Bonus For the 'Tween Times.

The City Council, in a closed session following the regular Council meeting last Tuesday, voted to compensate Captain Davis and Chief Cooper $1,242 each for services rendered while serving as Interim Police and Interim Fire Chiefs respectively.

Council member Charlie Bastin had raised the issue several weeks ago of compensating Davis for his extra work load after Ed Ellefsen resigned last summer, especially the responsibility concerning Marian Days. Cooper acted as Fire Chief for four months in late 1994 and early 1995 after Don Simmons retired.

The Council has given extra compensation in the past to City Clerk Barbara Welch for her efforts in preparing the budget after Mike Randall was released from his City Administrator position. Economic Development Director received compensation for his role as interim City Administrator until Tom Short was hired for that position.

During the Council regular open session, the only divisive vote came on the request for a zoning change by Della Dillion. The request was to change the zoning of residential property at 1122 Cedar to two family dwelling. The change would have allowed a duplex to be built on the vacant property. A petition signed by several neighbors was presented to the Council that opposed the change. Members Mike Harris, Charlie Bastin, Trish Burgi-Brewer, and Don Stearnes voted for the Change. Members Larry Ross, Bill Fortune, J.D. Whitledge, Jackie Boyer, Art Dunaway, and Donna Harlan voted against.

The problems that have developed concerning the installation of water mains over the last few months were emphasized during the Citizen's Participation period. Mike Winfrey gave a lengthy presentation to the Council that pointed to safety issues among others.

The Council seemed to be in agreement that the contractor, Poston Construction Company of Lamar, needed be more concerned with the workmanship.

Mayor Kenneth Johnson asked City Administrator Tom Short to take action. Johnson commented that if the situation doesn't get better, it may be time "to shut him down.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

I can't pass a nail layin' on the street without stoppin' to pick it up and get it outa traffic. The habit comes from watchin' my dad over the years. It was somethin' ya did.

"Somebody will end up with that in a tire," he might say.

I'm sure he also had selfish reasons for doin' his good turn. I also learned how to change a flat tire by watchin' Dad. Usually a nail that had not been retrieved in time.

I suppose there are those who have never made the connection between a lonely nail or screw layin' in the road and any consequences. Or they just figure luck will keep that particular nail from becomin' a thorn in their side. I don't recall ever seein' my mom pickin' up nails (but she could change a tire).

I suppose 'tween my dad and uncles, my brother and me, we've put a pretty good dent in the flat fixin' business, but I personally know of at least a couple little pricks we missed.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray:

Being a musical kind of guy, I often pass the time at long lights by drumming on the steering wheel of my Mercedes C-230 with a pair of drumsticks I keep in the driver's door pocket. Incredibly, my 10-year-old daughter is NOT mortified by this behavior. However, she is convinced that my drumming will cause the airbag to deploy, injuring me. She's also afraid that once I get hit in the face with the airbag, I'll instinctively slam on the gas, and send us careening into an intersection, which will put her in danger. Is her concern justified?-Michael

P.S. I omstly drum on the center part of the wheel where that star and circle thing is embossed.

P.S.S. Do you know where I could get a bracket to mount a cymbal on the steering column?

TOM: The answer to both of your questions is no, Michael. Your daughter's concern is not justified, and no, we don't know who makes a cymbal stand for a C230 (but the J.C. Whitney catalog is a good bet.)

RAY: The airbag sensors, along with the contacts, are located in the front bumper, so there's no way you can trigger them by banging on the steering wheel (even with an enthusiastic rendition of "Wipe Out").

TOM: In fact, many airbag equipped cars have now put the horn button back in the center of the steering wheel (where it belongs, I might add), which would be impossible to do if pressure on the steering wheel could set off the airbag. So feel free to keep on drumming, Michael.

RAY: But I have a question for you. How can a musician like you afford a Mercedes?

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