Today's Feature

Leaf Collection Bid Approved.

The Public Works committee met Tuesday afternoon in a regular session. The committee accepted a bid from the ODB Company of Kansas City, MO in the amount of $23,900. The bid includes a vacuum leaf collector and two leaf box containers.

As reported in Tuesday’s Mornin’ Mail, a grant was received by the City from Missouri Department of Natural Resources Region M for the purchase of this piece of equipment. Public Works Director Chad Wampler told the committee Tuesday that the bid from ODB was received in the fall of 2006, but no action had been taken at that point. The City had received the grant but had not decided the best method for using the machine.

During discussions between Wampler, Street Commissioner Tom Shelley, City Administrator Tom Short it was decided that the best strategy would be to accept the bid and purchase the equipment, then test the equipment in various scenarios to determine its capabilities. This plan of action was approved by Region M. Wampler proposed to the committee to use the equipment on a "need by need basis".

Committee member Bill Johnson inquired if there were any plans to begin a residential leaf pickup using the equipment.

Tom Shelley responded that the equipment would need to be tested first, to see how long it takes to cover a set amount of territory, prior to initiating a city-wide program.

Shelley also told the committee how the machine is operated, explaining that one person must stand on the equipment to control the vacuum hose, with two or three people on the ground fluffing up matted leaves.

The committee unanimously approved a motion to recommend that City Council approve the bid from the ODB Company.

The committee also reviewed a snow and ice removal policy. Street Commissioner Shelley distributed a copy of the policy to the committee for review. Previously there has been no written policy for the snow and ice removal in the City. Shelley told the committee that this written version is the method that the Street Department has been using for several years.

The policy hierarchy includes three tiers: Priority 1 is the "Designated Snow Route" for the City, which allows a uniform open street grid throughout the City; Priority 2 includes "hot spots" such as steep hills, dangerous intersections and bridges, and school zones; Priority 3 includes low traffic residential areas.

The committee approved a motion to forward to Council the snow and ice removal policy with the full committee recommendation.

Most go for the easy out, stick ‘em both in their pockets. Prob’ly the real reason pockets were invented. Hidin’ places for inactive hands.

Some put both hands behind their back and push their chest out. Others fold their hands in front.

Suit coats open up a whole different series of hand maneuvers. Lotsa pockets.

I suppose there’s prob’ly a reason why folks are so uncomfortable with their hands showin’ out in the open. Guess they’re afraid someone’ll hand ‘em somethin’ like a broom.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I took my 2006 Honda Civic hybrid to a store for an oil change. The manager told me he could not do oil changes on hybrid cars, because the engine can start even with the ignition turned off and the keys out of the car. He said he would have to disconnect the electrical system or he could get a serious shock. He said I must have noticed that the car would start all by itself even with the key out of the ignition. He said it does this to charge the battery. I never once noticed the car starting by itself. He said only Honda can safely change the oil in a hybrid. Is there any merit to what he told me? - Robert

TOM: The guy was misinformed, Robert. Once it’s turned off, this car won’t start unless someone turns on the ignition.

RAY: It’s true that an increasing number of cars come with something called a "passive entry" system. With these systems, you approach the vehicle with the key fob, and the car "senses" that you have the key.

TOM: Once it senses that the correct key is close, it will let you unlock the doors and start the engine without actually taking the key fob out of your pocket.

RAY: But even with a passive entry system, you have to push the "start" button.

TOM: This guy may have had an experience with a hybrid where someone left the ignition on. Since hybrids are silent in their electric mode and only start the engine when they need to, it may have appeared to him to be off.

RAY: Then, if the hybrid’s computer determined that the battery needed to be charged, it may have started up and scared the lug nuts off him. Who knows?

TOM: But if the car is legitimately turned off, it will not start by itself. And you can get your oil changed anywhere, Robert. Well, anywhere but from this guy.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Did ‘Vibration’ Kill Eric Medlen?

A story in the Houston Chronicle by writer Bernardo Fallas reported that the brain injury that caused Eric Medlen’s death was likely the result of severe tire vibration and not the impact of the ensuing low-angle crash against a retaining wall during a test run in Gainesville, Fla. Medlen crashed March 19 at Gainesville Raceway. He died March 23 after his family consented to his being taken off life support.

NHRA Senior Vice President Graham Light, in a TV interview during the O’Reilly Spring Nationals, concurred that Medlen’s death did not result from any impact with the guardrail.

Fallas said that all NHRA PowerAde Drag Racing Series drivers and crew chiefs were informed of the "vibration" situation at a safety meeting conducted by John Force Racing via teleconference before Friday’s qualifiers.

Prior to this revelation, everyone had thought the accident came about because of a tire failure and the resulting crash into the wall. Force’s findings, however, point to extreme tire vibration caused by an unknown source or sources for causing the head trauma to Medlen and the tire blowout, according to Fallas’ article.

Medlen’s fatality is the first death in NHRA Funny Car competition in almost 38 years, the last being Gerry Schwartz, who died in a crash with Pat Foster when Foster crossed into his lane on June 15, 1969, in Dallas.

In ending, I hope no other top-end "vibration" situations occur. Severe vibration up to half-track has become common as the tires plant and grow or lose traction, but Medlen’s high-speed situation is a first.