Sidewalk Reimbursement Recommended.

The Public Works committee voted to recommend an ordinance that would allow the City to reimburse property owners for $1.50 per square foot for repair or replacement of sidewalks. The Budget/Ways and Means Committee has recommended that $50,000 be placed in next year’s City budget for the project. The reimbursement will be available for individual and commercial properties and the recommended ordinance would limit any one property owner to a reimbursement of $2,500 per year.

To qualify the sidewalk repair must meet City standards and be approved by the City Engineering Department.

Engineering Director Joe Butler told the Committee that thirteen property owners have already asked to be placed on the list for consideration. Reimbursement will take place on a first come, first serve basis until the funding is exhausted.

Committee Chair Bill Fortune said the Committee hopes the program will continue for several years, but it will have to be funded during each annual budget process.

Concrete, brick, and cut limestone walks are eligible for consideration.

Zoning Code Changes Recommended.

The Planning, Zoning and Historic Preservation Commission met Tuesday night, June 1, for a public hearing on proposed zoning regulation changes.

For the most part, the changes presented were clarifications and updates. The Commission added dog groomers, one-chair beauty shops, or chiropractic offices to the allowable home business category.

Retail sales of building materials would be moved to General Business from the Local Business category.

The most notable changes came in the relaxing of restrictions placed on Bed & Breakfast establishments. The requirement that a Bed & Breakfast be owner-occupied was removed. The 3,500 square feet of living space requirement was completely eliminated. The authorization to prepare, and serve food and beverage "as necessary" during special occasions such as wedding receptions or anniversary parties was recommended by the Commission. Currently B&B’s are limited to serving breakfast only.

There was a light turnout for public participation. Two property owners that have B&B special use permits and one property owner concerned with the historic designations attended along with several Council members.

After some discussion about the definition of "Special occassion," in reference to serving meals, the Commission voted to have City Attorney David Mouton prepare a council bill as drafted.

The recommended changes will require the approval of the full Council.

Just Jake Talkin'
Mornin',

The world has turned upside down.

On the one hand there are those fightin’ a sidewalk repair ordinance that will pay from a third to half of the expense of repairs. Repairs that are already, by existing ordinance, the responsibility of the property owner. The resistance is not to the fact that the City is wantin’ to assist in the repairs, but because there is a fear that the City will insist on the repairs. Ironically, these are the folks the ordinance was meant to help.

On the other hand, folks are linin’ up to get on the list to get their sidewalks up to par. And the line is gettin’ longer.

The folks who will be actually payin’ for the assistance, those without sidewalks or with walks in good repair, appear to be acceptin’ the effort in that it will benefit the community overall. Who’d a thunk it?

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click and Clack Talk Cars

Dear Tom and Ray:

I have a 1994 Toyota Camry LE V6 with an automatic transmission and a little over 30,000 miles on it. It has been properly maintained. At about 50-60 mph, a high-pitched whine develops in the transmission while the accelerator pedal is depressed. Upon release of the pedal, the noise stops instantly. The service manager at my Toyota dealership said the whine was coming from the "final drive assembly" and that it was OK for now. He said it was a very rare occurrence. Since the car is still under warranty, what should my next step be? - Henry

TOM: Your next step should be to ask him when he wants you to make an appointment to come in and have your final gears replaced, Henry.

RAY: He's right that it's very rare. He's also right that it is OK for now, in that it's not going to break suddenly and leave you stranded, or cause some catastrophic safety failure. It's just going to get slowly worse. And it's going to drive you nuttier and nuttier. Look what happened to my brother! The doctors say his condition can be directly traced to the incessant whine of the final drive on his 1967 GMC Suburban.

TOM: The problem is an improper gear mesh between the ring gear and pinion gear in the differential. Make sure your dealer writes his diagnosis on your service slip, so that you have proof that the problem started during the warranty period. That will ensure that they'll have to cover it under warranty, no matter how long they manage to put you off.

RAY: They're trying to wait you out, Henry. By telling you it's OK for now, they're hoping that either your hearing gets worse and you stop noticing it, or that you get transferred to a new job out of state.

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