Give some folks 4 wheel drive and chains or studs and they think they are in optimal driving conditions? All 4 wheel drive does is allow one to slide with all four wheels at the same time. I know, it happened to me one morning in Des Moines, Washington. Started out from a light and as I cleared the intersection, I began sliding sideways into the ditch. This at about 5- 10 miles per hour! For a split second I was so surprised than just let up on the gas and started wheel in direction of slide. Hit the snow on the edge of the road and regained traction as I gently gave it gas.
Did something this morning also that I have never done before. I went out and started down step onto sidewalk and thought the snow was going to go over top of boot. So I did the improbable and went and got my brand new snow shovel that I bought this past year.
Had already used a dust pan to clear the porch from near door to gate on porch. Why dust pan you ask? Put about two pans full into each of the planters near the wall so they would be watered.
Went out and shoveled; what at job that can be. But just did it like the old ditch diggers did from Minnesota that worked on the railroads way back when in the early 1900s. Don't dig down to where you want to end up; do it in layers about the depth of the shovel one is using. Goes really fast that way. Learned when I was a puppy and an old guy hired me to dig a ditch for him. He watched as I started by going down the three feet or so he wanted in depth. Than started a new area. He came over and as old as he was, maybe 70, he dug the next few feet so fast I was embarrassed. But a lesson for life and worked in the snow same as dirt.
Reason I never shoveled before was that when I was about 19 or 20, the town on the Pacific Coast where I was raised had a couple of inches of snow. Now because we were right on the ocean, it hardly ever snowed and than only a dusting usually. In any, I was walking the sidewalk and got to an area where someone had shoveled the snow in front of several businesses. Went a few feet and right on my fanny. Luckily, at that age and being in pretty shape as I worked in a Plywood Mill pulling on a dry belt, one got a good work out most days; so no physical damage.
In any case, landed on left cheek. More damage to my pride than my fanny. So got up and there was a guy a few doors down smoking a cigarette and looking at the world in the snow. He was looking at me and had a grin on his face. I started walking again and thought being very careful. Went maybe three steps and down again on the other cheek. Well now ego, pride were so injured I did not even think about the fact that my fanny was tenderized on both sides and matched the next day with some really great bruises and of course then hurt like hell.
When I got along side the old guy, he must have been all of 50. But at 20; 50 for damn sure old. He was chuckling and enjoying my discomfort. But he said to me, son, never walk on a shoveled sidewalk. It will be slick after being shoveled. In those days we did not have anything to put down to melt ice. Did have sand of course being on the Ocean. Think they had sand for the sanding trucks for the streets? Go to the edge and there will be some remaining snow/ ice that will be crunchy and give you good traction. Tried it; he was right and I never shoveled or walked on a sidewalk straight on again. Also, never fell down again. Today I believe he was right; I stepped up on the porch I had began with and it was slick where I had cleaned it up. Had I not been cautious due to that story of decades back, I probably would have fallen and hard. Fanny not so tough anymore. Have about another 1/4" now but not going to do anymore shoveling; like that traction.
Moving on, was thinking about the comments by the Director I believe she is that stated that even with the cuts from the State that amount to about 1/3 of the Budget ($313), the MOV Health Department will be all right. Now in hindsight, I ask how can they lose so much and not have a problem? Is their Budget really that inflated? I would have the devil of a time balancing if I lost a 1/3 of my income. Sure I would eventually get it figured out; but for the immediate time I would be scrambling to redo it.
Are they going to reduce programs? If so were they really needed to begin with or just an expansion of their empire because they were flush with money? Layoffs in the cards for some? How can they offset that and it not be a disaster?
Am really glad that the Court has reached a decision on the empty Senate Seat. Still think a crash election would have been more appropriate to give the folks a chance to vote their choice. I can also understand the Court doing an interpretation of the Law as they did. But seems to again show the big problems in this State on how Laws are written; how they seem to conflict with other Laws and how powerless the people can be in some circumstances?
And I am still wondering on Mr. Ketchum feeling he is now on the way out in the next election because he voted as he did? Says he obeyed the Law; that in my book is COMMENDABLE in a State where lawlessness is often the rule of the day in all three branches. He has for sure got my vote!!!! I hope you folks think about it also? Remember next time it may be your guy/gal that deserves the proper reading of a Law rather than the Politics of it.
Is there anyway I can get Mr. Rapp to read this and maybe understand it? “Nevertheless, I took an oath to impartially apply our laws and I promised to set political favoritism aside, ”he said .“The statute in this case is clear.” stated Mr. Ketchum. Again, I would like you folks to think several times, than vote.
Now there was an article on the Budget requests by the Park Department. They were able to get ahead of Ms. Kern or would also be rescheduled to the 28th $80K for a small trash truck. Currently using pickups with barrels but many times dumpsters are full so this would be a solution.
Allow me to AGAIN think outside of the box? how about:
1. More dumpsters? Could secure the extra ones until it appeared they were needed for any garbage? This would be a control on how many needed emptying and which would affect the cost to the City? It would require someone to monitor how full the others were and to use extras one by one as needed?
2. Call the Garbage Company (probably waste management, they are more expensive), and have them send a special pickup to empty the existing dumpsters? This would be a simple contractual amendment to any existing contract or a new paragraph for a new contract.
Have to give Mr. Harris credit. He has been trying to get his part time into full time position for some time now. But can't get past Mr. Rapp who pretends there is a dollar and cents issue in it. I would be more inclined to suspect a personal agenda? In any case Mr. Harris keeps trying.
City is going to give a lot of thought to just hiring the temps. Because of the Obamacare requirement to give anyone working 30 or more hours a week AND answering to a Supervisor of the Company/ Entity they work for versus the temp Company during their workday, they get Health Insurance. Now because of the lucrative Cadillac plan the City has, it is cheaper to hire them than to continue to pay the Temp Company. It costs now $14.00/ hour to pay the Temp Company $4.00 and the employee $10.00. City raised it a couple of years back due to increase to $8.00 and now $8.75/ hour. As usual, the City went nuts on a pay raise. I suggested at the time when still being allowed to speak that they do the increases each year to match the minimum wage increases. For example two years ago go to $8.75 and this year to $9.50. Of course the smarter than all others decided to load up the cost of the Temps far more than was reasonable. I understand how hard it is to survive on low wages. Been there, done that; but we are talking Tax Dollars, not from their own pockets. City gets the Taxes and immediately it becomes THEIR money to do as they please.
It is supposedly now 5% cheaper to hire the Temp and pay their Health Insurance IF single. This is about $10K/ year. For a married person at $20K, hmmmmm, not so sure but still a lot more? And will begin to start "considering" paying any part time employees prorated benefits. Anyone see the City headcount going up along with costs? So much money to burn, need to find ways to burn it.
Seems as the lights began to go on that some of the temps have been with the City for YEARS. City Council finally understood they are NOT temps, but in actuality part timers. See folks, sooner or later the electricity hits the filaments and the lights went on. Got to give them credit, they don't miss a beat. If and when any and all Temps get hired, it will be expensive making some of this right.
And $90K to build or rebuild three shelters. 1 at Spencer's landing (new); 1 at Jackson Park (replace) and 1 at Spencer's Park by the Fire Station (new). Has the City every done any real maintenance on the one at the Jackson Park site? City is not big on maintenance; always easier to buy/ build a new something. Mr. Azinger was a no vote on the Spencer Landing site. Gentleman is still trying to make a position after all those YES votes on so much money out the door.
And so far, not a word about replacing those two remaining bridges? I think 23rd and 30th Sts? Not sure as I have not paid much attention to where the bridges are once I get past 12th St. Will probably try to hide in it the Public Works Budget later in the year. It gets little or no exposure to what is going on or where the money is being spent? Maybe that will be part of the reason to raise the water rates later in the year? Hide how broke those three funds actually are; Sewer, Water, Storm Water?
The Vienna Recreation section want about another $61K. Is about a 20% increase I believe Mr. Harris said. Why you ask? For the kids and want to start sports for the adults. No additional costs to the Public was stressed; the City will pick it up. Question: Who the Hell is paying the Taxes that the City is using to pay for everything? Has stupid become part of a Resume for Government Service?
I could go on and on with the "Wish Lists" being put out. Some good, some iffy, some just flat out stink. It is sad that the City has so much money and a hard time putting it out the door. 'nuff said.