Speeders are about to start helping to pay for Perry’s rising fuel costs. A 10 percent add-on has been approved by Judge Herb Wells for speeding fines, according to Perry’s Public Safety Director George Potter.
Also if you see a Perry police car with the motor turned off, instead of idling, or the windows rolled down to reduce the use of air conditioning, it’s all part of an effort to conserve fuel as prices skyrocket. They’ll also be driving under the speed limit to conserve fuel, unless, of course, there’s somebody who needs to be caught.
Potter told the City Council at last week’s work session that the police force would soon be testing a loaned hybrid car to compare the fuel consumption against the Crown Victoria’s that have been their standard vehicles. He said that that they are looking at the possibility of purchasing two hybrids and “a couple of motorcycles” next year.
Potter’s presentation to the council was not the only one that had to do with saving money on fuel
Bob Taylor, the City’s Maintenance Supervisor, got a very positive response from council for his presentation on using waste vegetable oil to operate his department’s equipment. Taylor has built a small refinery to process ordinary used cooking oil for use as an alternate fuel in diesel operated equipment, such as tractors and lawn mowers.
“The only problem is that it smells like French fries!,” he said.
Taylor hopes to set up a program by which used cooking oil from local restaurants and even private homes can be dropped off for re-use to run the city’s maintenance equipment.
One suggestion was that the city offer a “green seal” for local restaurants participating in the program.
The city also has concerns about water conservation, and is doing a 30 day audit to make sure that a minimum of water is lost in processing. Ronnie Jones, Director of Public Works, recommended that the city adopt a policy that would show the state’s Environmental Protection Division that it is “conserving, not wasting.”
Jones recommended that if restrictions or outdoor watering need to be put in place, the following guidelines should be used.
• Even number addresses allowed to water on Wednesday and Saturday only with no watering between 10 a.m. and midnight.
• Odd number addresses allowed to water on Thursday and Sunday only with no watering between 10 a.m. and midnight.
• No outside watering on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
This is not yet in effect, according to City Manager Lee Gilmour, but is the recommendation in case restrictions become necessary. Citizens will be advised by mail if watering restrictions are to be put in place.
