I hate it when that happens
It's time for me to 'fess up and make my apologies to our city employees for the crack I made last week about them hanging a street sign that contains a misspelled word. It wasn't their fault at all. Nor was it the fault of their sign company. I incorrectly assumed the sign was put up by the city when it was actually put up by the property owner.
So I am really sorry, guys. I jumped to a conclusion and forgot that I should check my facts.
To top it off I misspelled a word in that column. Man, I hate it when that happens! There is a lesson in there for sure. You'd think that by my age I would have already learned all the lessons, wouldn't you? Ah, but of course I haven't.
And after attending Monday night's city council meeting I know of a lesson I'd like to share with you readers. You won't like it, but I am going to tell you anyway.
The city has an ordinance about mowing in such a manner that your grass clippings end up in your gutter or on the street. That ordinance allows them to issue a ticket with a hefty $100 fine attached. The council is weary of asking you nicely to obey the ordinance. They are getting ready to make use of the regulation that is on the books. This will be an expensive lesson to learn if you learn it the hard way.
When you blow your grass clippings into the street and leave them there, they wash into the storm drains and make sludge. Ick! So don't do it. If you really cannot figure out how to turn your mower so that you blow the clippings back onto your lawn, then be sure to sweep your gutter or the street next to your yard when you are finished. If you have children who have mowing jobs, you should tell them also. One hundred dollars is a big chunk of change for a youngster to loose.
So there you are. I am trying to make up for being negative about the city last week. I am trying to give you a little advice about obeying an ordinance, making the community look a little tidier, and saving yourself some money. I can only hope I spelled it all correctly.
— SUSAN MARSHALL
