New Director Taking Charge

The Public Works Committee held their regular meeting Tuesday afternoon in City Hall. This was the first Public Works meeting for the new Public Works Director Craig Menees who began his duties February 9th. Menees recommended that the committee approve the Public Works Department’s need for a new digital camera and printer.

"I’m working on efficiency issues," said Menees. "The camera we have is 6 years old. It takes a long time to print the pictures and doesn’t hold many (pictures) in the memory."

Menees recommended purchasing a $200 Kodak digital camera with 3.1 megapixels and a $200 photo printer that the camera sits in. He explained that the printer is for the camera only and has no other uses. The current system ties up too much of their computer’s time and this new printer would allow them not to have to rely on their computer for picture printing. The memory cards from the camera can be saved in their computer for future use.

Menees stated that the cost of the new system was in the Public Works budget. The committee agreed to allow the purchase.

Menees also reported that construction bids for the expansion of the Over 60 Center started last Thursday. He stated the only set back was the issue of the alley behind the center.

"Fifteen feet is needed and it is at eight feet (wide)," said Menees.

Menees stated that the issue needed to be taken to Planning and Zoning for a possible variance. The committee agreed.

In other business, Street Commissioner Tom Shelley presented the bids to the committee for a new dumptruck that was budgeted this year. Shelley explained that their 1989 GMC dumptruck is to go to the Parks Department.

Shelley recommended accepting the bid for $45,651 from Lindsay Chevrolet in Lebanon, Missouri for a 2004 Chevy CC7500 truck with a Hibilt dump truck bed. He reported that the Street Department is budgeted for $42,000 for a new dumptruck and the Parks Department is budgeted for $5,000 for their used one. Shelley stated that only $3,651 would be needed from the Parks Department for their 1989 GMC dumptruck.

"The only problem is," said Shelley. "I need to order the truck before the next Council meeting, in order to get the 2004 model."

The committee agreed to accept the bid and allow Shelley to go forward with ordering the 2004 truck.

"I don’t think the Council will have a problem," said Shelley. "There is no money down, it’s the lowest bid and is within the budget."

During staff reports, Tom Shelley reported that the street sweeper shouldn’t be used in below freezing temperatures.

Shelley explained that the sweeper has a water system on it to keep the dust down but freezes up when the temperature is below freezing.

"I think it will cause an accident someday," said Shelley. "It’s also a health issue with the dust and it’s not good for the machine either."

Committee member Don Stearnes stated that he has seen the sweeper operate without water and it creates a dust bowl around it.

The committee agreed and left the decision to run the sweeper to Shelley’s discretion.

‘Bout the only scene I remember in the original "Cheaper by the Dozen" was when the dad was tellin’ the kids how to be more efficient in takin’ a bath. One of the girl’s friend was in the group and her mother appeared and inquired as to what was goin’ on. Then huffed out with her daughter in tow.

Of course the dad was dumbfounded as to her reaction, ever’ one was of course fully clothed and he was doin’ what he did, teachin’ efficiency.

I remember usin’ the efficient method of takin’ a bath for a while, but discovered that sometimes bathin’ is more than just gettin’ the dirt off. There is some real value in just sittin’ in a hot tub a water and not worryin’ ‘bout bein’ efficient. Or maybe soakin’ is the most efficient way to relax.

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:

I was in a hurry to reconnect my battery, and I cross-connected the positive and negative terminals. A rather large spark occurred. Now the engine won’t start at all. Any suggestions? — Mike.

RAY: Yeah. Don’t be in such a hurry next time, Mike.

TOM: You probably blew a fusible link. A fusible link is sort of a "main fuse," like you have in your house. It’s the first line of defense, and it keeps an electrical surge from ruining every other electronic device up the line.

RAY: In a car, fusible links are usually placed very close to the battery so that if anything goes wrong, they’re the first thing to blow. Most cars have several of them — between the battery and the ignition switch, and between the battery and the fuse box, for instance.

TOM: And, like fuses, they’re basically lengths of wire designed to carry a certain number of amps. If the amperage exceeds the limit, they melt and break the circuit. They give up their lives to protect stuff further up the line from getting fried.

RAY: The reason cars have them is so that if some moron connects the battery cables backwards, he won’t ruin every electrical component in the car, including the computer, which costs a thousand bucks to replace.

TOM: So, my guess is that you blew one or more fusible links. They’ll probably cost you 100 bucks or so to replace. You should kiss the old ones and thank them for saving you a lot more than that, Mike.