New Facility Supervisor Position Approved.

Council The City Council moved quickly through its regular meeting Tuesday evening in City Hall. The light agenda drew only two citizen observers outside of media and City staff members.

The 8-2 approval of a job description for the newly created position of Facility Supervisor occupied a good portion of discussion time. Funding for the position was allocated during this year’s budget process. The position would be responsible for overall planning, operating, and coordinating all activities and operations associated with the running of Memorial Hall and the Civil War Museum. Council members Charlie Bastin and Trisha Brewer voted against.

Brewer attempted to amend the job description to include supervision of the City owned double decker bus. Several Council members agreed that the idea had merit, but wanted to hear more about the proposal before voting to include the responsibility in the Facility Supervisor position. The motion to amend was defeated 2-8 with Bastin and Brewer voting for. The proposal will be discussed at the Public Safety Committee meeting next Monday. The Fire Department currently oversees the operation and maintenance of the vehicle. Any recommendations will be forwarded to the Public Services Committee which oversees the operation of Memorial Hall and the Civil War Museum.

The Council approved a Public Works Committee recommendation to contract with The Botany Shop for landscaping for the Police Station and the adjoining parking lot in the amount of just under the budgeted $6,500. The resulting landscaping will require minimal maintenance according to Committee Chair Bill Fortune.

Finance Committee Chair Lujene Clark reported that a motion, during an earlier Committee meeting, to extend the voluntary reduction of City property tax by 10 cents resulted in a 2-2 vote. The tax levy must be set by September 1 to comply with State regulations. Members Clark and Brewer voted for the reduction, Dunaway and Stearnes voted against. The current levy is 85 cents. The Council voted two years ago to reduce the state authorized 95 cent levy and it was left at that level last year.

A Council bill to set the levy is scheduled for the next Council meeting on August 24. The bill will be put on the agenda as an "emergency" so it can pass through first and second readings during the meeting. The confirmation for the authorized rate was not received by City Hall in time for it to be placed on last Tuesday’s agenda.

During the budget process earlier this spring the Budget/Ways and Means Committee included revenue projections that reflected the anticipated 95 cent levy. According to City Clerk Barbara Welch, the 10 cents would equate to $67,000 of revenue.

Of the total, the City can receive up to 44 cents (currently 36 cents ) for general revenue, 19 cents for the parks and recreation department, and 10 cents (currently 8 cents) for the health fund. The library levy, which is not controlled by the City, is 22 cents.

Although eliminating the current reduction would increase City property tax, it is allowable under State statutes because it falls within the annual State authorization. The tax can not exceed 95 cents, but can be adjusted downward.

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Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

Somehow I’m havin’ trouble understandin’ the logic bein’ pushed against the possible fed tax cut. The theory is if ya get a tax cut, inflation will kick in, interest rates will go up and we’ll loose the money we gained from the tax cut. If we’re better off with high taxes, why not be talkin’ about a tax increase? Interest rates would no doubt fall through the basement and we’d be even that much better off.

Now I’m not completely up to snuff on the complexities of the "global economy," but this particular argument seems to really be a little whacko.

Even if there is even a sniff of truth to it, I’d still rather see the money bein’ stirred about in the market place than endin’ up addin’ to the fed surplus.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray:

We recently lost a dear cat-friend, and believe he died after consuming some antifreeze that had dripped in our driveway. We are not negligent pet or car owners - the darned thing had never leaked before. We are terribly saddened by this senseless loss of life. Isn't there something the antifreeze manufacturers could add to the antifreeze to make it taste bad to pets? Is there something we could add to the radiator ourselves that would make the stuff taste bad, but not damage the car? An answer to this question would be a great memorial to our little friend, and hopefully prevent further poisoning accidents. Thanks - Stephanie.

TOM: Gee, Stephanie, I'm sorry to hear that such a horrible thing happened to such an innocent, little animal. It's too bad lawyers don't like the taste of that stuff.

RAY: You're right that pets and antifreeze don't mix, Stephanie. Antifreeze has a sweet aroma and taste, which dogs find particularly appealing. But thirsty cats go for it sometimes, too. As little as half a teaspoon of the stuff can kill an average sized cat, and eight ounces will do in a 75-pound dog. Unless you catch it early, it shuts down the pets' kidneys within a few days, and after that, there's really nothing you can do.

TOM: And there's no substance, at least none that we know of, that you can add to antifreeze to make it less appealing to animals. There is, however, a safer antifreeze you can use. The toxic component of antifreeze is ethylene glycol. But some companies now offer antifreeze made with propylene glycol, which is only about a third as toxic as ethylene glycol.

RAY: A dog or cat must ingest three times as much for it to prove fatal.