Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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Friday, May 22, 2009
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Maricruz MaGowan, an economist who lives in Bethesda and works downtown, considers the District's aggressive parking enforcement program a hidden commuter tax.
"This is their way of assessing a tax to drive through D.C.," MaGowan said this week as she paid a $50 ticket, which she got despite racing to move her car before rush hour. The citation indicates that she was four minutes late. "They target drivers from Maryland and Virginia. If they need the money, enact a tax on drivers who use the streets, but do it openly. This is ridiculous."
Sandra Aull, who lives in Columbia Heights, says the parking enforcers are just as ruthless on city dwellers.
"When you live around here, you get tired of the tickets," Aull said. "It makes it hard to have a car. Every little thing, they give us a ticket for."
Over the next year, hundreds of thousands of commuters and D.C. residents could experience similar frustrations as the city prepares for a major expansion in its parking enforcement.
The campaign, which comes as the city attempts to close an $800 million shortfall, will target night owls who swarm into neighborhoods on the weekends, residents who don't have parking permits for specific neighborhoods and anyone who lives on a street that is cleaned weekly by a street sweeper.
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"This is their way of assessing a tax to drive through D.C.," MaGowan said this week as she paid a $50 ticket, which she got despite racing to move her car before rush hour. The citation indicates that she was four minutes late. "They target drivers from Maryland and Virginia. If they need the money, enact a tax on drivers who use the streets, but do it openly. This is ridiculous."
Sandra Aull, who lives in Columbia Heights, says the parking enforcers are just as ruthless on city dwellers.
"When you live around here, you get tired of the tickets," Aull said. "It makes it hard to have a car. Every little thing, they give us a ticket for."
Over the next year, hundreds of thousands of commuters and D.C. residents could experience similar frustrations as the city prepares for a major expansion in its parking enforcement.
The campaign, which comes as the city attempts to close an $800 million shortfall, will target night owls who swarm into neighborhoods on the weekends, residents who don't have parking permits for specific neighborhoods and anyone who lives on a street that is cleaned weekly by a street sweeper.
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
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OLEAN - The city of Olean may soon purchase a new 10-wheeler truck to help with larger public-works projects and snow removal.
The city Finance Committee met Tuesday and approved a resolution that would allow the city to purchase the vehicle and lease both a Vac-Con and a street sweeper.
The resolution, which will move on to the Common Council’s Committee of the Whole, allows the transfer of up to $50,000 from the water fund, up to $75,000 from the sewer fund and up to $200,000 from the general fund for the vehicle purchase and leases.
If approved by Common Council the 10-wheeler will be purchased for $145,000. Ray Wangelin, R-Ward 3, said the vehicle is a brand-new 2009 model and will cost about $30,000 less than a similar vehicle purchased through the state bid system.
The Vac-Con will be leased for $53,000 over five years. The Vac-Con is a vehicle that cleans the city’s storm drains. The city’s current 17-year-old vehicle is used extensively by the city and is shared with other municipalities. The street sweeper will be leased for $35,000. The city’s current street sweeper is a 2001 model. Both leases have a buy-out option for $1, Mr. Wangelin said.
The City Operations Committee defeated a resolution in April that would allow $174,000 to be spent on a new 10-wheeler and plow.
Mr. Wangelin, who voted against the April resolution, said he isn’t excited about buying the new 10-wheeler because he thought the city could buy two single-axle vehicles instead of the 10-wheeler. He met with the department of public works and Mayor Carucci and is now the sponsor of the current proposal.
“I was assured that the single-axles that we have now will be able to complete the 2009 winter,” he said. “I really don’t think we need the 10-wheeler but I agree that (the streets department) should know more about it than I do because they deal with it.”
Mr. Wangelin said he is sponsoring the proposal for the vehicles because he was assured that the streets department will not need to buy any major vehicles until late 2010. Mayor David Carucci said he was assured that the six-wheeled, single-axle trucks would be available for the upcoming winter season.
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The city Finance Committee met Tuesday and approved a resolution that would allow the city to purchase the vehicle and lease both a Vac-Con and a street sweeper.
The resolution, which will move on to the Common Council’s Committee of the Whole, allows the transfer of up to $50,000 from the water fund, up to $75,000 from the sewer fund and up to $200,000 from the general fund for the vehicle purchase and leases.
If approved by Common Council the 10-wheeler will be purchased for $145,000. Ray Wangelin, R-Ward 3, said the vehicle is a brand-new 2009 model and will cost about $30,000 less than a similar vehicle purchased through the state bid system.
The Vac-Con will be leased for $53,000 over five years. The Vac-Con is a vehicle that cleans the city’s storm drains. The city’s current 17-year-old vehicle is used extensively by the city and is shared with other municipalities. The street sweeper will be leased for $35,000. The city’s current street sweeper is a 2001 model. Both leases have a buy-out option for $1, Mr. Wangelin said.
The City Operations Committee defeated a resolution in April that would allow $174,000 to be spent on a new 10-wheeler and plow.
Mr. Wangelin, who voted against the April resolution, said he isn’t excited about buying the new 10-wheeler because he thought the city could buy two single-axle vehicles instead of the 10-wheeler. He met with the department of public works and Mayor Carucci and is now the sponsor of the current proposal.
“I was assured that the single-axles that we have now will be able to complete the 2009 winter,” he said. “I really don’t think we need the 10-wheeler but I agree that (the streets department) should know more about it than I do because they deal with it.”
Mr. Wangelin said he is sponsoring the proposal for the vehicles because he was assured that the streets department will not need to buy any major vehicles until late 2010. Mayor David Carucci said he was assured that the six-wheeled, single-axle trucks would be available for the upcoming winter season.
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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A Jersey City police officer was injured during the arrest of a 17-year-old boy who refused to get out of the way of a street sweeper cleaning up after the Everything Jersey City Festival in the Heights on Saturday, officials said.
The Charles Street boy was arrested at 8:35 p.m. at Central Avenue and Griffith Street and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, failure to disperse, and obstructing a roadway, reports said .
When an officer asked a group of skateboarders at Hutton Street and Central Avenue to move for the sweeper they all complied, except for the Charles Street boy who said, "(Expletive) you. I (expletive) live over there," reports said.
The officer told the boy he was under arrest, but when he approached him, the teenager pushed the officer in the chest and ran away, reports said.
Several police officers chased the boy into the Burger King parking lot where he was arrested, reports said.
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The Charles Street boy was arrested at 8:35 p.m. at Central Avenue and Griffith Street and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, failure to disperse, and obstructing a roadway, reports said .
When an officer asked a group of skateboarders at Hutton Street and Central Avenue to move for the sweeper they all complied, except for the Charles Street boy who said, "(Expletive) you. I (expletive) live over there," reports said.
The officer told the boy he was under arrest, but when he approached him, the teenager pushed the officer in the chest and ran away, reports said.
Several police officers chased the boy into the Burger King parking lot where he was arrested, reports said.
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CLEMSON, S.C. -- Police said that a street-sweeper truck was stolen from the parking lot of a Clemson grocery store on Tuesday morning.
Investigators said they received a call just before 8 a.m. that a white truck that belongs to Greenville Maintenance Service was taken from the Bi-Lo on Highway 93.
Police said the vehicle’s operator left the vehicle running while he surveyed the parking lot before he began cleaning it. They said the operator saw a bald, white man who was wearing a blue shirt climb into the truck and drive away.
The operator told police that the man drove the truck away on Summey Street, turned into Tillman Village and then onto Highway 93, heading toward Highway 123.
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Investigators said they received a call just before 8 a.m. that a white truck that belongs to Greenville Maintenance Service was taken from the Bi-Lo on Highway 93.
Police said the vehicle’s operator left the vehicle running while he surveyed the parking lot before he began cleaning it. They said the operator saw a bald, white man who was wearing a blue shirt climb into the truck and drive away.
The operator told police that the man drove the truck away on Summey Street, turned into Tillman Village and then onto Highway 93, heading toward Highway 123.
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Empa and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have, together with Bucher Schoerling, Proton Motor, BRUSA Elektronik AG und Messer Schweiz, developed a hydrogen powered municipal street cleaning vehicle which was presented to the public on Thursday 14th May 2009 in Basel. The vehicle is named the "Bucher CityCat H2" and is the first municipal utility vehicle in the world powered by fuel cell technology. For the next 18 months it will be tested in everyday usage.
Empa and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have, in cooperation with industrial partners, developed a hydrogen powered municipal street cleaning vehicle
Fuel cells are considered to be clean energy sources well-suited for our future mobility needs. They convert hydrogen directly into electrical current, which is then used to drive a vehicle's electric motor. The great advantage is that no pollutants are emitted in the vehicle's exhaust, just water vapor produced by the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell. When such vehicles are used in sensitive areas such as pedestrian precincts, railway station halls or even in enclosed structures such as exhibition halls, air pollution is reduced significantly compared to conventional vehicles, which are generally powered by diesel engines.
Project creates a window of opportunity for hydrogen technology
"Our aim is to take fuel cell technology from the laboratory onto the street", explains Project Leader Christian Bach, Head of Empa's Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory. In addition, the project scientists want to test the operational characteristics and ageing behavior of the new technology under typical, everyday conditions of use. But it doesn't stop there. Beyond these obvious aims, the project, called "hy.muve" ("hydrogen-driven municipal vehicle") also serves as a research platform for socio-economic studies in which questions regarding the acceptance of hydrogen technology, its market introduction and its cost effectiveness will be investigated.
Because of their low power operational cycles, municipal vehicles are particularly well-suited for these kinds of drives and can be used to good effect in areas where the refueling infrastructure is limited. "They therefore offer an important window of opportunity for introducing other hydrogen powered vehicles onto the market," according to Bach.
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Empa and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have, in cooperation with industrial partners, developed a hydrogen powered municipal street cleaning vehicle
Fuel cells are considered to be clean energy sources well-suited for our future mobility needs. They convert hydrogen directly into electrical current, which is then used to drive a vehicle's electric motor. The great advantage is that no pollutants are emitted in the vehicle's exhaust, just water vapor produced by the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell. When such vehicles are used in sensitive areas such as pedestrian precincts, railway station halls or even in enclosed structures such as exhibition halls, air pollution is reduced significantly compared to conventional vehicles, which are generally powered by diesel engines.
Project creates a window of opportunity for hydrogen technology
"Our aim is to take fuel cell technology from the laboratory onto the street", explains Project Leader Christian Bach, Head of Empa's Internal Combustion Engines Laboratory. In addition, the project scientists want to test the operational characteristics and ageing behavior of the new technology under typical, everyday conditions of use. But it doesn't stop there. Beyond these obvious aims, the project, called "hy.muve" ("hydrogen-driven municipal vehicle") also serves as a research platform for socio-economic studies in which questions regarding the acceptance of hydrogen technology, its market introduction and its cost effectiveness will be investigated.
Because of their low power operational cycles, municipal vehicles are particularly well-suited for these kinds of drives and can be used to good effect in areas where the refueling infrastructure is limited. "They therefore offer an important window of opportunity for introducing other hydrogen powered vehicles onto the market," according to Bach.
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TULSA, OK -- A traffic accident on U.S. Highway 75 near 56th Street North closed down the southbound lanes of the highway for over an hour Monday morning.
Tulsa Police say a pickup truck struck the back of a street sweeper.
Officers say the driver of the street sweeper was ok, but the driver of the pickup truck was taken to a Tulsa hospital in serious condition.
The street sweeper was operated by a private contractor for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
The street sweeper was cleaning the inside shoulder of a bridge when it was hit by the pickup truck.
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Tulsa Police say a pickup truck struck the back of a street sweeper.
Officers say the driver of the street sweeper was ok, but the driver of the pickup truck was taken to a Tulsa hospital in serious condition.
The street sweeper was operated by a private contractor for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
The street sweeper was cleaning the inside shoulder of a bridge when it was hit by the pickup truck.
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Monday, May 18, 2009
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A FAMILY of restaurateurs thought they had become targets of Poole council spies when they were told they had been filmed sweeping rubbish onto the road.
James Hamilton, manager of Le Chateau in Canford Cliffs, told the Echo he thought they were “under surveillance” after a council officer told him they had footage of a member of staff sweeping rubbish off the decking outside the premises. But it turned out the film was taken by a council worker on a mobile phone.
Mr Hamilton was only made aware when he received a letter warning that the 25-year-old family-run restaurant could be issued with a street litter control notice.
When he phoned the council to ask what evidence they had – he was told there was video footage.
“It’s a bit of overkill to film us when they simply could have come round and spoken to us,” he said. “It’s crazy.”
He says the dust and debris cleared from the decking is blown in from the street – particularly a nearby bus stop where there is no litter bin.
His father-in-law Dave Wakelam said he thought they’d been doing the council a favour sweeping debris from the pavement into the road.
“I couldn’t believe it. A road sweeper was filming me sweeping the road – it’s bizarre,” he said.
Shaun Robson, head of Poole council’s environmental and consumer protection services, said the incident had been witnessed by council staff in a marked council vehicle wearing high visibility uniform.
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James Hamilton, manager of Le Chateau in Canford Cliffs, told the Echo he thought they were “under surveillance” after a council officer told him they had footage of a member of staff sweeping rubbish off the decking outside the premises. But it turned out the film was taken by a council worker on a mobile phone.
Mr Hamilton was only made aware when he received a letter warning that the 25-year-old family-run restaurant could be issued with a street litter control notice.
When he phoned the council to ask what evidence they had – he was told there was video footage.
“It’s a bit of overkill to film us when they simply could have come round and spoken to us,” he said. “It’s crazy.”
He says the dust and debris cleared from the decking is blown in from the street – particularly a nearby bus stop where there is no litter bin.
His father-in-law Dave Wakelam said he thought they’d been doing the council a favour sweeping debris from the pavement into the road.
“I couldn’t believe it. A road sweeper was filming me sweeping the road – it’s bizarre,” he said.
Shaun Robson, head of Poole council’s environmental and consumer protection services, said the incident had been witnessed by council staff in a marked council vehicle wearing high visibility uniform.
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A DEVOTED street cleaner has the full force of Ilfracombe behind him, in a united bid to keep him in the town.
Brian Davies, 63, works for North Devon Council and his employers have told him that despite living in Ilfracombe, where he goes beyond the call of duty to keep the streets clean, he must now move over to work in Barnstaple.
Robert McFarlane, chairman of High Street Traders (HST), has set up a petition with the support of members, who have copies of the petition for customers to sign in their shops. Within a week it already has 200 signatures.
He said: "He is doing such a good job that they want him in Barnstaple — but he is 63, he only has a couple of years left and they want him to work behind the lorries throwing up the bags of rubbish as well as sweeping the streets.
"Since he has been here, he has cleaned the alleyways and he's doing a sterling job — and because he lives here, he'll go that extra mile, picking up rubbish on his way to work or home."
He added: "Most people don't realise he has been, because he comes along so early and he really whizzes by quickly, but without him the streets would be a lot worse."
Brian works alongside litter warden Mike Dasent, who is employed by Ilfracombe Town Council. He said: "I'll be very sorry to see him go. He does a really good job."
High Street butcher Mike Turton said: "He does a good job for our town, so why should he be moved to Barnstaple, especially when he is so close to retirement?
"We see him every day when he passes the shop, he does the gutters and all the nooks and crannies. I think the people of Ilfracombe want him to stay."
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Brian Davies, 63, works for North Devon Council and his employers have told him that despite living in Ilfracombe, where he goes beyond the call of duty to keep the streets clean, he must now move over to work in Barnstaple.
Robert McFarlane, chairman of High Street Traders (HST), has set up a petition with the support of members, who have copies of the petition for customers to sign in their shops. Within a week it already has 200 signatures.
He said: "He is doing such a good job that they want him in Barnstaple — but he is 63, he only has a couple of years left and they want him to work behind the lorries throwing up the bags of rubbish as well as sweeping the streets.
"Since he has been here, he has cleaned the alleyways and he's doing a sterling job — and because he lives here, he'll go that extra mile, picking up rubbish on his way to work or home."
He added: "Most people don't realise he has been, because he comes along so early and he really whizzes by quickly, but without him the streets would be a lot worse."
Brian works alongside litter warden Mike Dasent, who is employed by Ilfracombe Town Council. He said: "I'll be very sorry to see him go. He does a really good job."
High Street butcher Mike Turton said: "He does a good job for our town, so why should he be moved to Barnstaple, especially when he is so close to retirement?
"We see him every day when he passes the shop, he does the gutters and all the nooks and crannies. I think the people of Ilfracombe want him to stay."
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
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The City of Dieppe's Public Works and Engineering Department is inviting local residents to see how they do their job during Public Works and Engineering Week May 17-23.
The week has a theme of "Revitalizing, Reinvesting, Renewing." Public works employees will visit local schools to explain their jobs to youngsters and show the heavy machinery they use to do those jobs.
From Tuesday through Friday, there will be an exhibition of photos and equipment such as pipes, traffic lights and crosswalk lights at Dieppe City Hall.
On Wednesday afternoon, employees will have a friendly competition at the public works garage. The department will end its activities on Saturday with a heavy machinery exhibit at the Place 1604, near the Dieppe Market from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. People will be able to see an excavator, a loader with snowblower, a sidewalk tractor, a snowplow, a sewer flushing truck, a street cleaner, etc.
Around 1 p.m. the department will start a machinery parade from Gauvin Street and then along Champlain, Pascal, Chartersville, Centrale Melanson, Fox Creek, Amirault and Acadie streets to end at the Champlain Place parking lot, near Mike's restaurant in Dieppe. Machines will be on display till 4:30 p.m.
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The week has a theme of "Revitalizing, Reinvesting, Renewing." Public works employees will visit local schools to explain their jobs to youngsters and show the heavy machinery they use to do those jobs.
From Tuesday through Friday, there will be an exhibition of photos and equipment such as pipes, traffic lights and crosswalk lights at Dieppe City Hall.
On Wednesday afternoon, employees will have a friendly competition at the public works garage. The department will end its activities on Saturday with a heavy machinery exhibit at the Place 1604, near the Dieppe Market from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. People will be able to see an excavator, a loader with snowblower, a sidewalk tractor, a snowplow, a sewer flushing truck, a street cleaner, etc.
Around 1 p.m. the department will start a machinery parade from Gauvin Street and then along Champlain, Pascal, Chartersville, Centrale Melanson, Fox Creek, Amirault and Acadie streets to end at the Champlain Place parking lot, near Mike's restaurant in Dieppe. Machines will be on display till 4:30 p.m.
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Saturday, May 16, 2009
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MARION — The town finds itself in "reasonable shape" as it prepares to enter fiscal 2010, according to a Finance Committee report prepared for the annual Town Meeting at the Sippican School Monday night.
The meeting will start at 6:45 p.m.
Although the cost of snow removal ran $100,000 above the budgeted amount and state aid has been reduced considerably, nearly all departments remained within budget and the town will end the fiscal year near its goals, the committee reported.
The operating budget for fiscal 2010 has been set at $17,114,566, a figure that represents an increase of 0.57 percent over last year.
There are 38 articles on the warrant for the meeting, which is expected to span two nights, along with a single article on the special Town Meeting warrant that will be included within the annual.
Copies of the warrant are included within the 2008 annual report available from the Town House.
Among other things, voters will be asked to approve the acquisition of a new street sweeper, a four-wheel drive police cruiser and a 24-foot utility boat for the harbormaster.
Purchasing the street sweeper for $184,000, if approved at Town Meeting, also requires a vote at the annual election May 22.
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The meeting will start at 6:45 p.m.
Although the cost of snow removal ran $100,000 above the budgeted amount and state aid has been reduced considerably, nearly all departments remained within budget and the town will end the fiscal year near its goals, the committee reported.
The operating budget for fiscal 2010 has been set at $17,114,566, a figure that represents an increase of 0.57 percent over last year.
There are 38 articles on the warrant for the meeting, which is expected to span two nights, along with a single article on the special Town Meeting warrant that will be included within the annual.
Copies of the warrant are included within the 2008 annual report available from the Town House.
Among other things, voters will be asked to approve the acquisition of a new street sweeper, a four-wheel drive police cruiser and a 24-foot utility boat for the harbormaster.
Purchasing the street sweeper for $184,000, if approved at Town Meeting, also requires a vote at the annual election May 22.
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Friday, May 15, 2009
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Marion - Voters at Monday’s Annual Town Meeting will be asked to decide a $15.8 million operating and maintenance budget for fiscal year 2010, 38 warrant articles, and one question seeking $60,000 for a street sweeping vehicle.
The Annual Town Meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., Monday, May 18 in the auditorium of Sippican School, 16 Spring St. A one article Special Town Meeting will convene at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at the school to ask voters for $100,000 to supplement the town Department of Public Works for snow and ice removal during last winter.
Voters will be asked to raise, appropriate or transfer $1,680,029 to operate the water enterprise fund, and another $2,206,528 to operate the sewer enterprise fund. Both figures represent salaries, expenses, reserve funds, and debt, and indirect costs. In both cases, money would be raises department receipts and retained earnings from each fund.
Town Meeting will be asked for $184,000 to purchase a new street sweeper for the Marion Department of Public Works. To pay for it, the town is recommending $24,00 be transferred, and if voters approve, $160,000 capital outlay expenditure exclusion.
“It’s just really old and being held together by wire,” Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson said of the town’s current street sweeper. “It doesn’t work well and sometimes I think it spreads more dirt than it actually takes in.”
Voters will be asked to reaffirm their decision on the override at the May 22 ballot box.
Two articles seek to make improvements to the town’s water distribution system. Article 7 seeks $2,600,000 for the design, permitting, construction, and related costs for water distribution improvements. The town would like to install new water mains from Pleasant Street to the gates at the end of Converse Road.
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The Annual Town Meeting will begin at 6:45 p.m., Monday, May 18 in the auditorium of Sippican School, 16 Spring St. A one article Special Town Meeting will convene at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, at the school to ask voters for $100,000 to supplement the town Department of Public Works for snow and ice removal during last winter.
Voters will be asked to raise, appropriate or transfer $1,680,029 to operate the water enterprise fund, and another $2,206,528 to operate the sewer enterprise fund. Both figures represent salaries, expenses, reserve funds, and debt, and indirect costs. In both cases, money would be raises department receipts and retained earnings from each fund.
Town Meeting will be asked for $184,000 to purchase a new street sweeper for the Marion Department of Public Works. To pay for it, the town is recommending $24,00 be transferred, and if voters approve, $160,000 capital outlay expenditure exclusion.
“It’s just really old and being held together by wire,” Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson said of the town’s current street sweeper. “It doesn’t work well and sometimes I think it spreads more dirt than it actually takes in.”
Voters will be asked to reaffirm their decision on the override at the May 22 ballot box.
Two articles seek to make improvements to the town’s water distribution system. Article 7 seeks $2,600,000 for the design, permitting, construction, and related costs for water distribution improvements. The town would like to install new water mains from Pleasant Street to the gates at the end of Converse Road.
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Orange, Pepper Pike and Moreland Hills have applied for a grant to purchase a street sweeper-catch basin cleaner that they would share.
The collaborative endeavor is being called Operation Clean Sweep.
They applied for the grant from the EfficientGovNow program
According to the proposal on efficientgovnow.org, the vehicle would improve the quality of air and storm water in the three communities "at a substantial savings to the taxpayers."
Orange Village Council was expected to ratify the application Wednesday (May 13).
EfficientGovNow was created by the Fund for Our Economic Future, which promotes revenue sharing and economic growth in northeast Ohio.
In March, the FOEF invited government officials to take part in the EfficientGovNow program. It is offering up to $300,000 for up to three projects that promote collaboration among municipalities.
By the April 15 deadline, the program received 65 abstracts from partnerships across the region. Of those 65, 44 qualify for a share of the grant money.
These applicants will submit full proposals by May 31, and finalists will be announced July 1. Throughout July, residents will vote to determine which projects receive funding.
The three winners, which will receive about $100,000 each, will be announced in early August.
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The collaborative endeavor is being called Operation Clean Sweep.
They applied for the grant from the EfficientGovNow program
According to the proposal on efficientgovnow.org, the vehicle would improve the quality of air and storm water in the three communities "at a substantial savings to the taxpayers."
Orange Village Council was expected to ratify the application Wednesday (May 13).
EfficientGovNow was created by the Fund for Our Economic Future, which promotes revenue sharing and economic growth in northeast Ohio.
In March, the FOEF invited government officials to take part in the EfficientGovNow program. It is offering up to $300,000 for up to three projects that promote collaboration among municipalities.
By the April 15 deadline, the program received 65 abstracts from partnerships across the region. Of those 65, 44 qualify for a share of the grant money.
These applicants will submit full proposals by May 31, and finalists will be announced July 1. Throughout July, residents will vote to determine which projects receive funding.
The three winners, which will receive about $100,000 each, will be announced in early August.
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
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WASHINGTON - The D.C. council's decision to close a major funding loophole through issuing more parking tickets has many in the city outraged.
Drivers parking on the street in D.C. are required to move their cars for routine street cleaning. Many, though, leave their cars parked where they are and have, in the past, escaped any consequence. That will change under the new budget: the city will outfit 12 street sweeper vehicles with cameras, catching those who don't move their cars and hitting them with tickets.
William Howland of District Department of Public Works said, "With the sweeper cam, you'll a have hundred percent chance that you will get a ticket."
That $40 ticket, multiplied by the more than 200,000 the city expects to issue, will equal about $7 million in new revenue.
Outrage over the new policy boiled over outside the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station Wednesday. After city workers booted his truck, an immigrant known as 'Zack' pulled a knife and started cutting his own truck tires. In the process he somehow cut off part of his finger.
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Drivers parking on the street in D.C. are required to move their cars for routine street cleaning. Many, though, leave their cars parked where they are and have, in the past, escaped any consequence. That will change under the new budget: the city will outfit 12 street sweeper vehicles with cameras, catching those who don't move their cars and hitting them with tickets.
William Howland of District Department of Public Works said, "With the sweeper cam, you'll a have hundred percent chance that you will get a ticket."
That $40 ticket, multiplied by the more than 200,000 the city expects to issue, will equal about $7 million in new revenue.
Outrage over the new policy boiled over outside the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station Wednesday. After city workers booted his truck, an immigrant known as 'Zack' pulled a knife and started cutting his own truck tires. In the process he somehow cut off part of his finger.
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Monday, May 11, 2009
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KINGSPORT — Kingsport is getting high-tech in how it deals with the seemingly endless number of potholes on city streets.
The Kingsport Public Works Department announced last week plans to purchase a road patching vehicle that aims to repair potholes more quickly and efficiently and provide a longer-lasting patch, said Ronnie Hammonds, streets and sanitation manager for the city.
The Schwarze Road Patcher is a semi- automated spray-injected pothole patching machine that allows one worker, from inside the cab, to drive up and patch a pothole without ever leaving the vehicle.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the purchase of the vehicle during its regular meeting Tuesday night.
The cost of the truck will be $165,673, and it should be in service by the end of August.
“Potholes happen in the winter months when the asphalt plants are shut down. This will give us another option of patching those potholes in the winter months and should make the repairs a lot quicker,” Hammonds said.
The Schwarze Road Patcher cleans and dries the damaged asphalt with high-pressure air, sprays a liner of asphalt emulsion to provide a strong bond, and then injects a mixture of rock chips and emulsion under high pressure to fill the pothole from the bottom up.
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The Kingsport Public Works Department announced last week plans to purchase a road patching vehicle that aims to repair potholes more quickly and efficiently and provide a longer-lasting patch, said Ronnie Hammonds, streets and sanitation manager for the city.
The Schwarze Road Patcher is a semi- automated spray-injected pothole patching machine that allows one worker, from inside the cab, to drive up and patch a pothole without ever leaving the vehicle.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the purchase of the vehicle during its regular meeting Tuesday night.
The cost of the truck will be $165,673, and it should be in service by the end of August.
“Potholes happen in the winter months when the asphalt plants are shut down. This will give us another option of patching those potholes in the winter months and should make the repairs a lot quicker,” Hammonds said.
The Schwarze Road Patcher cleans and dries the damaged asphalt with high-pressure air, sprays a liner of asphalt emulsion to provide a strong bond, and then injects a mixture of rock chips and emulsion under high pressure to fill the pothole from the bottom up.
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SAUGUS - Selectman Stephen Horlick is concerned that the Department of Public Works is being systematically dismantled, but DPW Superintendent Joseph Attubato isn't so sure it's a bad thing.
"I appreciate his concern but I think it's just the economy," Attubato said. "Things aren't going to be like they used to be."
Attubato said he believes making do with smaller departments and contracting out large jobs is the trend and it's not going anywhere any time soon.
"You'll see this happening in other communities," he added. "It just got here first."
Horlick, however, said he'd prefer to see the DPW ranks built up and fewer projects contracted out.
It is the age old question that has been asked of the Police Department and the Fire Department alike, is it cheaper to hire, to run up overtime or in the DPW's case, to contract out?
Tuesday, Horlick asked Town Manager Andrew Bisignani for copies of the contracts inked with the companies handling the striping and the handicap ramps. He said he wanted to compare the in-house cost versus the contracted cost.
Attubato said his crew might have been able to handle the ramps but he doesn't have the manpower, to which Horlick said that is his point exactly.
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"I appreciate his concern but I think it's just the economy," Attubato said. "Things aren't going to be like they used to be."
Attubato said he believes making do with smaller departments and contracting out large jobs is the trend and it's not going anywhere any time soon.
"You'll see this happening in other communities," he added. "It just got here first."
Horlick, however, said he'd prefer to see the DPW ranks built up and fewer projects contracted out.
It is the age old question that has been asked of the Police Department and the Fire Department alike, is it cheaper to hire, to run up overtime or in the DPW's case, to contract out?
Tuesday, Horlick asked Town Manager Andrew Bisignani for copies of the contracts inked with the companies handling the striping and the handicap ramps. He said he wanted to compare the in-house cost versus the contracted cost.
Attubato said his crew might have been able to handle the ramps but he doesn't have the manpower, to which Horlick said that is his point exactly.
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Friday, May 8, 2009
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In the midst of a driving rain Wednesday, New Albany Mayor Doug England was forced to do a little driving of his own.
But he wasn’t operating a vehicle. Instead, England had to maneuver a street sweeper around Jeffersonville’s City Hall — the price for losing a bet with Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan.
In September, the two mayors challenged each other to raise funds for the 2008 Metro United Way campaign. The city with the most participation from its employees won the bet, with the losing mayor having to clean a street in the winning city.
Jeffersonville won with a participation rate of 29 percent, as New Albany posted a 23 percent mark.
“Next year, you’re going to be the one on the sweeper,” England vowed to Galligan.
The Jeffersonville mayor seemed unimpressed as he nonchalantly handed England a broom, a symbol of the New Albany mayor’s loss.
“It really wasn’t much of a challenge,” Galligan jested, telling England Jeffersonville participation will be better for 2009, too. Galligan’s grin stretched nearly ear-to-ear as England accepted the broom of defeat.
“We’ll have a better broom for you next year.”
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But he wasn’t operating a vehicle. Instead, England had to maneuver a street sweeper around Jeffersonville’s City Hall — the price for losing a bet with Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan.
In September, the two mayors challenged each other to raise funds for the 2008 Metro United Way campaign. The city with the most participation from its employees won the bet, with the losing mayor having to clean a street in the winning city.
Jeffersonville won with a participation rate of 29 percent, as New Albany posted a 23 percent mark.
“Next year, you’re going to be the one on the sweeper,” England vowed to Galligan.
The Jeffersonville mayor seemed unimpressed as he nonchalantly handed England a broom, a symbol of the New Albany mayor’s loss.
“It really wasn’t much of a challenge,” Galligan jested, telling England Jeffersonville participation will be better for 2009, too. Galligan’s grin stretched nearly ear-to-ear as England accepted the broom of defeat.
“We’ll have a better broom for you next year.”
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Thursday, May 7, 2009
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TWO RIVERS — The city likely will receive $598,000 in stimulus funding through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to be used for storm water detention ponds, according to City Manager Greg Buckley.
He said he believes the funding for the ponds is likely because of the ratings the projects received based on preliminary applications submitted for funding through the Clean Water Fund.
The money would supplement $642,000 the city is receiving in capital grants to construct five storm water detention ponds. The ponds are part of the city’s plan to meet state mandates for reduction of suspended solids in storm water.
The stimulus funding would cover half of the local share, meaning the city would pay $598,000 of the $1.8 million project, according to Buckley.
Two Rivers also may be eligible for stimulus funding to pay half of the $112,000 needed to retrofit a pond at Two Rivers High School, he said.
The proposed project involves deepening the storm water pond at the school so it will be a true detention pond that allows sediment to settle, he said.
In addition, the city may receive $110,000 to cover half of the cost of a new vacuum street sweeper. The city is considering purchase of such a sweeper as another step in reducing storm water pollutants.
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He said he believes the funding for the ponds is likely because of the ratings the projects received based on preliminary applications submitted for funding through the Clean Water Fund.
The money would supplement $642,000 the city is receiving in capital grants to construct five storm water detention ponds. The ponds are part of the city’s plan to meet state mandates for reduction of suspended solids in storm water.
The stimulus funding would cover half of the local share, meaning the city would pay $598,000 of the $1.8 million project, according to Buckley.
Two Rivers also may be eligible for stimulus funding to pay half of the $112,000 needed to retrofit a pond at Two Rivers High School, he said.
The proposed project involves deepening the storm water pond at the school so it will be a true detention pond that allows sediment to settle, he said.
In addition, the city may receive $110,000 to cover half of the cost of a new vacuum street sweeper. The city is considering purchase of such a sweeper as another step in reducing storm water pollutants.
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BREWSTER - When the tourists come, Brewster wants to be sparkling spic and span.
But with budgets tighter than a drum-head and little room to wedge in an extra expense, it isn’t always easy.
The town street sweeper broke down on April 10, forcing selectmen to choose between dirty streets or frugality. They decided to fix it quickly and get the streets swept.
DPW superintendent Bob Bersin ran through the choices: a remanufactured engine ($15,000 to do it in two to three weeks); have John Deere rebuild the engine (no-price, four to six weeks); have the DPW install a factory rebuilt engine ($10,000, four to six weeks); a short-block replacement by the DPW ($7,700, four to six weeks), or an in-house rebuild ($2,500, six to eight weeks). Leasing to buy a new street sweeper would run $150,000 to 160,000 or $35,000 a year for five years. It was option one, the remanufactured engine that won.
The current machine was bought in 2002 for $105,000 and is currently valued at $40,000. Streets need to be cleaned soon before traffic spikes during tourist season.
Bersin noted the remanufactured engine is guaranteed for two years. Selectman Ed Lewis suggested they opt for that and then put a new street sweeper in the capital plan for two years from now.
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But with budgets tighter than a drum-head and little room to wedge in an extra expense, it isn’t always easy.
The town street sweeper broke down on April 10, forcing selectmen to choose between dirty streets or frugality. They decided to fix it quickly and get the streets swept.
DPW superintendent Bob Bersin ran through the choices: a remanufactured engine ($15,000 to do it in two to three weeks); have John Deere rebuild the engine (no-price, four to six weeks); have the DPW install a factory rebuilt engine ($10,000, four to six weeks); a short-block replacement by the DPW ($7,700, four to six weeks), or an in-house rebuild ($2,500, six to eight weeks). Leasing to buy a new street sweeper would run $150,000 to 160,000 or $35,000 a year for five years. It was option one, the remanufactured engine that won.
The current machine was bought in 2002 for $105,000 and is currently valued at $40,000. Streets need to be cleaned soon before traffic spikes during tourist season.
Bersin noted the remanufactured engine is guaranteed for two years. Selectman Ed Lewis suggested they opt for that and then put a new street sweeper in the capital plan for two years from now.
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Wednesday, May 6, 2009
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A MANSFIELD street sweeper has been shortlisted for a bravery award after he put out a dangerous fire.
Barry Snowdon, who works for Mansfield District Council, has been nominated in the national Council Worker of the Year Awards.
It comes after he was working in Warsop last summer and saw a truck containing high-pressure gas bottles on fire near a petrol station in Sherwood Street.
Mr Snowdon used a fire extinguisher from the petrol station forecourt to fight the flames and got burnt on his arms.
At the time, Mr Snowdon said: "I could see the lorry was in danger of exploding and just did what anyone would have done – my instincts were to get the fire out as quickly as possible."
He also chased and caught a handbag thief in March 2007 and was awarded a Local Hero award in the Evening Post and Radio Nottingham Reach Out Awards.
Martyn Thurman, head of operations at Mansfield District Council, said: "Barry really is an asset to or district. Not only does he keep the streets of Warsop clean, he also helps keep them safe.
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Barry Snowdon, who works for Mansfield District Council, has been nominated in the national Council Worker of the Year Awards.
It comes after he was working in Warsop last summer and saw a truck containing high-pressure gas bottles on fire near a petrol station in Sherwood Street.
Mr Snowdon used a fire extinguisher from the petrol station forecourt to fight the flames and got burnt on his arms.
At the time, Mr Snowdon said: "I could see the lorry was in danger of exploding and just did what anyone would have done – my instincts were to get the fire out as quickly as possible."
He also chased and caught a handbag thief in March 2007 and was awarded a Local Hero award in the Evening Post and Radio Nottingham Reach Out Awards.
Martyn Thurman, head of operations at Mansfield District Council, said: "Barry really is an asset to or district. Not only does he keep the streets of Warsop clean, he also helps keep them safe.
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Friday, May 1, 2009
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Macedonia -- After trying several options, city officials learned that ordinary road salt is the best way to remove used cooking oil from asphalt.
However, it still took until well into the evening April 23 to clean the eastbound lane of Route 82 near the middle of town so that cars would not slide on about 500 gallons of the slippery substance that was spilled earlier in the day.
Macedonia Police Lt. Vince Yakopovich said the driver of a waste-oil carrier was cited with a third-degree misdemeanor for having a leaking load after a hose on the back of the truck became loose, spilling oil along a mile-long stretch of road before he noticed the hose flapping in his rear-view mirror.
The incident was reported at 10:47 a.m. Fire and police officials closed Route 82 to all traffic from Valley View Road to Shepard Road for about three hours while trying to figure out how to clean up the mess. Although the oil created a slippery coating on the road, no accidents occurred.
Westbound traffic was later allowed to proceed, but the eastbound lanes remained closed until around 10 p.m.
Fire Chief Tim Black said workers initially tried to clean the oil with a road sweeper, then called in a sweeper-vacuum truck that is used to clean up ice and salt from the runaway at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport.
Workers then tried to use sand to sop up the oil, followed by a special absorbent material before trying ordinary road salt.
Results looked promising after one pass, in which a snow plow was used to rub the salt into the asphalt.
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However, it still took until well into the evening April 23 to clean the eastbound lane of Route 82 near the middle of town so that cars would not slide on about 500 gallons of the slippery substance that was spilled earlier in the day.
Macedonia Police Lt. Vince Yakopovich said the driver of a waste-oil carrier was cited with a third-degree misdemeanor for having a leaking load after a hose on the back of the truck became loose, spilling oil along a mile-long stretch of road before he noticed the hose flapping in his rear-view mirror.
The incident was reported at 10:47 a.m. Fire and police officials closed Route 82 to all traffic from Valley View Road to Shepard Road for about three hours while trying to figure out how to clean up the mess. Although the oil created a slippery coating on the road, no accidents occurred.
Westbound traffic was later allowed to proceed, but the eastbound lanes remained closed until around 10 p.m.
Fire Chief Tim Black said workers initially tried to clean the oil with a road sweeper, then called in a sweeper-vacuum truck that is used to clean up ice and salt from the runaway at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport.
Workers then tried to use sand to sop up the oil, followed by a special absorbent material before trying ordinary road salt.
Results looked promising after one pass, in which a snow plow was used to rub the salt into the asphalt.
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