Today's Feature

Hot Rodding on Paradise Alley.

Public Safety Committee member Jim Woestman spoke during the citizen’s participation period of the Public Safety meeting last week. Woestman said that he had been contacted by citizen Melissa Williams concerning traffic violations on Paradise Alley.

Williams had concerns about a number of cars she had seen breaking the speed limit and even "hot rodding" along the short strip of road that meets Main Street. Williams told Woestman that there are children who live along the street and who play in their front yards and she wanted to know if there was a way to deter the traffic violations for the safety of the children.

The Committee said that they would have the Police Department look into the matter and would discuss it further at the next meeting.

Also at the meeting, Police Chief Dennis Veach showed the committee the Police Department’s new black box radio system. The black box is a piece of equipment that receives and transmits numerous different radio frequencies allowing different departments and towns to communicate with each other on UHF, VHF and 800 megahertz frequencies.

It seems that with ever’ passin’ year it gets more and more difficult to withstand the temptation to quickly dismiss any alteration of the norm as whacko.

As it has no doubt been done for generations, some observation of breakin’ of tradition and shock value is to be expected. It just seems ta be harder as the years pass to not revolt against the intrusion on ideals held in high regard.

The real dilemma in this discussion comes to the question of whether with age comes wisdom or fogyism. I know as a kid I didn’t know any wise elders, they were all fogies.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Building Permits

Q: We’re planning a major remodeling project this summer. A friend told us we need to get a building permit before starting the renovations, even though everything is being done to the interior. Is he right, and if so, how do we go about getting these permits? — John & Lacy L., Dallas

A: If the remodeling project involves a change or addition to the structure or to mechanical systems in your home, building permits are required by law. Take them seriously, because getting caught doing major work without them can result in fines, trouble with your insurance company and possible difficulties down the road selling your house.

The best place to start the permit process is at the local (or city) building department, which is probably listed in the blue government pages of your phone book. Several U.S. cities have Web sites, with links to their building departments. Find out what information will be required, what forms need to be filled out, how much the permits will cost (usually based on the cost of the project) and how long they are valid (180 days is typical).

The building department will ask for remodeling plans and cost estimates for the project. It may require two to four sets of construction documents or drawings; a building inspector will also be needed, to review and approve the documents. If the project is approved, you pay the permit fee and will be issued a set of documents that must be displayed at the site (usually in front of your home) for the duration of the project. At the end of the remodeling, a building inspector makes sure the work complies with all codes and permits, and gives approval of the site to finalize the project.

If you are working with a contractor, he or she will likely create the drawings and cost estimates, and may also submit the documents for approval. However, as the owner, you’ll be signing off on permit applications, so stay familiar with the scope of the job. You may also choose the building inspector who will look at the plans, and at the finished project.

Determining whether you need building permits, and then obtaining them, takes a lot of homework and a good bit of legwork. It’s certainly not the most glamorous part of home remodeling, but it’s a necessary part of the process that helps enhance the value of your home and keeps you safe.