County clock set to restart Monday

Douglas County isn’t wasting any time getting its landmark clock back in service.

The clock tower at the Douglas County Courthouse, shut down for repairs since July 19, is scheduled to be running again Monday afternoon, said Bill Bell, the county’s director of buildings and grounds.

The county spent $1,300 to repair gear dials that are nearly 100 years old. One of the clock’s four dials jammed last month, leading officials to order that all four be overhauled by a timekeeper in New York.

County officials for decades have been operating without a maintenance manual for the 1904 Seth Thomas Clock Co. model, leading them to lubricate gears that shouldn’t be lubricated, and vice versa.

“Now that we know the right place to oil, it might last another 200 years,” said Craig Weinaug, county administrator.

Government

City Commission won’t meet Tuesday

The Lawrence City Commission will not have its usual weekly meeting Tuesday because several commissioners are on vacation.

The commission will next meet at 6:35 p.m. Aug. 24 in City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.

Lawrence schools

Beverage contract still up for grabs

Coke or Pepsi?

Lawrence school officials still haven’t made what could be a multimillion-dollar decision about which company will provide beverages to schools in the district.

In December, the school board authorized district administration to accept proposals for a beverage contract for the 2004-2005 school year.

Paula Murish, director of food services for the district, said a proposed beverage contract probably would be before the board Sept. 13.

Because school is back in session, she said the contracts that were in place would continue until a decision was made.

The new contract could generate from $1 million to $3 million for the district, depending on the length of the contract and limitations placed on sales by the board.

During the 2002-2003 school year, contracts at individual schools brought in more than $50,000 in commissions from Pepsi and Coke.