Coffee 4-15-2017

Happy Easter!

Sorry to hear about Ryker's early departure to the Rainbow Bridge. We just never know what the next day brings. Rest in peace Ryker.

Speaking of covenants & restrictions & such.... I am planning on calling Bangor city hall & finding out if what I heard is true. The back story: a few years back the city started making a business either "clean the rainwater" before it leaves that property (permeable asphalt with gravel filters under it) or pay the city for processing it in the sewage treatment plant. ( which they actually don't do yet). What I heard this week is : a home owner applied for a permit to build a garage. The city said they would have to come inspect first. It seems this homeowner didn't have much lawn. The new garage would cover "so much" lawn that the rain would not soak in, it would, could, might, wash off the property, SO.... we will grant you a permit, but you must begin to pay a yearly $3000 (yes, three thousand) dollar fee for the city to process that water. Can that possibly be true? I aim to find out. Oh, also, from now on, any outbuilding larger than 12 by 16 feet MUST be on a 4 foot frost wall....no more garages on cement slabs. Sheeesh!

This whole "treat the rainwater" thing is killing me. 40 years ago, all water & sewage went into the river. They built sewage treatment plants. Good. Once in a while during a heavy rain, it would over flow into the river. So, over a 20 year period they spent how many million dollars to run separate pipes. Now sewage goes to the treatment plant and rainwater goes to the river. Recently they said "Oh, no! We can't let that happen, we need to build giant treatment plants! So, the plan is.... spend a ba-zillion dollars on a new treatment plant that will handle all rain and sewage, and spend another bazillion dollars do connect all the pipes so they all go to said plant! Arghhhhhh!