June 06, 2014

The legislation changes regulations on fence height for reversed corner lot homes and for certain home lots with double frontages on two streets. It also changes the appeal process for the design of front yard fences, said Mara Perry, director of planning and development.

On reversed corner lots, no fence which exceeds four feet in height can be erected closer to the street than the front line of the main building on the adjacent property.

Burns said the changes fail to provide residents "the opportunity to maximize the enjoyment, privacy and valuation of their homes.

"(The revised law) is needlessly complex and confusing in comparison to one of our neighboring community's (Kirkwood's) simple and effective approach to fencing issues," he said.

Burns agreed that the fence law needed revising, but he said the changes aren't being uniformly applied to all homes and are creating a "subset of lesser residents."

The changes will also allow unelected members of the architectural review board to make decisions on what will or won't be allowed regarding fences, he added.

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WG OKs New Rules On Fences

RESIDENTS are furious after being "barricaded in" to their homes by Commonwealth Games security fences.

People living near the Emirates Arena say they are dealing with prison-like conditions and are unable to drive in or out of their street due to the "over-the-top" security measures.

The fencing, which is around 8ft tall, comes up to the pavement and is blocking local access.

The worst affected areas are Springfield Road between the Emirates Arena and the Athletes' Village and Baltic Street.

Eleanor Miller, 58, who lives on Springfield Road, said: "We are being barricaded into our own homes. I don't know how I will get in and out to work. "

Residents have also been told they are not allowed to park their cars in front of their homes, leaving many having to park vehicles far away.

John McGregor, 59, is disabled and lives with his wife Marjorie on Springfield Road.

They have had to move their car to a relative's house and are stranded without transport.

John said: "It's a disgrace. I have a walking stick and rely on the car. We were on holiday and were told by the police not to park our car outside the house before we left. We came back and saw all the fencing.

His wife Marjory said: "It's just not very friendly at all, is it?

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Fury as street fenced in for Games

Drywall Installation Tool or Drywall Lift - (The Hanger #39;s Edge)
The Hanger #39;s Edge Drywall Installation Tool not only makes hanging drywall easier, but ensures a better job. You will love all of it #39;s design features for ha...

By: Jim Roberts

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Drywall Installation Tool or Drywall Lift - (The Hanger's Edge) - Video

MiCasa MakeOver Drywall Installation
Drywall - Tape, float and texture.

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MiCasa MakeOver Drywall Installation - Video

Burlington Post

Installing a central vacuum system is a manageable project for most DIY enthusiasts. It takes pre planning to ensure you are able to use the vacuum effectively. Here are some tips that will help you run into less issues as you proceed.

Tool Tips

You can use most of the tools you will find in your DIYers tool box, but there are a few recommended items you can consider adding for a more efficient job:

Use a tubing cutter for cleaner cuts on the PVC piping.

Use 2-1/4" wood boring bit similar to a Forstner bit.

Rent a right-angle drill if you do not have one.

A drywall saw makes the job easier.

Location Tips

Make sure the locations you choose for the outlets are centrally located as well as allowing for proper reach for a 30 or 35 foot hose. Look for spots in hallways or closet walls and ensure these spots do not back onto things such as plumbing or electrical outlets. Make sure these locations are convenient and not behind furniture or doors that will make it difficult to plug in your hose. As well if you choose to use floor outlets on your second story be certain they are not in a spot where furniture will logically be placed and keep them close to the border of the wall as plastic outlets will crack if stepped on. You may want to use metal inlets for floor mount locations.

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The Vac Connection - Central vacuum installation MADE EASY

Maxwell High School of Technology teacher Max Chavez, left, talks with middle school students on Monday about changing a tire during a summer camp at the school. (Staff Photo: Keith Farner)

LAWRENCEVILLE If Kevin Bacchus has car trouble one day, hes prepared to reach back to some skills he learned this week.

The Richards Middle School sixth-grader is participating in an auto collision class this week as part of a four-day summer camp for middle school students at the Maxwell High School of Technology that runs through Thursday morning. Bacchus worked with his classmate, Peter Lauderdale, to change a tire among a host of mechanical lessons on tap.

This is something Ive always wanted to do, Bacchus said. If I get in a situation where my car breaks down and I have enough tools in the back to fix it, how do I do it? This will help me a little bit starting off to know about the future, to know how to fix the car if it breaks down and I have all the parts.

For his part, Lauderdale added that he wants to learn why warning lights come on, and how to fix a car to turn them off.

From auto services, to culinary students making sugar cookies and health science students learning about personal protective equipment, about 205 students are participating in the annual camp hoping to learn and sharpen skills. The camp is designed to introduce basic fundamentals of the 12 programs Maxwell offers. The camp also includes classes that teach basic science, graphic arts and early childhood education.

The biggest thing is it kind of opens kids eyes to what we do with career and technical education, Principal Jeff Hall said. Quite honestly, it may serve as a great recruiting tool for us when kids get to high school. To me, the biggest thing is to show the kids there is another option than a traditional high school.

Excerpt from:
Summer camp offers glimpse into Maxwell High programs

Tips For Hiring The Best Asphalt Driveway Contractor

Asphalt driveways are a very cost effective and popular choice in driveway options. However, it is very important that you hire a competent and experienced asphalt paving contractor in order to get the results you want. Asphalt driveways are very durable and can last twenty years or longer if they are properly installed and maintained. Therefore it definitely pays to make sure you get a competent contractor to install your driveway.

Asphalt driveways are durable, flexible and strong, making them ideal for colder climates where freezing and thawing occur on a frequent basis. They are not as well suited for warm climates however. In hot temperatures asphalt can become soft and ruts can develop due to the weight of the vehicles parked on them. However, if you live in a cold climate, asphalt is an ideal material to install for your driveway.

Asphalt paving consists of an aggregate of sand and stone which is then mixed in with a liquid asphalt cement. The aggregate need to be mixed carefully and heated before being combined with the liquid asphalt. In order for the asphalt driveway to cure properly the mixture must be delivered to your residence while it is still hot.

It is very important that the paving contractor prepare the driveway properly in order to ensure that you end up with a high quality asphalt driveway. The preparation process includes removing the clay soil or topsoil and replacing that with a sub base of gravel or crushed stone.

A paving job will typically consist of applying two layers of the hot asphalt mix on top of the layer of sub base. If you are going to have heavy vehicles, RVs or boats parked in the driveway on a regular basis you may want to opt for full depth asphalt. With this type of application, your entire driveway as well as the layer of gravel sub base is constructed with liquid asphalt cement. This binds the layer of sub base with the cement and creates a much stronger driveway.

It is important that you hire an experienced paver in order to make sure that the job is done right and you end up with a high quality, strong asphalt driveway that will last for many years. When choosing a paving contract you need to get several quotes so you can compare several contractors not only on price but on their experience and other qualifications as well. You can get initial recommendations from family and friend and also search in directories locally as well as online.

Ask for references from prior customers to make sure that they were happy with the work done by the paving contractor. Also check to make sure that the contractor is bonded and insured. This will protect you from any liabilities while the work is taking place and well as any potentially sub-par work done by the contractor.

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Asphalt Driveway Calculator | How Much Does a Asphalt ...

Created: 06/03/2014 12:07 PM WHEC.com

Are you looking to get your driveway paved this summer? The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to use caution when hiring a paving contractor.

Officials at the BBB say they have already heard from consumers in Albany and Syracuse who have fallen victim to this scam.

The driveway paving scam is not new but each year consumers are swindled out of unreasonable amounts of money. And, often times, the paving projects are unnecessary, said Warren Clark, President of BBB serving Upstate New York. In many cases, the paving company disappears and the consumer is not able to contact them to complain about the work. You can always check out paving companies at BBB.org to make an informed decision.

Paving scam signs include:

BBB tips for hiring a paving contractor:

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BBB alert: Driveway paving scam is back for the summer

With the warmer weather in store, now's the time many homeowners look to contract with a paving agency for their driveways. But, the Better Business Bureau is warning people to be aware of scammers.

The BBB has heard from customers in the Albany and Syracuse areas who gave money up front to a man going door to door offering to pave their driveways and the work was not finished.

The Bureau says to be aware of companies that knock on your door and claim to have leftover materials from another job and offer bargain prices.

Also, watch out for companies who are out of state, push you to make a decision, offer no contract, require cash-only sales and of course, deals that seem too good to be true.

For scam alerts, tips and other information visit the Better Business Bureau's website.

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BBB Warns Homeowners of Driveway Paving Scammers

Updated: Thursday, June 5 2014, 12:13 AM CDT Reported by: Chris Nallan Contributor: Lea Jolan (LJWilson@SBGTV.com)

"Very cheated, I feel like they just took money out of our wallet, they stole from us," said Patricia Robinson, who is a victim of a paving scam in Adams County.

What seemed to be a good deal to Patricia became a criminal act in her own driveway.

"They showed up at our door, they said they were in the area, work was slow, they were wondering if they could work on our driveway," she said.

This shoddy deal ended up costing nearly $900 and left the Robinson family with a rocky, sticky mess instead of a smooth asphalt driveway.

"I don't know what it's going to cost, but certainly if we're not able to get back what we paid, we got to pay probably around $3,000 for a good quality job," said Robinson.

After the driveway was completed, problems quickly surfaced 24 hours later. Patricia called the number shown on this receipt. At this point she knew she was scammed.

"He kept telling me that you know, it's going to harden, everything's going to set, it's going to settle, it's going to flatten out and I said how can that be when I have all these loose pieces," said Robinson.

A representative of a local paving company who is aware of this type of scam gives tips on what you need to keep in mind when looking for a contractor:

Find a local trusted contractor, someone by word of mouth that you hear about Make sure they are licensed Note the license plates on the vehicle, out-of-state plates could be out to scam.

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Adams county woman falls victim to contractor scam