Monroe County Independent May 10, 2011 E-Newsletter

I occasionally read their site to sort through the vehicle accident stories to see if anything interesting pops up. Two items caught my eye in the May 10th edition.

Life Returning to Normal in Columbia

(Ed-itor’s Note: So we suppose now the Columbia police will be back to their normal rounds, and the from-home folks will be once again complaining about high taxes, the CPD pulling over too many cars, cops checking for speeders on I-255 and Route 3, the CPD keeping a very close eye on the bar regulars, kids speeding along the side streets, bicyclists taking up the middle of the road and teens loitering in the parks.)

I'm not sure they can pull over enough cars in town, especially on Rt. 3. I grew up primarily in Edwardsville where three state highways converge (159, 157, & 143). In Edwardsville these roads all slow down to sub 40 mph speed limits. Is it too much to hope for people to actually drop down from interstate speeds before they pass the first stoplight entering town, let alone actually do the speed limit all the way through town. Haven't we all seen enough people die on Rt. 3?

Columbia Council, ICS In Accord On Plan For New Church

Mayor Kevin Hutchinson and the Committee of the Whole (all eight aldermen) apparently are willing to waive utility tap-in fees and legal and engineering fees, which will save the parish more than $100,000.

I wasn't at the meeting and I assume the City has done this for other churches in the past but that's a large chunk of money. I wonder what the actual costs to the city are given that these fees normally cover at least some actual costs. I'm glad construction will be starting on the church though, I don't go to ICS but I know they need the space.