Noise Ordinance

No Rodney, I am not picking on you, and I know you have posted on my blog as an anon and that is fine.
Farha brings up an issue that needs some attention, I have read a few posts on this topic before. THE NOISE ORDINANCE or lack there of.

Maybe ABC/UMR could shed some light on this for me?
What is unnecessary anyway? Open to much interpretation isn't it?
We were wondering what kind of calls Farha was getting so we purchased another MicroMini Spy Bug V3.0, this time we had it equipped so that it would be activated whenever the phone rings, and had installed in Farha's kitchen. We were able to do this under the guise of homeland security and the Patriot Act. I will assure you we will get the warrant later.

Call 1

Farha residence.......yes this is he.........really? well did you get the license plate number?.......... Oh I see, yes I know getting around with a walker can be cumbersome. Well next time, if you will sit next to the window you will get it. .....
What's that? .........No the police are to busy doing speed enforcement on Broadway....... Yes, well the fine for a noise violation is as little as $5 so it just does not make economic sense to enforce it......You say that would be the first time that the city was worried about the police doing something economical......Yes, well I guess I could ask for everybody to take some civic pride and follow the rules......Okay well let me know if I can help in anyway.....Ok..uhuh..byebye now.

Call 2
Farha residence.....Yes....Oh you got the license number?.......No but you got a description of the perpetrator's vehicle...... Big motorcycle yes I got it.......really big back wheel........short driver.....looks like who?....the guy that used to own O'Griff's, I see. Well ma'am some of those motorcycles are just made to be loud. No I don't think they have ever written a citation for a loud chopper. Normally they write them to the miscreants that play their music to loud. Yes I know that the loud music can only be heard for a couple of blocks but some of these choppers can be heard for a mile. But you have to understand that the people that drive these bikes have more money and we can't write them tickets because some of the police officers just love these bikes. And the ordinance is written so the officer has full discretion and what he or she deems as an unnecessary noise may be different than what you do......yes I know but I can't just write a new ordinance that makes sense, that would require too much work and we gotta figure out this whole beer garden thing right now......Hello...hello..Hmm?

We thought our transmitter was going bad on our MicroMini Spy Bug V3.0 - model: MMSB-3 super secret microphones. So in addition to the Micro-mini Voice Recognition Identification Technology installed inside of Doug Wilson's Moustache, we also installated an amplifier and power booster. We did this by intertwining the highly sophitcated linear power booster in the underwire support of Doug's brassiere. But come to find out the equipment was working fine, there just wasn't much news today.

QPD Fund Poncherello and Jon

Tookie looked at this story and I am sure he smelled a rat as soon as he saw the city council agenda. What a huge waste of time and money.

Once again we had our clandestined MicroMini Spy Bug V3.0 - model: MMSB-3 super secret microphones on during this morning's news meeting, this is where the crack reporters decide what should be spoon-fed to the readers. We have also installed a Micro-mini Voice Recognition Identification Technology inside of Doug Wilson's Moustache, this way we can decode who is saying what....
This is a transcript...when you read this imagine Don's voice as Mr. Peterman, Elaine's boss on Seinfeld.

Don Crimm "Reaper": Alright knock off the crap we gotta paper to put out. Anybody have any ideas?

Dave Adam: Well we could do a story on how Doug Bruner is..

DCR: David I told you we had a moratorium on Bruner stories.
David: But..
DCR: NO!
David: Well how bout (phone ringing) hang on I'll get it!

David: Adam here...no, David....I don't know why I have two first names..who is this and what do you want? oh okay..let me put you on hold. Donnie it's Rob Copley he wants to make sure Rodney has the story right.

DCR: This is Don, yes sir Chief sir, no sir. No, no mention of this being a waste of taxpayer money. Yes we made sure we talked about the positive aspects of the program...But maybe you can refresh my memory..what makes this a good program? Oh that's right they look cool and we can use them in parades....We'll make that sound good for you..
What's that...yes we used the quote "at a crossroads" and took out the one about a deadend..is that okay?
Sure...no not a problem..yes you too..Roly Poly at noon sure! I will.. bye.
Rodney!!!!
Funion: Yes Don..
DCR: Did you finish that Motorcycle story?
Funion: yes
DCR: Let me see it..thanks...hmm uhuh...well mmm. oh nice, very good work Rodney. But let's change the headline and takeout the phrase "Bringing out of moth balls" and change that to "Kick-start".That sounds better wouldn't you all agree.

Staff: oh yes sounds great(backslapping or high fives)
DCR: What else do we have?
Kelly: Well we have a story about Fat out of shape firefighters....
DCR: Well we can't say that how about wellness or shaping up
Kelly: Well they have this deal set up with QMG..
DCR: Good QMG...make sure you use them in the story,,uhuh QMG good...go on..
Kelly: So the firefighters get access to a personal trainer and they get evaluated by a doctor to see if the are physically fit.
DCR: Why don't they just give them the same fitness test the applicants take?
Kelly: Um ...But ...QMG and you said..
DCR: Oh yes I forgot QMG good.. yes well forget about the fitness test thing.How can we make this a feel good story instead of a story that sounds like spending more money on firefighter benefits.


Anyway you get the idea..Now it's my turn...these firefighters should stay in shape on their own and I know most of them are. This sounds like a way for the Walker not to have a confrontation with his doughboy crew. Walker, have a spine and tell your 3 or 4 cookie monsters to get in shape. They have a pretty good schedule and probably already have some sort of discount program for a local gym, plus I am sure they have some workout equipment at the station. Get these guys on a treadmill before they have a heart attack at the scene of a fire.
Every time I see these stories about what I feel is a waste of money I just see my taxes getting higher and higher. Please someone at city hall put your foot down and say no. What is it going to take for alderman and the mayor or anyone that has a budget to start some axing on this kind of crap. It all adds up!

Cracks, DenTax and Page 4D

CraCKS
Uncle Eddie
So the questions that I wanted answered that were not,are.....
Who owns the property referenced in the phone call?
Did the request get expedited because of their employment with the city?
and give a timeline of that case and another one to prove the point.

Dental Clininc(dentax)
Kelly Wilson
Nice set of stats listed on the right, once again it tells me everything but what I wanted to know...
What is their total budget?
How much does this cost each taxpayer that actually pays income tax?
How is the clinic funded?
But my experience with the dentist, is like this,it is about $200 per visit. That is if nothing is wrong.
So the place has about 10,000 visits at a minimum of $200
Or Let's break it down based on figures from the stats and average costs from http://www.bracesinfo.com/dentalcosts/

Diagnostics(Xrays?) 8671 x $100= $867,100
Preventive 7922 x $50= $396,100
Restorative 6220 x $600=$3,732,000
Root Canal 637 x $376= $239,512
Oral Surgery 3772 x $800= $3,017,600
Orthodontic 207 x $4712= $975,384
Total services $9,227,696
Now we all know there is no way that we the taxpayers would support such an extreme cost. But we do not know what the cost is to you and me because that is a dirty little secret and this is a feel good story about how much good this free(?) clinic is providing. I cant imagine that it would cost that much to support this dental clinic but again we don't know. Do the dentists volunteer? So many questions....
So while you pay your way to the dentist through insurance or out of your own pocket, you are also paying for another's dental work to the tune of about $1000 per patient per year.
Oh and I am sure the income guidelines will go up as the minimum wage goes up...I could go on but this stuff just makes my blood boil.
Oh yes page 4D
Kudos to the H-W Photo Steve Bohnestedt
I don't know where he found Scyler Engel running but that was much better than the recipes and the farmer's wife on the back page. Guys no wedding ring on that finger either...
That's hot and I hear she is smart too, but who cares?
City Council Follies Commentary Tomorrow...

Friday news Nothuin'

No news on Friday Or Saturday worth my time, so yes another cotton ball or whatever they were calling it.
Sunday nothn',

I guess we will have to wait until Monday's City Council Meeting for another round of incoherent, inconsistant ideas for us to lay to waste.

ey my ideas are not always the best but they make a hell of a lot more sense than most of the stuff from city hall.

And Tony I do like that you are not afraid to express your thoughts openly it helps me understand the thought process that takes place in the ivory tower that is City Guvment.

Rules For Beer Gardens

I understand the need for rules, ordinances and all that utter mutter jazz.
However this a town with a rich German Heritage I am surprised that the city did not have a regulation on the books from the early 1900's about Bier Gartens.
We have a couple of issues at hand, one is Rules for the beer gardens(noise ordinance) and the other is interpreting the smoking law, or smoking ban.
Let's tackle the no smoking in workplaces issue first.
From the Whig
For example, Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley has a more conservative interpretation of the state law. "As I read this, this does not allow for smoking in beer gardens," he said during Wednesday's meeting in the council chambers at City Hall.
Copley argues that a beer garden would still be regarded as a "work place," and as such it would be off-limits to smoking.But copely shows his true feelings, which have nothing to do with workers safety, in his next sentence.Copley said he cautions Quincy officials against allowing a tavern to have "an uncontrolled party place" such as this.
"I don't think we should allow that," he said. "That is the recipe for nothing but trouble."
Next he'll be in my fridge taking my beer because I'm in an uncontrolled party place.
Now, now Robbie let's not take things to extremes...the law was written so there would be a little wiggle room as with most laws.
For instance smoking in a police car, that never happens, right....
But if you interpret it the Chief's way you would really be banning smoking from everywhere. Yes everywhere, hear me out on this; So if I have a cleaning crew like Merry Maids contracted to clean my house, then I can't smoke in my house. If I have Lawn Solutions contracted to spray my yard then I can't smoke in my yard. I can't smoke in my car because we have road crews that work on the roads. I can't smoke in my boat on the river because we have the Corp and River Rangers out there.
I believe the tavern owners are trying to operate in good faith by opening these Beer Gardens, if they don't have waitress service out in the Beer Garden and people will throw their own trash away, I don't see how you can deny them the Beer Garden based on the smoking ban.
However the noise issue that is another story.
The city has several business that operate outdoor dining areas and I don't believe that it has ever been an issue.
Tower of Pizza has roof and serves alcohol and is open until midnite. But it is a business district zoned for that kind of use I assume (ass-u-me)
Sprouts has an outdoor eating area and I think they serve beer.
No problems?
TCBY has a place to sit outside and is similarly zoned as Uncle Bob's.
No problems?
The Dock has outdoor seating, granted it is very secluded.
The cities noise ordinance is weak at best it leaves just about everything up to the discretion of the officer issuing the ticket. There are no decibel levels listed. for instance you get pulled over by one of Quincy's finest, for a noisey muffler, that you just had installed. The muffler is operating as it was manufactured, it's just too loud by his standards. Yet we can have a Harley that is louder than any car and no tickets.
Let them have the Beer Gardens open until midnite in Friday and Saturday, and 10pm and weekdays. The bars close at 1 am anyway, so the smokers will have to chew some nicorette for an hour.
Chief Copely please don't turn into Barney Fife and start arresting people for Jay-walking, Barney was funny but we knew that Andy was the brains.

School District expects to meet expenses

From The Whig

"We've got our fingers crossed," Chairman Bill Daniels said after a Finance Committee meeting Tuesday.
Now there's a great business plan, cross your fingers WTF!!!!

In May, the district transferred $1.55 million from the working cash fund to the education fund. The transfer will go before the board tonight for approval.
So you transfer the money then you ask for approval sounds a little backwards again WTF!!


Approximately $800,000 is on hand for the work, but the rest will require a short-term loan. The district proposes borrowing $2.96 million for the projects that include sandblasting and repainting the walls in the Quincy High School gym, replacing the roof at Quincy Junior High, replacing the roof and air handlers at the Early Childhood Center and resurfacing the parking lot at Flinn Stadium. The loan would be repaid Dec. 1, 2008, with its 2007 levy.
Suggestions: Put off the sandblasting and panting of the walls inside the gym until you have the money to do it.
Is the roof leaking at Junior High? Can It be patched or repaired instead of replaced?
Will replacing the roof air handlers save on utilities? are they not working now?
Can the parking lot at Flinn Stadium be patched or repaired instead of replaced? I'll drive out there and see how bad it is....
Questions that should be asked but nobody including myself will take the time to go to a school board meeting.
By the way what happened to the company that was going to save the schools all of this money on their utilities?