In one of my favorite scenes from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” the king of Swamp Castle is instructing his guards to make sure the prince doesn’t leave the room until he comes and gets him. It’s not easy.
“Don’t leave the room even if you come and get him,” the guard says.
“No, no, until I come and get ’im,” the king responds.
“Until you come and get him, we’re not to enter the room.”
“No, no, no. You stay in the room and make sure ’e doesn’t leave.”
“And you’ll come and get him.”
“Right.”
“We don’t need to do anything, apart from just stop him entering the room.”
“No, no. Leaving the room.”
“Leaving the room, yes.”
“All right?”
“Oh. Uh, can he leave the room with us?”
“No no no. You just keep him in here, and make sure…”
“Oh, yes, we’ll keep him in here, obviously. But if he had to leave and we were…”
“No, no, just keep him in here…”
“Right, we’ll stay here until you get back.”
“Where are you going?”
“We’re coming with you.”
“No no, I want you to stay ’ere and make sure ’e doesn’t leave.”
“Oh, I see. Right.”
This scene came to mind as I read the information packet for the June 27 Clarkston City Council meeting, and saw it included for approval a 12.5069 mills operating levy for the general fund budget.
It’s supposed to be 12.1056, as pointed out by residents and agreed to by council at their June 13 meeting.
It looks like an honest mistake by city administration, and was quickly caught by council members and residents.
Maybe they were just testing us, to make sure we were paying attention.
As with Swamp Castle, it helps to take the time to make sure things are understood. In the end, the guards got it right.
When Lancelot came calling, the guards correctly told him the prince couldn’t leave. Unfortunately, the knight was on a rescue mission and they were quickly impaled on his sword.