Today's Feature

Pet Cemetery Prompts Code Change.

The City Council Public Works Committee met Tuesday afternoon in regular session. Items of discussion included a proposed change to the Special Use Permit section of the City Code.

Public Works Director Chad Wampler told the committee that a recent special use permit request for a pet cemetery addition in Park Cemetery had prompted City management to take a closer look at the categories of the City Code. Upon the special use permit section it was found that the article of "cemeteries, mausoleums or crematories" is listed only for the human deceased. City Attorney David Mouton recommended adding a new section under the special use category specifically for pet cemeteries.

The committee approved a motion to add the section and the item will be brought before City Council with the support of the committee.

Other discussions at the meeting included the completion of the roundabout beautification process. The decorative center has been completed and the Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments are now looking into an additional irrigation system for the "green space" around the decorative plantings.

According to an estimate sheet provided by Wampler the 15 irrigation heads, timer, valves and additional components will cost approximately $922.00. Wampler informed the committee that the estimate was high, and hopefully the amount could be lowered. The committee agreed recommend to Council that funding in an amount up to $1,000 be provided from the Council contingency fund. The irrigation system will not be installed by the March 15th ceremonial flag raising scheduled for the roundabout.

Temporary Truck Route.

City Administrator Tom Short spoke to the Public Works Committee Tuesday afternoon about the future traffic impact on Fairview Ave., looking towards the completion of the Schreiber addition. Short said the construction of the warehouse distribution system building is tentatively scheduled for completion on April 24, with trucks beginning to run in June. The Fairview interchange will not be completed for a year or more after that, according to Short. Preliminary numbers provided by Schrieber show that the facility will see the departure of approximately 1,000 trucks per week.

According to the studies done by Short, Wampler and Street Commissioner Tom Shelley, Hazel is in the best condition to handle the traffic load and it was recommended that Hazel be designated a temporary truck route.

"None of them were ideal, but this one was the least intrusive," said Wampler of the designation.

Shelley told the committee that some preliminary work would need to be done including possible lane adjustments. If the route is approved, Hazel might need additional work after the interchange is completed, to compensate for the heavy use during that period of time.

"It’s the common sense place to put it," said Committee Chair Bill Johnson, acknowledging that the alternative streets are not as capable of handling the load.

The committee asked about the best wording for the recommendation. Johnson said that if it was listed as a "temporary" truck route it would not require a termination date. This would be ideal in the case that the interchange project should encounter delays.

The committee approved a motion to recommend the temporary designated truck route to the Public Safety Committee for further review.

Stench Report:
Wednesday,
3/8/06

No Stench Reported

Had a gentleman walk in the shop the other day. I heard our little door bell ring as the door opened and came to the front. He was standin’ with the door still open.

"Guess you don’t need a doorbell," he said. The one thing he was hopin’ for when he walked in was silence.

Then there are things some folks wanna hear. The guy in the muffler business hears opportunity in what most look at as an annoying rumble comin’ from an automobile. It’s all in your point of view.

‘Course ever’one has a change a heart ever’ now and then., but most just seem ta hear what they want to no matter what the circumstances.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

I was trying to save gas by driving 55 mph. My friend said I’m wrong, that cars these days are designed to use gas more efficiently when driving over 60 mph. Who’s right? - Karl

TOM: You are. Is your friend also encouraging you to eat more pork rinds in order to lose weight?

RAY: The ideal speed for gas mileage varies from vehicle to vehicle, but it’s generally somewhere in the 40-45 mph range. Mileage generally peaks around 40 mph and starts dropping again around 55 mph. That speed range is where the car is in its highest gear, while the engine is simultaneously running at a fairly low speed.

TOM: Once you go above 55 mph, not only does the engine speed continue to increase with no higher gear to shift into, but you have to fight dramatically higher wind resistance.

RAY: Wind resistance increases as a square of the speed at which you’re traveling. So, for example, at 70 mph, wind resistance is double what it is at 50 mph (70 squared is almost twice as much as 50 squared.) That’s murder on your mileage.

TOM: So, you’re absolutely right, Karl. Slowing down to 55 mph will definitely get you better gas mileage. Plus, when you drive slower, you’ll never risk missing a roadside pork-rind stand.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Even Honda Couldn’t Unite IRL, Champ Car

Robert Clarke, president of Honda Performance Development, is fully committed to Honda’s love and support of open-wheel racing, and, specifically, its involvement in the IndyRacing League. (Honda will be the sole engine supplier to the IRL through 2009.) However, recent IRL announcements, especially the organization’s cutting of three races from the 2006 schedule, has the racing industry puzzled.

Clarke was quick to reply to our question concerning the IRL’s "new" schedule.

"Well, generally, I don’t like it," Clarke said. "The series needs more races, with strong, high-quality events. The Fontana event in California, for a variety of reasons, never really drew large crowds and didn’t fit the popular event criteria. And as for Phoenix, I remember the days when we had just started CART and how popular that event was. To lose that is a disappointment. "The split between the IRL and Champ Car has caused Indy-car racing NOT to prosper," Clarke said. "Therefore, I took it upon myself as a representative of Honda to see what Honda could do to try and amend the bridges that were broken between IRL and Champ Car, and try to help it all come back together. To be honest, it really, really came close (to happening)."

The end result of the meeting, however, plays like the same rerun that Indy-car faithful have put up with for years. The respective IRL and Champ Car driver rosters remain separate, diluted and, at times, "money contaminated" thanks to the "two-league" format.

The harsh reality of Clarke’s visit with Champ Car, therefore, regardless of intent, is the same cold fact that he is but one in a long line of motorsport executives who have tried the mediator approach in trying to mend the IRL and Champ Car differences. For this, he should be commended.

Still, we won’t get to see A.J. Allmendinger battle with Danica Patrick, Tony Kanaan slip by Dario Franchitti on the last lap, or enjoy Sabastien Bourdais and Dan Wheldon in a side-by-side run to the checkered flag at Indy.

As for the throng of Indy-car fans that appreciate the good old days, when Foyt, Sachs, Ward, Bettenhausen, Unser and all of the sport’s glory drivers dueled head-to-head at each and every race, here’s to another year of watered-down Indy-car racing.