Failure to Communicate.

A request for payment of engineering fees for the Fair Acres Sports Complex walking trail prompted some Council members to express their disappointment with the design during the Council meeting last Thursday evening. Member Jackie Boyer asked why the exercise equipment was placed in a cluster instead of at various points around the trail.

"It was written in the contract," said Mayor Kenneth Johnson.

"Who wrote the contract?" asked Boyer.

"Sprinkle and Associates," replied the Mayor.

"Who did Sprinkle and Associates talk to about how they were to be placed?" Boyer probed.

The Mayor referred the question to Director of Engineering Joe Butler.

"I assume they talked to Park and Rec," said Butler. "I was never in any discussion about how they were to be laid out. There are two proposals in the plans for the exercise equipment. One’s in a cluster, one is spread out. There’s details on how to do both. Our drawings call for them to be in a cluster and that’s the way they’re constructed. I assume they went to Public Services Committee and they were approved before they went out for bids."

"It never came up for discussion where to put them," said Public Services Committee Chair Jim Woestman.

Council member Bill Putnam told the Council that he was "very distressed" about the placement also.

"It really counteracts the whole intent to have everything in one cluster," said Putnam. "This is a big oversight. But I don’t think we can hold the contractor responsible for it if it was in the plans to do it either way."

The Mayor said he too was not happy with the placement, but since it was in the contract, nothing could be done.

"I told Joe, after this is accepted, Parks or somebody will try to work this out," said Mayor Johnson.

I got ahead a myself a little last week. The Bean Feed and Catfish fry to be held out at Kellogg Lake will be on Wednesday the 25th. Somehow I got it in my head it was this week, but no. This gives ya a little more time to plan on the outing anyway.

As I’ve heard is becomin’ more common among folks I associate with, I also am findin’ that makin’ a note so I can remember is a necessity. ‘Course now the problem becomes how ta keep track of all those little scraps of paper I accumulate.

What I’m thinkin’ is somethin’ like one of those day planners that will accommodate those little postit notes. Then I can write the note and paste it in. I know there are those who wonder why not just write in the day planner, but that seems a little simplistic for such an important matter.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

THIS IS A HAMMER

By Samantha Mazzotta

Q: The sprayer next to our kitchen faucet no longer sprays — the water just trickles out. How do I fix this? — Keller L., Baltimore

A: If the sink sprayer’s water pressure seems low while water flow from the faucet is normal, mineral buildup may be blocking the openings inside the sprayer head. This is easy to fix; simply take the sprayer head apart and clean it with a small brush dipped in vinegar.

If a quick cleaning doesn’t help, two areas may be the cause of pressure problems: the diverter valve and the sprayer hose.

The diverter valve is a small plastic-and-metal attachment inside the body of the water faucet that diverts water flow from the spigot when the sprayer’s handle is depressed. Cleaning the valve and replacing worn washers (or O-rings) can solve the pressure problem.

Turn off water at the nearest shutoff valve. Remove the faucet handle (usually by lifting up and back), then the spout, to expose the faucet body — the round fitting on which the spout and handle sit. On the front of that fitting is a small, round plastic valve — the diverter. Use needle-nose pliers to ease the valve out of its seat. Carefully clean the valve with a brush dipped in vinegar, replace worn washers and then place the valve back in its seat. Reassemble the faucet and test the sprayer pressure.

The second cause of pressure problems could be the sprayer hose. A kink in the hose will reduce the amount of water getting to the sprayer; a blockage causes similar trouble. Fraying or other damage reduces pressure and causes water leakage. Kinks can be straightened fairly easily, but blocks or damage mean the hose should be replaced.

Turn off the water at the shutoff valve and unscrew the hose from the sprayer "nipple" at the bottom of the faucet. Pull the hose through the sink opening. Unscrew the sprayer head from the handle mount and remove the washer to remove the mount’s retaining clip. Use needlenose pliers to pull out the clip, and slide the mount off the end of the hose. Now is a good time to clean the washer, mount and sprayer body, so scrub them in vinegar and rinse. Then, attach the mount to a new sprayer hose and reassemble the sprayer. Thread the new hose down through the sink opening, attach it to the sprayer nipple, turn on the water and test the sprayer.