty grand the City pays for fireworks, this year’s activity budget looks like it will come in under $10,000

The best part is that the City isn’t put on the hook ta make up twenty some extra thousand like it has been in the past. All the funding other than the cost of the actual fireworks has been donated by business and individuals in the Community.

Don’t look for those fancy tv ads this year, just come out and enjoy a great community celebration of independence.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

The Super Handyman

by Al Carrell & Kelly Carrell

Q: The concrete steps on the front of our house are slippery, especially when wet. We have a handrail, but it’s just not enough. What can we do to make the steps safer? -M.V.

A: You have several options

You can use muriatic acid to etch the surface of the concrete slightly. You would use five parts water to one part acid.

If that doesn’t give you the desired results, apply a deck paint or porch paint to which you’ve added some sand. If you go this route, buy the sand at the paint store, so you know it is completely dry.

Any etching should be done before any painting. You also could apply peel-and-stick strips that are designed to make suck surfaces slip-proof.

Dear Kelly: I finally found a better way to keep my annoying, squeaky front door quiet. I now grease the old, heavy door with petroleum jelly. I had tried oils, but the dripped and stained both the door and my floor. Other stuff just didn’t work. But the petroleum jelly sure does! It is easy to use, stays in place and works longer than oil.

A SUPER HINT-You can use inexpensive white vinegar for lots of things around the home and shop. For example, if you put a gallon or two into your dishwasher without the dishes in it, then run it through a couple of cycles, that can remove mineral deposits on lots of surfaces.