Today's Feature
Wading Pool Options.

The City Council Public Services committee met in a regular session Monday evening to discuss options for a water playground facility at Carter Park. Parks Director Alan Bull reported that the prices received were higher than anticipated by the committee. The price received for a mock-up unit from Aquatic Recreation Company in Lake Winnebago, MO was approximately $65 thousand including shipping, which was much higher than the committee had expected.

The piece of equipment in question is a self-contained unit which has multiple sprayer devices and does not involve any standing water. The unit seemed ideal to the committee because it would not require a lifeguard and because it could be user-activated.

The idea of adding a new water unit at the park originated during the comprehensive Carthage parks evaluation conducted by the committee over the past few months. Citizen Gary Wofford was in attendance of some of these meetings and asked the committee to look into reopening the wading pool at Carter Park. After discussing problems with the current wading pool the committee decided to look into the price of obtaining an entirely new unit.

The committee at Monday’s meeting did return to discussing the option of fixing the wading pool, which, according to Bull would cost between $3,000 and $5,000. Bull told the committee he would also go back to the company which provided the price for the new unit and ask about different options which could lower the cost.

If the new unit were to be purchased the funding would be secured through an external source and not by the City. If the existing wading pool is repaired, this repair cost and the cost of ongoing maintenance would be provided by the City.

The committee also heard a request from Jo Ellis of the Kellogg Lake board. Ellis told the committee that the board wishes to seek a grant from the federal government for the repair of 3 picnic tables in the Route 66 roadside park area. The grant would be a 50/50 matching grant and the match portion could be used for any improvement to the park. The committee gave permission for the board to seek the grant with the stipulation of receiving updates on its progress.

Stench Report:
Tuesday,
11/8/05

No Stench Detected

Birthdays and Christmas always contributed to the construction. Didn’t get that special toy, build a little more character.

Have ta mow the lawn while the kids across the street were playin’ ball? Another contribution. I’m thinkin’ it’s prob’ly a good idea to accumulate all the character ya can, if for no other reason than to help offset those occasional flaws that seem to linger through adulthood.

I suppose the greatest value of gatherin’ a little character is the fact that you might recognize it in others. It’s hard to define, but ya know it when ya see it.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

• Get a jump on the deli line by calling in your lunchmeat order. You can pick it up without waiting.

• "Put a sheet of fabric softener in the bottom of your wastebasket to eliminate any odors." — S.L. in Kansas

• "If you want to bring the white back to your tub and tile grout, use a solution of a few drops of dishwashing liquid mixed into a few ounces of warm water and white vinegar. Dust the areas first with baking soda and then drip or spritz on the vinegar/soap solution. Leave it to soak for a few minutes, then scrub with a toothbrush. I do this several times a year for nice, white grout." — P.K. in Pennsylvania

• "When transplanting perennials that need to go inside, I ‘transition’ them by leaving the pot in a shadier area outdoors for a couple of weeks before bringing them in for the season. I have noticed less-dramatic wilting when they are inside." — C.B. in Virginia

• Did you know that a low-flow showerhead can reduce water usage by up to two-thirds? It can pay for itself in only a few months, and you’re saving not only water, but the electricity it takes to heat the water. That’s smart!

• Clean and shiny nails: Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Use a cotton swab to apply the mixture to your nails. Let it set for 3-5 minutes, then rinse using warm water and pat dry. Follow up with a good hand-and-nail lotion.

• "When I’m cleaning out my storage and clutter areas, I ask myself one question, and it usually helps me clear out a lot of otherwise unusable stuff: ‘Am I really likely to dig this out (or even remember that I have it), or am I more likely to buy a new one?’" — M.E. in Maine