Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles said that his office, and every other clerk’s office in Tennessee, will be closed Aug. 13 and 14 so his staff and others can install the state’s new car title and registration computer system.

“It’s been about 10 or 15 years in the making at a cost of about $28 million,” Mr. Knowles said Monday. “It’s really the most important update in computer systems, as far as title and registration is concerned, since the title law went into effect in 1951.”

Mr. Knowles said the new system will be a challenge, but ultimately will make things more convenient.

“It will enable our offices to operate in real time from the state database. Right now, we operate off tapes,” he said.

telling it straight

Hamilton County Commissioner John Allen Brooks said Thursday he was a little confused about the Chattanooga History Center’s budget request.

Daryl Black, the center’s executive director since January, told commissioners and Chattanooga City Council members his presentation “reflects the same numbers as last year.”

He asked for $42,000 each from the county and the city. Last year, the History Center got $28,000.

“Maybe I’m just missing something,” Mr. Brooks said. “Are you asking for $28,000 from the county this year?”

County Finance Administrator Louis Wright cleared up the confusion, stating that Dr. Black was putting in the same $42,000 request that the center put in last year. That request was cut back to $28,000.

Mr. Brooks said he understood.

“So you’re asking for what you asked for last year, and you’re going to get what you got last year,” he said to laughter.

McGary votes no

City Council Chairman Jack Benson was flummoxed Tuesday night when Councilman Andraé McGary voted against an ordinance that would change the makeup of the city’s transportation board.

As Mr. Benson read quickly through, he asked for any “nos,” and tried to press on. Mr. McGary said, “Nay.”

“What was that?” Mr. Benson asked.

“Nay,” Mr. McGary said.

Mr. McGary, who had not said anything in opposition to the proposal during the meeting or an earlier committee meeting, said afterward that the original ordinance let the council appoint the members and the new ordinance allows the mayor to appoint with council consensus.

He said he would rather have the council appoint and pointed out that the new ordinance would mean drivers go through background checks and drug screening.

“For some of them, this is a second or third chance,” he said.

The vote was 8-1, with Mr. McGary against. It will come up on second reading Tuesday night, officials said.

HOOTERS speed humps?

City Councilman Manny Rico told members of the Pachyderm Club on Monday that he was fully in support of pothole repairs being paid for by KFC Inc. and suggested another potential revenue stream still could be waiting.

Mr. Rico told the club the possibility exists that some speed humps could be sponsored by Hooters.

He said afterward his comments were spurred by some negative feedback from community members who did not like commercializing city streets. He said he jokingly made the comment, but has no qualms with the city taking private money.

“I appreciate anyone who wants to give us money for things we can’t afford to do,” he said.

JFK CLUB MEETING

The JFK Club will meet at noon Tuesday at the Out of the Blue Cafe and get an update on the Volkswagen project, officials said last week.

Blake Poole and Scott Cooper, members of the “Volkswagen Team,” will present information to the club, a group associated with the Hamilton County Democratic Party.

Cost of the event is $11. Anyone interested in attending should RSVP by noon Monday to jfkclub@comcast.net.