Monday, August 13, 2012

How many?

A comment on my Friday post inquired about the number of calls the police department is responding to regarding violations of Lincoln's mandatory water restrictions, which went into effect late last week.  On Thursday It was 5, Friday 35, Saturday 44, Sunday 26, and so far today we're at 8 and climbing fast.  You can check these numbers yourself at our web site. Water restriction calls are a sub-category of 24000 Miscellaneous.

The primary problem resulting in these calls is the inability of some people to figure out that their automatic sprinkler system has an OFF switch.  In addition, there are some people for whom the concept of even and odd addresses is difficult, and a whole lot of people who do not read the newspaper, listen to newscasts on the radio, or watch the news on TV, so they have no idea at all that Lincoln is under a water restriction.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks. I'm the one that asked for that. I'm not surprised there are people who don't know about the water restriction. I don't watch the news or read the paper either.

I think it's amazing there are so many people who turn in their neighbor or just drive around finding things to call the police about.

Anonymous said...

I think it"s "amazing" that you "don't watch the news or read the paper either"; yet you're online. Give us a break.

Anonymous said...

I've always thought lawns were just a way of keeping up with the Joneses. Is there a bigger waste of a valuable Natural Resource? Maybe irrigating corn to make Ethanol is close?

Gun Nut

Anonymous said...

Are these violations tagged on crimemapping or NearMe?

Tom Casady said...

8:49,

No.

Anonymous said...

So much for an average of 12 per day.

Tom Casady said...

10:05,

You can say that again.

Anonymous said...

What does being on-line have to do with watching the news or reading the paper? I knew about the water restriction because I read the Director's Blog. That doesn't mean I have to watch the news or read the paper on-line. I don't have enough time in my day to do that so why don't YOU give us a break.

Anonymous said...

Okay. So much for an average of 12 per day.
:)

Anonymous said...

So much for an average of 12 per day.

Anonymous said...

Monday 8-14 there were 172 water calls. Ridiculous waste of manpower.

The Cheese Stands Alone said...

I'm sure all the people that called in to report these violations first asked the neighbor if they knew about the restricted days, like the Mayor requested, right?

Steve said...

If the water shortage is as real as they would have us believe, I can't think of a much more important use of police power. I don't really care all that much if the guy two blocks away is slapping his GF, or someone hid two bottles of scotch in their pants at SuperSaver, or an unknown took some CDs from an unlocked vehicle. If I can't get a glass of water to take my blood pressure pills because some jerk is watering his lawn with what little we have left, that is something that matters to me.

Anonymous said...

Just wondering. Why are cops taking these calls instead of the water department? Lincoln has had 5shootings/stabbings since July 4 and I don't know how many burglaries that I read about on line. Don't the cops have serious issues to deal with other then going around telling people that their sprinkler is spraying on the sidewalk. Kind of a waste or resources if you ask me.

Tom Casady said...

7:19,

Your elected officials task the police, and the list of seemingly petty things that devolve upon cops is long. We're here to serve: but we do not decide on our own what those services will be. In this case, we have a borderline water emergency, and the water department lacks the resources and infrastructure to go mobile and radio dispatch employees to violations-- things like sufficient staff, vehicles, radios, dispatchers, call takers. They also lack any enforcement authority. The reaction to a uniformed officer on your porch telling you to comply might be a little different than to a guy in a blue polo with a clipboard.

Anonymous said...

Mr Director, your comment at 8:08 all makes perfect sense. I think the water dept could drive around to violations, note the violation and send the property owner a citation through the mail. Same as guys that plows snow. Why do you need a cop to go out and verify that a car is parked on the wrong side of the road during a snow emergency. Doesn't the snow plow driver have the ability to note the vehicle and plate, location and time and follow it up with a citation in the mail. I read that other towns using cameras at intersections for red light violations just send out the citation in the mail. It would sure free up alot of resources from the police dept that could be used on other community issues.

Anonymous said...

Like working non-injury accidents.

Anonymous said...

I am with "and the cheese stands alone". Why aren't these neighborly neighbors being...well...neighborly? I am a single mom with preschool children who works full time at a challenging job ( keeping kids safe!) and I am scrambling to take care of house, yard, kids, animals etc. and I honestly thought I had switched water to off. I only had it on on Sunday to water stressed trees. Now I get to take a day off work...pay a huge fine...and maybe go to jail. And I am the ultimate rule follower so it really bites....too much to do in day...now I am supposed to beat self up for not adequately monitoring the news. And how did the 40 who actually received citations get chosen from the 150 calls?

Anonymous said...

If one could work their sprinklers from an I pad maybe they could figure it out ?

Tom Casady said...

12:14,

Or maybe the TV remote.

Anonymous said...

Can you please do something about antelope valley watering 19th ST north and south of Ost Islands etc.
It flows like a river almost everyday Morning really early it has been almost 2 WEEKS now and no one will do anything about it. Who is in charge of that Mess? Apparently NO ONE? Who gets the ticket, the citizens are getting the bill for all the wasted water! Thanks....Nice green turf....too? so much for leading by example.

Tom Casady said...

2:04,

I passed your comment along to the Director of Public Works. There is an exception in the restriction for newly-laid sod and seed, so watering this everyday is not illegal, but I have also noticed a quite a bit of overspray in this vicinity.

I'm not sure whether this portion of the project is the responsibility of the Public Works Department or the Joint Antelope Valley Authority, but hopefully this will get where it needs to go, so somebody can see if there is anyway to reduce the overspray without killing the new grass.

Anonymous said...

Wow 12:14 and Tom.... Sounds like you think everyone who is not 100 percent focused on their watering systems is a moron who can't figure out how to turn them off and on...quite insulting. And, of course, incorrect. I am not seeing people post that they are perplexed by their water systems.... I guess if you dismiss people by characterizing them as fools who just lay on couch with remotes you don't have to really listen to their opinions.

Tom Casady said...

7:43,

Oh, come on. Does everything have to be dead serious? My remote's way more complex than I can manage. Heck, I need 4 different remotes to watch the news!!!!

Anonymous said...

Most of it is not grass !

Anonymous said...

Everyone who waters on the wrong day should have to watch the documentary "Last call at the Oasis" for a diversion program !

http://lastcallattheoasis.com/#trailer