Today's Feature

Odor Ordinance Forwarded.

The City Council Public Works Committee met on Tuesday afternoon and approved a motion to forward to Council an amendment to City code that would allow for City control of excessive odor emissions. Excessive odor emissions by some factories in Carthage have previously been monitored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, but it has recently been the suggestion of City officials that conducting the regulations in-house would allow for more timely and effective control.

During the previous meeting the committee instructed City Attorney Nate Dally to assemble a draft of the amendments to the City’s current "nuisance" ordinance. On Tuesday the committee reviewed that draft. City Administrator Tom Short noted that the ordinance would provide for three methods of air quality evaluation.

The first method is based on Springfield’s city code, in which offensive odors are detected by groups of citizens. The ordinance says that when 25% or more of a sample of 10 or more people, or 75% of a sample of less than 10 people believe the odor to be objectionable, it will be considered objectionable and action will be taken.

The second method for detection calls for the use of equipment, including a scentometer. The scentometer, and a newer piece of equipment called the Nasal Ranger, allow air to be sampled at variable ratios of dilution. The current threshold used by DNR to check air quality is 7 to 1, being 7 parts filtered air and 1 part unaltered air. City officials have for some time been attempting to persuade DNR to lower the threshold, but have not been successful. The code, as approved by the committee, would set the ratio at 5 to 1.

The third method allows for odors to be detected by the City Code Officials.

The ordinance sets a fine at $500 per day for companies violating the odor regulations, and also allows some authority for revocation of business license and injunctive relief.

City Administrator Short said he felt the ordinance was "fairly straight-forward."

The committee unanimously approved the motion to forward the ordinance amendments to Council, with a recommendation to approve.

Further discussion was held regarding the purchase of the Nasal Ranger. Short told the committee that the estimated cost for the unit itself, the custom dilution ratio settings, and a year’s worth of disposable filters and seals would cost approximately $2,500.

Mayor Jim Woestman said he felt the equipment was necessary for the enforcement of the ordinance, and added that $250 had already been donated by a citizen to be used towards the purchase. The committee agreed to additionally forward to Council a motion to allow for the purchase of the Nasal Ranger, with the $2,500 coming from the Council Contingency fund. The committee noted that any additional donations received for the purchase would lessen the impact on the City budget.

Mornin'
I’ve never known anyone who could explain why a dog circles several times ‘for it finally lays down. I’d have ta guess that it has somethin’ to do with the instinct to not perch on some object or critter that might be harmful.

The old story of the coon dog sittin’ on the porch howlin’ comes ta mind.

"Somethin’ out in the woods makin’ that dog howl like that?" asked a visitor.

"No," says the owner, "the dog just sat on a nail and is too lazy to get up."

Maybe dogs circle ‘cause once they lay down, they don’t want ta have ta move again. Just checkin’ for nails.

I suppose even more interestin’ is the fact that us humans will sit and watch an animal goin’ round in circles tryin’ to figure out why.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Dear Tom and Ray:

We recently bought a 2008 Prius, and just love it. But we’re having a bit of a discussion about how to use the "B" on the gearshift. I say it’s like a downshift, and you should use it only temporarily, while going down a steep hill or coming to a stop. My husband thinks it’s fine to drive most of the time in the "B" mode, since it regenerates electricity and recharges the battery. Who’s correct? Thanks for your help! - Gayle

TOM: Gale, you’re 100 percent right, and your husband, unfortunately, has his head up his brake line.

RAY: When you shift into the "B" mode, you increase the drag created by the regenerative portion of the brakes. And while that extra friction does produce some electricity to help recharge the battery, the "B" mode’s primary purpose is to stimulate downshifting, or engine braking, when you’re going down a long, steep hill.

TOM: The "B" mode’s secondary purpose is to give guys something to fiddle with while they’re driving. And after THAT comes creating more electricity.

RAY: In any car, hybrid or not, when you go down a long, steep hill, you run the risk of overusing your brakes. That makes the brakes overheat, which leads to brake fade (when the brakes become less effective). Even worse, if the brakes overheat badly enough, the brake fluid can boil, and cause the brakes to fail completely. So it’s always recommended that you downshift in those circumstances, rather than ride the brakes.

TOM: But since the Prius has an unusual propulsion system and transmission, they’ve essentially "faked" a downshift mode for just that purpose.

RAY: So, unless you’re driving under conditions where you specifically need the equivalent of engine braking, just leave it in "D", Gayle. But try not to rub it in too much.