Today's Feature

Nuisance Abatement Shift Proceeds.

The Public Works Committee has been discussing the proposal to move the duties of Nuisance Abatement under the Public Works Department over a month in various formal and informal sessions. At Tuesday afternoon’s committee meeting a motion was approved to include two full time Nuisance Abatement Officers in the Public Works 2008 fiscal year budget.

Currently the Carthage Police Department employs one full time and one part time (seasonal) officer who split the duties of animal control and nuisance abatement. At the request of Carthage Police Chief Dennis Veach and in an attempt to become more proactive in nuisance abatement efforts, the committee and City staff began to investigate the advantages of splitting the duties and allowing the Public Works Department to monitor nuisances. In this change the Police would still be in charge of Animal Control using one full time employee.

Though no quorum was present at the previous Public Works committee meeting, the committee did receive an article from Public Works Director Chad Wampler outlining the definition of a nuisance (see What is a Nuisance?). Wampler has recommended the addition of two full time employees for the job.

During Tuesday’s meeting the committee discussed the descriptions of nuisances. Wampler noted that three of the items in the description pertain to animal control and recommended that they be omitted as they are currently covered by the Police Department Animal Control Enforcement Officer.

City Administrator Tom Short discussed the projected financial impact for the two employees, saying that if the negative budget impact is figured for the elimination of the half time position at the Police Department, the addition of the two full time jobs would cost $60 thousand yearly.

Committee member Claude Newport asked if there would be any merit in adding only one full time employee initially and watching the trends to see if a second employee would be necessary.

Wampler replied that he felt in order to do the job proactively, the job would require two full-time employees.

Committee Chair Tom Flanigan agreed.

"There’s no sense doing it and doing it half-heartedly," said Flanigan.

Committee member Bill Johnson said he felt the changes would move the City in the right direction but added that the monitoring and enforcing of the ordinances would be dependant on the manpower available.

"You can only do what your people have time to do," said Johnson.

Newport made the motion to include the employees in the budget, keeping the item separate so that it wouldn’t be overlooked and could be discussed fully by the Budget Committee. The motion was approved unanimously.

What is a Nuisance?

The following is a list of nuisance descriptions as provided by Public Works Director Chad Wampler, with the exception of items 1, 6, and 11 as these were determined to be animal control issues:
1. Carcasses of dead animals remaining exposed more than six hours after death.
2. Ashes, cinders, slops, filth, excrement, sawdust, stone, rock, dirt, straw, soot, sticks, shavings, oyster shells, cans, dust, paper, trash, rubbish, manure, refuse, offal, waste water, chamber lye, fish, putrid meat, entrails, decayed fruit or vegetables, broken ware, rags, old china, old iron or other metal, old wearing apparel, all animal and vegetable matter, all dead animals, or any other offense or disagreeable substance or thing which is thrown, left or deposited, or caused to be left, thrown or deposited, by any person, or in or upon any street, avenue, alley, sidewalk, parking, or other public way, or in or upon the public square, or any public enclosure, or any lot or any pool or pond of water.
3. Factories, slaughterhouses, and all places of business which cause an offensive odor to a greater extent than may be required for the necessary prosecution or carrying on of such business.
4. Garbage, deposited and kept otherwise that as provided in this chapter.
5. Green or unsalted hides, kept in open or exposed places.
6. Hog pens, except as provided by ordinance.
7. Limbs of trees projecting over a sidewalk or street at a height of less than seven feet.
8 Privies which overflow, leak, or are in a filthy condition.
9. Ponds or pools of stagnant or unclean water.
10. The rendering, heating, or steaming of any animal or vegetable product or substance in such a manner as to cause disagreeable odors.
11. Stables, stalls, sheds, pens or yards in which any horse or cow, or other animal are not kept in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
12. All substances or things which cause an odor disagreeable to the surrounding neighborhood.
13. Weeds over eight inches high.
14. All dilapidated or unsightly or unsanitary buildings, parts, foundations or excavations therefor, or buildings in such condition to be unfit for habitation, or that may be dangerous to the public, or that may be injurious to the public health, located upon either residential or commercial property.
15. The burning within the city limits of any animal, vegetable or other substance, the burning of which creates or generates any disagreeable, noxious or unwholesome smell or odor.
16. All trees that are either dead or so diseased or infected or damaged or that the same are injurious to the public health and safety.
17. Any soap factory, tallow chandlery, sausage factory, stable, or barn of any kind whatsoever, and permit the same to become offensive, disagreeable, or noxious to the community in which the same may situate.
18. Any sign or awning over any sidewalk, the lowest part of which is less than 7 feet above the sidewalk.
19. Any business, vocation or pursuit conducted or operated to the injury or annoyance of the public.
20. The drainage, placement or discharge of any filth, slops, wastewater, or the content of any privy, vault, cesspool, or sink either directly or indirectly, into any gutter or upon any sidewalk, avenue, alley, park, highway, or public space.
21. All open mine shafts existing upon premises within the city or within a one-half-mile radius of the city.
22. Trees that are infested with bagworms, tentworms or any other insects or worms injurious to trees or that trees which shall be dead, decayed, rotted or broken to such an extent that they are dangerous.
23. All furniture, bedding, refrigerators, freezers, heating stoves, kitchen ranges, laundry and dishwashing equipment, air conditioning units, or any other such appliances, articles or equipment designed for use inside a dwelling unit if stored, or placed upon the ground, on any open porch, in any attached carport, in any freestanding carport, or in any garage or shed that is without doors to conceal such articles.

They say that folks who live in places where there isn’t much sunshine get depressed a lot. But I also hear that folks who live where there aren’t four seasons get depressed a lot too. ‘Specially those who grew up in a four season neighborhood.

There’s somethin’ to be said for all the seasons, but seems like spring is the best of all. All that energy just waitin’ for somethin’ to do. Just give it a few weeks, that grass will be waitin’ on ya soon enough.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Click & Clack Talk Cars
By Tom and Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I’m a college student in a small Podunk town in Minnesota. Recently, we were "blessed" with a hailstorm like none other, and the damage to cars here can only be described as impressive. I’ve been postponing buying a car as long as possible, but I need to get one within three months. A friend told me that if I want a car cheap, I should shop around for sales on hail-damaged cars. I don’t care what the car looks like, but I do want to know if there are any risks to buying a hail-damaged car. What should I look for, and how much money should I expect to be knocked off the normal price? - Michael

RAY: Well, if you don’t really care what the car looks like, you might want to have a look at one of my brother’s beauties.

TOM: Actually, it’s a great idea, Michael. Hail damage is almost entirely cosmetic. I mean, if it breaks or damages a window, obviously that should be fixed. But other than that, it’s just dents and maybe paint damage.

RAY: Over time, if the paint is actually chipped or broken, that can lead to rust. But that’s not an immediate danger. It’s something you can address yourself - you can learn to sand down those spots and prime them when rust becomes an issue.

TOM: Plus, you’ll save money on the purchase price, because most people want pretty cars. While some hail-damaged cars can be repaired pretty cheaply, more serious hail damage can cost thousands to fix.

RAY: To find out how much that would cost the seller, arrange to take the car to a body shop before you buy it in order to get an estimate. You won’t get quite that much off, but you can ask for, say, half or two-thirds of that off. Then don’t fix it. You’ll be the only guy in Podunk who can play Chinese checkers on the hood of his car.

RACING
By Greg Zyla
Sponsored by Curry Automotive

Will Montoya Run in the Indy 500?

Q: Do you feel that Juan Pablo Montoya will race in the Indy 500 this year for Chip Ganassi Racing? -- B.K., Wisconsin

A: Somewhat possible, but not probable. Ganassi stated publicly that Montoya will be running full time in Nextel Cup, not Indy Car, and this is the team’s primary goal. Thus, if Montoya is doing well in NASCAR and is in the running for Rookie of the Year honors, which I believe he will be, he won’t compete at Indy.

However, I’ve been wrong before, so I wouldn’t be totally surprised to see this former Ganassi-employed Indy 500 winner try a "double-duty" day (Indy 500 and Charlotte World 600) if the stars align properly.

If I had to make the call today, though, I’d say he will not run at Indy, as the points are so important these days in NASCAR. Once you fall out of the top 35 in owner points, you lose your guaranteed starting spot.

If Montoya is out of the top 35 in points by May, then maybe Ganassi will allow a double-duty day. But, that would surprise me more than anything, as Montoya is going to run well for a rookie.