Today's Feature

Sediment and Erosion Ordinance.

The Public Works Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to further discuss the Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinance. This ordinance has been passed down from the DNA and EPA to local governments and it must be in place by the first of 2005. The ordinance is designed to control the manner in which contractors approach the planning of construction, to allow for proper drainage and detention of stormwater. The previous Public Works meeting was scheduled to give area contractors the opportunity to voice their input on the specifications of the Ordinance. Contractors expressed concerns such as the size of projects to which it will be applied and the penalties for violation.

In Tuesday’s meeting the Committee will continue to work with the information gathered from the contractors, and with the guidelines sent from the DNA in an attempt to finalize the Ordinance in a manner agreeable to all parties.

Chad Wampler, the new Public Works Director begins his duties today.

The old trick on a construction site was to send a rookie on the crew out lookin’ for a left handed monkey wrench or a sky hook. Neither instruments, of course existed.

Typically throughout the day or two of the search, the rookie would inquire of some worker if he knew where these particular tools were kept. The old hands would act as if they were well aware of the usefulness of these figments of the imagination, but would suggest a shed to look or another worker that used the contraptions a day or two earlier.

Eventually someone would tire, (usually the boss) and let the rookie in on the hoax. The savvy rookie would turn the joke around and continue to question the old hands, irritating them as much as possible. The first step toward bein’ an old hand.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Carthage Printing

This Is A Hammer

By Samantha Mazzotta

Patching Drywall

While small holes in drywall (wallboard) can be patched fairly easily, large holes need support in order for a patch to be effective. This support can be either plywood strips or strips of spare wallboard.

For this type of job you will need a pencil and carpenter’s square (or a ruler), a wallboard saw or jig saw, a power drill, a piece of wallboard the same size as the patch area, 1 1/4-inch wallboard screws, wallboard tape, compound and a putty knife. If you are using plywood strips for support, you will need additional 1 1/4-inch wallboard screws; if you’re using excess wallboard strips, you’ll need hot glue.

Outline the damaged area with your pencil and ruler, creating a nice square around the hole Following the outline, cut away the damaged area.

To install the support structure your plywood or wallboard strips will be placed behind the hole — make sure they reach at least 1 inch farther than the edges of the square hole you cut.

If you’re using plywood strips, hold each strip firmly in place behind the hole while securing with wallboard screws from the front. Countersink the screws just slightly below the wall surface. Place one screw at the top and one at the bottom of the wood strip. Repeat until a good backing has been created. If you’re using wallboard strips, use hot glue to secure them.

Next, cut your wallboard patch slightly smaller (about 1/8 inch) than the square hole. Center the patch over the hole and drive wallboard screws through the patch into the backers. Again, countersink the screws just barely below the wallboard surface.

To finish the job, place wallboard tape over each edge of the newly patched area, covering the 1/8-inch cracks. Then, smooth two coats of wallboard compound over the entire repair area.