Cemeteries are not dog parks

Dear neighbors of East Lawn Cemetery in Provo,

I almost stopped to talk to you as you walked up the hillside, returning to your home. You just finished walking your dog through the East Lawn Cemetery. While it slightly bothered me your leashed dog was in a cemetery, I became very unhappy when you turned it loose to run over graves and do dog-like things.

My family and I came to East Lawn to remember my deceased brother on his birthday. My grandparents and uncle are buried there too. There were other people there, honoring their dead. It was very disrespectful to have your dog running through the cemetery. You should know better.

Sincerely,

Karen

Gathering information

I looked through this magazine this morning while at the pet store. I didn't read all of it and am trying to decide whether to spend the $10.50 to purchase it. It is published by Dog Fancy Magazine.

I am learning breed specific legislation is a hot topic nation-wide.

More new traffic signals

Click on this post's title to go to a PDF file that explains some of the new signals that will be installed around Orem. I think there is going to be a learning curve as there was with roundabouts.

I am still a little unclear about the advantages of this type of signal over the ones they are replacing. I will have to ask the traffic engineers.

Those lights are ready to do something

Are we ready to do what they ask? Got this in my email box today:

The Utah Department of Transportation, Region Three will initiate a ramp meter system between Lehi and Orem beginning Tuesday morning August 12, 2008. Further information on this project is contained in the attached press release. Any help you can give us in letting Utah County commuters now about this would be greatly appreciated. If you have further questions please let me know.

Sincerely,
Scott Thompson
UDOT Region 3 Public Information Manager
658 North 1500 WestOrem, UT 84057-3058
Office-801-227-8006
Cell-801-830-9599
scottthompson@utah.gov

Ramp Meters Begin Operation in Utah County
System will help make commuting easier
Orem – The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will turn on a ramp meter system on Interstate 15 in Utah County beginning Tuesday, August 12, 2008. Ramps between Lehi and Orem will now have traffic signals which will control vehicles entering the I-15. Each lane on the ramp will have its own signal. The green light will be long enough to allow one vehicle to enter onto the freeway per lane and will alternate between the lanes. There will also be an electronic sign at each ramp entrance notifying drivers when the ramp meter is on.
The following is a list of ramps that will now have the meter system and will be in operation the morning of August 12th:
SR 92, (southbound only) Lehi
Main Street, Lehi
Pleasant Grove Boulevard, Pleasant Grove
1600 North, Orem
800 North, Orem
Center Street, Orem
University Parkway, Orem
Initially, the meters will be in operation on northbound ramps from 7 AM to 8:30 AM and from 4:30 PM to 6 PM. Meters on southbound ramps will be in operation from 4:30 PM to 6 PM. These times and locations are subject to change.
“During the morning and afternoon commute, groups of vehicles attempt to access I-15 at the same time, which slows down traffic. Ramp meters regulate how frequently vehicles access I-15 by creating gaps which allow motorists to merge safely without creating additional travel delays,” said John Higgins, UDOT Project Manager.
The ramp meter system will improve the overall operation of the freeway system, improve safety and reduce overall vehicle emissions. This is the second ramp metering system in Utah and the first in Utah county.
-UDOT-
ST/r3 02

Dog Ordinance Work Session Postponed

In an earlier post, I mentioned a City Council work meeting regarding a dog ordinance. It is my understanding this is going to be postponed, but please check the web page, www.orem.org . If you are interested in the meeting, please check www.orem.org and click on "Agendas" in the "Find it Fast Directory" on the right side of the web page. The City Council typically meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays. Agendas are usually posted the Friday before a council meeting.

Should Public Clamor Count?

I found this article while doing some research. Click on the title of this post or on the word "article" above.

What's in Karen's email box?

A city councilmember's email box is rarely dull. I thought I would post excerpts from some emails I have received in the last couple of days.

1. KSL's report that Orem may ban pit bulls:


"Education, licensing and training are the solutions you're looking for to help reduce the occurrence of dog attacks. They might be a little more difficult to enact and enforce, and they might not be as popular politically, but if you want to do what is right for your citizens, both dog owners and non-owners, you need to abandon the notion of a breed ban, which will discourage responsible owners from caring for these animals and will do nothing to reduce the number of irresponsible owners. "


2. Regarding the property located on the NE corner of 1200 N 800W. It is was purchased with the intention of expanding the cemetery at some point in the future:


"I am interested in trying to find out about the possibility of changing the nature of the cemetery expansion area at 12th North and 8th East in Orem. Currently, most people refer to it as the "track" or "North-East Orem soccer fields." Right now I know that it is set aside for cemetery expansion but I think it would be a far better used as a designated and permanent park. Currently it is used by hundreds of people per day and is really a unique location in North East Orem. Not unexpectedly, everyone I talk to agrees that it would be better as a park that everyone can enjoy than a cemetery that very few will be able to use on a daily basis"

US 6 will be closed

Another construction advisory in my email box:

Construction Advisory:
Closure of US6 at Milepost 200 Bridge
Spanish Fork – The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will close US6 two miles west of the Tucker rest area at the milepost 200 bridge on Tuesday August 5, 2008 from 10 pm to 6 am. UDOT will be removing several inches of asphalt off the bridge.
Motorists are encouraged to use the following detour routes during this closure.
Semi-trucks and travelers on west bound I-70 should stay on I-70 and take US50 north at Salina to Scipio to access north bound I-15.
Semi-trucks and travelers south bound on I-15 should stay on I-15 and take US50 south at Scipio and connect with I-70.
Travelers on US6 out of Price should take US191 east to Duchesne and then US40 west to Heber.

800 North Update

In my email box this morning:


The south half of the 800 East intersection remains closed for utility work on the storm drain and water lines, as well as the signals. Work continues on the center medians and landscaping.

Construction Activity Update – 7/28/08
The following are planned activities for the coming week. Please note that due to weather, project conflicts, or equipment/supply issues, schedules are subject to change.

800 East Intersection: The south half of the 800 East intersection is closed while crews finish laying the water line and storm drain. These will be tested next week. Questar will finish their work on the gas line this week. Work will begin on the foundations for the new signals. Left turns are not allowed at this intersection. It is anticipated that this intersection will reopen by the third week of August.
800 East to 1000 East: Two lanes of traffic are running in both directions on the north half of the roadway from 700 East to 1000 East. This week crews continue to removing curb, gutter, and sidewalk on the south side and prep the area for the new concrete.
Left Turns: Left turns are allowed at 400 West, State Street, and 400 East.
Medians: The center medians are in place from 400 West to 100 West. Crews continue to work in the center to pour the concrete for the medians from Main Street to the east. These medians will be raised and landscaped. Please exercise extra caution as crews will be working in the center of the road for the next several weeks.
Landscaping: Crews continue to lay cobble rock, install sprinklers, put down topsoil, and prepare for sod on the north and south sides of 800 North. Landscaping work will begin in the center medians as soon as the concrete is set.
Pedestrians on 800 North: Although 800 North is becoming increasingly pedestrian friendly, please continue to exercise caution and use common sense when crossing the road. Do not enter areas that are marked off by cones or barrels.

More Information
Project updates and background can be found online at www.udot.utah.gov/orem800north. This site will be updated as the project continues and details become available. For specific questions or concerns, contact the Public Information Team at 801-360-4944 or by email at chulet@langdongroupinc.com.

Pit Bull emails

KSL's report that Orem may consider a pit bull ban prompted a number of people to email me. I appreciate how all the emails were cordial-THANK YOU! Many had information about the problems with "breed specific legislation" (BSL). As I said in yesterday's post, Orem City staff has been working on a draft ordinance for a number of months and I do not know if the the draft legislation being given to the city council includes a breed ban. The proposed legislation isn't a sudden "let's ban pit bulls" document.