Green Space or Concrete?

The planned green space along the police department parking lot came up for discussion during staff reports at the Public Works Meeting Tuesday afternoon. Street Commissioner Tom Shelley said the Street Department started cutting weeds there late last summer and had to resort to spraying as well in order to combat the thick, fast-growing weeds. Shelley said he didn’t want the spraying his department does to damage the soil if there are plans for developing the green space.

"I’m just hoping we don’t have to cut and spray it once a week for this whole growing season," said Shelley. "My recommendation is finish the job as it was first planned [with landscaping] or put in concrete."

Shelley pointed out that the City had already spent money on curbing in order to allow green space, an unnecessary expense if the green space is not developed.

Engineering Department Head Joe Butler explained that estimates for the landscaping had been obtained during the development of the lot, but with subsequent elections and the passage of time, the ball had been dropped.

"Let’s get it moving," said Committee Member H.J. Johnson.

Committee Chair Bill Fortune asked Butler to pull out the plans and update the costs so that he can bring it up for discussion during his report to the full Council.

Charlie Bastin asked that the idea of concreting the planned green space be tested in Committee before the question goes to the Council and made such a motion. Both Fortune and Johnson voted against the motion.

Breckenwood Annexation.

The annexation process is proceeding for the Breckenwood 7th Addition. The 7th addition as shown on the plans presented by developer Bill Wilson during Tuesday’s Public Works meeting includes 12 lots and Willow Drive. Wilson is asking for annexation of everything except lot one which will be annexed individually by its new owner.

Engineering Department Head Joe Butler recommended that Willow Drive not be annexed at this time.

"We’re not saying we don’t want it ever," said Butler. "We’re just saying we want to hold off on annexing it until such time as you dedicate the rest of the street to the City."

As explained by Wilson, Willow Drive will connect the 7th addition to another nine lots in the next section which goes around the east side of the lake. Those lots are not included in the annexation plans at this time primarily because of the cost of developing them.

Butler said the Engineering Department would exempt Willow Drive from the annexation plans presented to the Council next week. Wilson agreed with that plan saying he would like to have the Willow Drive area included in a future annexation.

No Vacation of Elk Street

The Public Works Committee considered and rejected a request from A. Hoover Construction to vacate a 153 foot portion of Elk Street north of the Hedgewood development. Adam Hoover had requested the vacation so that he could use the additional space to increase lot sizes in that area. There are no current plans for developing that end of Elk Street.

Engineering Department Head Joe Butler explained that an overhead power line and an underground fiber optics cable would keep the City from vacating the whole area, but that approximately 15-20 feet of the south side of Elk Street could be vacated if the Committee wished. Butler said Hoover would like to have whatever amount the City would be willing to vacate.

Butler reported that George Phelps, the property owner to the east of Elk Street, did not want the area vacated and that Carthage Water and Electric recommended that the City keep the entire area as a right of way easement.

"I don’t see a reason to vacate it," said Committee Member Charlie Bastin.

"If the adjacent property owner is not in favor of it and there always would be the potential to go through there and extend that road, I’m not of an opinion to support it," said Committee Chair Bill Fortune.

"I’m not either," responded Committee Member H.J. Johnson, "if it’s not going to materially affect his development."

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

If ya haven't noticed, there are new fangled devices controllin' some of the stop lights in the City. Sensors in the street tell the lights when a vehicle is waitin' so as ta keep things movin'. The problem is if ya nose out a little too far, the sensor figures ya ran a red light. Ya know this has happened if you sit for five minutes or so waitin' for the light to change and nothin' happens. If you're lucky, someone will pull up behind ya and triggers the signal. Otherwise ya have to back up over the sensor to get it to turn ya loose.

The other option, tryin' to get into traffic through a red light, is not advised. I understand this is the preferred option by many frustrated motorists who haven't yet figured out the system. The lights at WalMart and by Sonic seem to fool folks the most. Ya might be sure someone isn't behind ya before attemptin' the backup option.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin'.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars.

Dear Tom and Ray:

I live in Phoenix, where the temperature runs as high as 120 degrees in the summer. Inside the car, the temperature is much higher. And even though I have air conditioning, it is unbearably hot when first getting into the car and for the first 10 minutes. I am so desperate to find a way to cool down the car's interior, that I have tried putting frozen milk jugs in the back seat in hopes of dropping the temperature a few degrees. I was wondering if it would work to put a big box of dry ice in the back seat when I first get in. Does dry ice give off any toxic fumes? -Patricia.

TOM: Yes, dry ice DOES give off potentially toxic levels of carbon dioxide. And Jim Davis, head of the Car Talk Chemistry Labs, says that while it's not as poisonous as carbon MONoxide (the stuff we normally associate with tailpipes), carbon DIoxide is toxic when it is more than a few percent of the air we breath.

RAY: And in a closed car, it could very quickly cause symptoms ranging from nausea, to breathing difficulties, to death. Note: Jim says "death" is not recommended (forgive his pedagogical side ..he's a Harvard Chemist in his spare time.)

TOM: Dry ice is also not a very practical solution, Patricia. First of all, you've got to get some - most Amana Side by Sides weren't coming with dry-ice makers last time I checked.

RAY: There are more practical solutions, like parking in the shade. One is to simply leave the windows open a little. Since it's so hot and dry were you live you won't have to worry about rain. Another is to use a sun shade which covers the inside of your windshield.

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