Vacuum - Edward Vielmetti in Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

Ann Arbor May 6 2008 election results and AutoMARK voting issues

I'll link to election results when they go online here. The Washtenaw County site has the official results. The Ann Arbor News has coverage on the blog, but, true to form, they don't link to the official results site in their coverage.

Early returns (63% counted at 9:30pm) have both Ann Arbor millage proposals passing 3-1, and incumbent school board member Helen Gates-Bryant leading 2-1. Voter turnout looks like it's going to be less than 10% county wide.

This is the second election that I've tried to vote using the AutoMARK machines used to provide assistive technology for those with low vision. The first time I tried this back in January I failed to make it work:

The technological snafu was voting as though I was a vision-impaired voter and trying to use the AutoMARK machines provided for that purpose.... The machine marks ballots with audio prompting; it has awful industrial design, a very clumsy ballot shield, the poll workers had not run a real ballot through it all day (just a sample ballot), and when it spat back my ballot a half dozen times they directed me to the hand marked ballot booth rather than spoiling the ballot and starting with a new piece of paper.

I got to the polling place a little bit earlier this time and tried it again. It misbehaved the same way, but this time there was time to figure it out, so the poll workers called in their expert who drove over to help figure it out. The solution ended up to be very simple: the detachable stub on the ballot must be detached before putting the ballot into the machine, despite the very clear instructions on that stub not to detach it, and with no visible instructions to detach it anywhere on the AutoMARK machine.

I was able to find with some digging a AutoMARK Troubleshooting Guide, which mentions two possible solutions: either remove the stub before putting the ballot into the machine, or program the machine to recognize the stub. I don't know whether this stub length programming is possible with the ballots we are using.

If the ballot has a stub, the stub length may not have been entered into the election setup information.

Note that the system did work with the sample ballot tested by the poll workers - but the sample ballot did not have a stub at the top!

Note for next time: vote early (and vote often), and tear the stub off before inserting the ballot into the AutoMARK machine, despite all of the instructions to the contrary.

UPDATE:

More AutoMARK issues, as I find them around the net:

Ada County, ID: " About 90% of the precincts encountered problems testing the machines because the stub was still attached. This is clearly our fault. The ballots we trained with did not have stubs on them. We never thought about the significance of that and obviously the manufacturer did not consider that either"

Contra Costa County, CA: "During the March Election, the Grand Jury observed the following: a. The perforation on the ballot stub, which the voter received, did not always tear cleanly, complicating insertion of the ballot into the scanner. "

Burns Park Run 2008

I walked the 5k - official time 39:47 (a 12:49 pace). Lots of fun! More details and link to race results when it's online.

UPDATE: Burns Park Run 2008 results are up! Searchable complete results (789 finishers), 10K run, 5K run, 5K walk.

The official race site for the Burns Park Run is where the race results will be.

Some race photos from Mae's Real Stories and The Corkys.

This movie has the course sped up to 5 minutes - it's a terrific route.

Jamie Innis on how to raise chickens (Dexter 4-H)

Jamie Innis from the Dexter 4-H on raising chickens, for all you Ann Arbor city kids whose parents think it might be a good idea for you to have a project.

Story at the Ann Arbor News by Judy McGovern.

Detroit suburban SMART bus transit routing in Google Transit

The Detroit area SMART bus system now has routing and schedule information in Google Transit. It gives bus numbers and times for rides across the metro Detroit area, and plans the next available trips for you.

With all of this data it now looks almost possible to schedule and plan transportation from Ann Arbor to large parts of metro Detroit on public transportation. Mind you it's a little roundabout, but you have two choices:

- take Amtrak Ann Arbor - Detroit - Royal Oak - Pontiac, 3 trips/day
- take the Michigan Flyer bus to Metro Airport, switch to a SMART bus, and connect to routes from there - allow plenty of time for transfers and to find your stops.

I haven't timed the last of these, but I'm sure it's at least three hours, maybe four if you get a bad transfer time. (ouch) But it does, indeed, look possible, perhaps even interesting in an adventure travel sort of way.

Technorati Tags: maps, google-transit, bus, annarbor, neogeography

AATA proposed route changes for Fall 2008, preliminary analysis

The AATA has announced proposed changes to the schedule for this fall. New maps and schedules are not out yet, but there are descriptions of the changes. Here's a breakdown of what wins and what loses with the change.

There's more information and discussion of this on:
- Arbor Update
- Get Downtown
- Ann Arbor News
- Ann Arbor Is Overrated
links to follow when they all get around to writing about it

The short summary, I think, is that the bus system is shifting its service to improve route frequency to the west side of town, cutting service on routes that have low ridership, and shaving a trip here and there. I don't know the total number of service hours before and after (no data yet).

Notably missing from this set of changes is any kind of express bus Ann Arbor to Ypsilanti routing (the mythical 4X route), and any routing that goes directly down Maple/Stadium (the mythical "east-west connector" which could go Sky High to Arborland in one straight shot).

Who wins:
- Route 8 is every 15 minutes! The biggest win
- Route 12UM (Miller) adds service to Sky High, 15 min service on Miller Rd
- minor tweaks to the 4 to speed the journey
- one extra 4 afternoon bus as far as Arborland
- late night (10:45) Blake to Pioneer on the 7

Who loses:
- late trips on the 1U
- evening service on the 3
- latest trip Ypsi-Ann Arbor on the 5
- 12UL goes way (replaced by improved 8 service)
- mid-day 13
- mid-day 14
- summer evening, sunday 15
- 16 changes which I can't parse which probably affect shopping trips

More as I get maps.

Ann Arbor City Code: littering

in our series on relevant parts of the city code, here's the piece that lets you quote chapter and verse when some part of your walk to town goes past a building littered with soggy 3+ day old newspapers.

Chapter 82 LITTERING AND DISTRIBUTION OF HANDBILLS

7:103. Owner to maintain premises free of litter, handbills and newspapers.
The owner or person in control of private property shall at all times maintain the premises free of litter, handbills or more than three days accumulation of newspapers. Provided, however, that this section shall not prohibit the storage of litter in authorized private receptacles for collection.
(Ord. No. 14-64, 3-30-64; Ord. No. 63-78, 11-6-78; Ord. No. 15-02, § 5, 4-15-02)

7:104. Clearing of litter, handbills and newspapers from open private property by city.
Whenever private property is in a condition in violation of section 7:103, the administrator is authorized to remove the litter, handbills or newspapers. Before removing materials pursuant to this section, the city shall give notice of violation. The city shall give notice of violation by posting the notice at a conspicuous place on the property at least 24 hours prior to removing materials. The city may also deliver the notice to the property owner as shown on assessment records or by sending the notice byfirst-class mail to the property owner as shown on assessment records at least 72 hours prior to removing materials. No notice shall be required if a public health hazard necessitates immediate removal of materials. All costs (including labor, equipment, materials, disposal and overhead) of work performed by the city under this section shall be charged to the owner of the involved property. If the charges are not paid, they may be assessed against the property pursuant to section 1:292 of Chapter 13 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 14-64, 3-30-64; Ord. No. 63-78, 11-6-78; Ord. No. 72-90, § 1, 12-17-90; Ord. No. 15-02, § 6, 4-15-02; Ord. No. 41-02, § 5, 11-7-02)

7:106. Penalties.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, each violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00 and costs of prosecution or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Sections 7:93, 7:102, 7:103, and 7:104 shall be a civil infraction punishable by a civil fine of not less than $200.00 and up to $1,000.00, plus costs and all other remedies available by statute. Each day of violation shall be a separate violation. If thepenalty for sections 7:93 and 7:103 is not paid within 45 days, it may be assessed against the parcel under section 1:292 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 41-02, § 6, 11-7-02; Ord. No. 1-03, § 1, 2-18-03; Ord. No. 25-04, §§ 8, 9, 8-2-04; Ord. No. 30-05, § 3, 8-15-05)
Editor's note: Ord. No. 25-04, § 8, adopted Aug. 2, 2004, repealed former § 7:105 which pertained to enforcement. Section 9 of said ordinance renumbered § 7:106 as § 7:105 and amended § 7:105 to read as herein set out. See also the Code Comparative Table.

Technorati Tags: litter, annarbor, neighborhood

Snow Day - Billy Collins

As always, we will be tuning in to see if the Ann Arbor schools are closed tomorrow; it's bitterly cold, there are wind chill warnings, and a few area schools have already cancelled. AAPS snow day phone 734-994-8684 - WWJ SE Michigan snow day page - WZZM Grand Rapids MI school closings - WSYM Lansing MI school closings - WLUC Marquette MI / Upper Peninsula school closings

SNOW DAY by Billy Collins

Originally from The Atlantic, February 2000

Hear Billy Collins read this poem (in RealAudio).

Today we woke up to a revolution of snow,
its white flag waving over everything,
the landscape vanished,
not a single mouse to punctuate the blankness,
and beyond these windows

the government buildings smothered,
schools and libraries buried, the post office lost
under the noiseless drift,
the paths of trains softly blocked,
the world fallen under this falling.

In a while I will put on some boots
and step out like someone walking in water,
and the dog will porpoise through the drifts,
and I will shake a laden branch,
sending a cold shower down on us both.

But for now I am a willing prisoner in this house,
a sympathizer with the anarchic cause of snow.
I will make a pot of tea
and listen to the plastic radio on the counter,
as glad as anyone to hear the news

that the Kiddie Corner School is closed,
the Ding-Dong School, closed,
the All Aboard Children's School, closed,
the Hi-Ho Nursery School, closed,
along with -- some will be delighted to hear --

the Toadstool School, the Little School,
Little Sparrows Nursery School,
Little Stars Pre-School, Peas-and-Carrots Day School,
the Tom Thumb Child Center, all closed,
and -- clap your hands -- the Peanuts Play School.

So this is where the children hide all day,
These are the nests where they letter and draw,
where they put on their bright miniature jackets,
all darting and climbing and sliding,
all but the few girls whispering by the fence.

And now I am listening hard
in the grandiose silence of the snow,
trying to hear what those three girls are plotting,
what riot is afoot,
which small queen is about to be brought down.

Technorati Tags: michigan, cold, snow, weather, brrr

Calder Dairy video on Youtube

We get our milk from Calder Dairy, which delivers (Stan is the milkman). Here's a short Youtube tour of their dairy farm downriver.

Technorati Tags: cows, dairy, moo, calder

snow poetry, school closing, paczki, Kindergarten, NAAPID

Since the storm is coming, I'd remind you of this page I'm collecting snow poetry on. ORD was showing 5 hour delays a few minutes ago and there are expectations of 6-10 inches.

UPDATE: Wednesday, March 5 2008. Ann Arbor Public Schools closed. Check the Arborwiki sledding page for your favorite place to slide.

UPDATE: Thursday, February 7 2008. WWJ Radio has a comprehensive schools closed list for SE Michigan. In the area already closed are several schools in Livingston Co (Brighton, Howell, Pinckney) but no news yet for Ann Arbor. Some snow day reading for kids to inspire you.

UPDATE: Friday, February 1, 2008 The Ann Arbor Public Schools are closed today.
UPDATE: Snow depth maps daily from Weather Underground

UPDATE: NOHRSC is "the ultimate source of snow information"

Ann Arbor snow day hotlines by telephone:

Ann Arbor City snow desk 734-994-2359
Ann Arbor Public Schools closing info 734-994-8684

For Ann Arbor school closings information, consult your second grader, who is planning a play date. If you don't know about that you can check the Ann Arbor school closing information page which says in part:

Inclement weather may require closing schools or changing school schedules and bus routes. The decision is made after an early inspection of road conditions and school facilities, as well as current or forecasted weather conditions. When schools are closed or schedules and/or bus routes are changed, information is sent immediately to the major radio and television stations-by 6:00 a.m. if at all possible.

February 5 is Paczki Day, and the authoritative source of information on this day is the Hamtramck Star's Keyword(s): paczki collection.

If you know of good Paczki in Ann Arbor, Arborwiki would like to know abou them. On my block downtown they are being sold at Amadeus.

If you have a kindergartener starting in the fall, it's time for the Ann Arbor Public Schools Kindergarten Roundup schedule. The Burns Park dates are 2/11/08 and 2/19/08, and if you have any questions as a new parent to the school I'd be happy to help find someone to answer. The 2/11 date is National African American Parent Involvement Day, which was founded by Joseph Dulin:

"Every parent wants their child to have a better quality of life than they themselves had. It is the American dream, and for many African Americans, this dream has not been realized as a result of their child's failure in school. Education is the key to success and parents are educators' greatest allies." Joseph Dulin

That's it for tonight.

Ann Arbor sign ordinances

If your neighbor erects a giant sign on their lawn, or on the side of their house, what is your recourse?

UPDATE: In Ann Arbor the simple and direct way to deal with this is to call the city's Community Standards department at 734-994-1613. A neighbor who has been through this before says that they deal with sign problems promptly.

The appropriate part of the city code reads as follows. NOTE: This is not the official city code site! Find it and read it before complaining.

- PDF from the Ann Arbor Board of Realtors:

5:504. Residence signs.

(1) Single and 2-family houses. Townhouses and detached single-family and duplex
houses are permitted signs having a total area of 3 square feet indicating the address and
names of the occupants.
(2) Multiple family residences. Apartment houses, fraternity houses, sorority houses,
cooperative houses, retirement homes, tourist homes and religious institutions are
permitted signs having a total area of 12 square feet indicating only the address, the
names of the occupants and the name of the building or organization.
(3) Subdivisions. Subdivisions of single and 2-family homes and housing complexes of
more than 1 apartment or town house building are permitted signs identifying the
subdivisions or housing complex. Such signs shall have an area of not more than 50
square feet and a height of not more than 8 feet. A subdivision or housing complex shall
not have a total of more than 2 such signs nor more than 1 per entrance.
(Ord. No. 55-74, 6-9-75; Ord. No. 33-82, 8-2-82)

5:505 Temporary signs.

Unilluminated on-premises temporary exterior signs may be erected in accordance with
the regulations of this section.
(1) Single and Two-Family Real Estate--For Sale Signs.
(a) A single sign with a maximum height of 48 inches and a maximum width of 36
inches, including the support structure and all riders, and with the bottom of the sign a
minimum of 6 inches from the ground, advertising the sale of a single or two-family
house or variant property adjacent to such a house is permitted.
(b) Such a sign shall be set back at least 15 feet from the street and at least 5 feet from
the inside edge of the sidewalk, or in accordance with Table 5:505 when conditions do
not permit such placement. Provided, that if a legally existing obstruction on the property
prevents the sign from being seen from the street when the sign is placed in accordance
with the foregoing placement requirements, then the sign may be affixed to or placed
immediately in front of such obstruction, so long as the display face of the sign is parallel
to the right-of-way line, and so long as the sign is not placed within the public right-of-
way.
(c) A sign advertising the sale of a property must be removed within 48 hours after the
closing on the sale.
(2) Single and Two-Family Real Estate--Rental Signs.
(a) A single sign with a maximum height of 48 inches and a maximum width of 36
inches, including the support structure and all riders, and with the bottom of the sign a
minimum of 6 inches from the ground, advertising the rental of a single or two-family
house or variant property adjacent to such a house is permitted.
(b) Such sign shall be set back at least 15 feet from the street and at least 5 feet from
the inside edge of the sidewalk, or in accordance with Table 5:505 when conditions do
not permit such placement. Provided, that if a legally existing obstruction on the property
prevents the sign from being seen from the street when the sign is placed in accordance
with the foregoing placement requirements, then the sign may be affixed to or placed
immediately in front of such obstruction, so long as the display face of the sign is parallel
to the right-of-way line, and so long as the sign is not placed within the public right-of-
way.
(c) A sign advertising the rental of a property must be removed within 48 hours after
the property is no longer available for rent.
(3) Real Estate. A sign with a total area not in excess of 12 square feet advertising the
sale or rental of real estate other than single or two-family houses is permitted pursuant to
a permit having a maximum duration of 120 days. It shall have a maximum height of 10
feet and shall be set back 25 feet unless attached to a permanent building.

The sign board of appeals home page:

Brenda Acquaviva, Appeal Board Administrative Support Specialist
(734) 994-2696 - Bacquaviva@a2gov.org

there's lots of broken links on that page.

Technorati Tags: annarbor, good-signs-make-good-neighbors, semiotics, sign