Fake Solar Eclipse Glasses: Your Community May Be at Risk
Current Issues and Events | Aug. 14, 2017
people watching a solar eclipse with glasses

Millions of Americans will watch the Aug. 21 solar eclipse and have already purchased (or will) eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers to do so. Some of these people may be at risk from counterfeit glasses and viewers sold by disreputable vendors trying to cash in on this rare event. Watching the eclipse with fake protective gear can cause permanent eye damage, making this a community risk reduction issue.

Only glasses and viewers verified by an accredited testing laboratory to meet ISO 12312-2 are safe to use when viewing the eclipse. This standard requires glasses and viewers to be thousands of times darker than typical sunglasses.

It may be hard to tell the difference between genuine protective gear and fake glasses/viewers as some counterfeit makers are placing ISO labels on them. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) has guidance to help eclipse watchers determine if their eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers are safe. In addition, NASA recommends that eclipse watchers refer to the AAS’s website for a list of reputable vendors selling solar glasses and viewers.

(A) Unlawful without permission. It shall be unlawful for any person to burn refuse, trash, lumber, leaves, grass, straw or any other combustible material in any street, alley, lot, yard or any other place within the city limits, without first securing permission as provided for in subsection (B) of this section.
(B) Persons authorized to grant permission. Only the Chief of the Fire Department or next in command is authorized to grant permission to persons to burn combustible material prohibited in subsection (A) of this section, as the Chief may determine. Permission shall be secured in writing and shall be valid only for the period of time designated.
(C) Instructions; regulations. It shall be the responsibility of the Fire Chief or his or her designee to visit the site of the proposed burning and to issue a set of instructions in writing, which shall serve to regulate the burning as it occurs. These regulations shall be issued for the purpose of safety and the protection of public and private property. The regulations shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Prohibition of burning on street pavement, curbs and gutters;
(2) Prohibition of burning within 30 feet of any building;
(3) Prohibition of burning on windy days;
(4) Prohibition of the use of flammable liquids to ignite fire;
(5) Requiring the presence of a ready to use garden hose at the site of the fire; and
(6) Not leaving the fire unattended unless it is completely extinguished before leaving.
(D) Violation; penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be assessed a penalty of $10, payable to the city. If the penalty is not paid within 14 days a complaint shall be filed by the Fire Chief with the County District Court. The Court will then have full jurisdiction of the offense and shall prescribe penalties at the court’s discretion.
(1977 Code, § 12-2) (Ord. 83-10, passed 4-25-1983; Ord. 83-39, passed 12-12-1983)

City of Fulton Police Department is reminding everyone in the city of the following:

42-6 UNLAWFUL POSTING OF ADVERTISEMENTS.
No bills, cards, placards, posters or other forms of advertisement shall be posted on or affixed to any public or private utility or streetlight poles or meter posts along any of the public ways in the city. This section shall not apply to any judicial, legislative or administrative notice which may, by law, be required to be posted in public places in the city. Each separate bill, card, placard, poster or other advertisement so posted or affixed shall constitute a separate offense.
(1977 Code, § 19-6) (Ord. passed 6-6-1955)

Some love to do it, some despise it: Mowing the lawn — or “cutting the grass,” as we like to call it around here.

Right now, the grass is growing at a steady rate. Push-mowers and lawn tractors discharge clippings to the right. Therefore, many operators like to mow on the edge of the road by riding against traffic. The clippings are blown onto the roadway and in time will dry up and get dispersed by rain or wind.

We have observed numerous lawns where grass clippings from a lawn mower are blown onto the street, using an odd version of “out of sight, out of mind.” But there are many reasons not to do this.

For starters, it’s an ordinance violation in the City of Fulton.   Code Enforcement is patrolling for these violations  and issuing warnings currently.  After being issued a warning you will have some time to clear the streets of the clippings.  If they are not removed then you could be cited $150 a day.  After receiving a warning you will not be given another warning and a citation will be issued for further violations.  “Never blow or dump grass clippings, leaves and other waste into the street, storm-water drain, drainage ditch or surface water. When possible, recycle grass clippings and leaves by using a mulching mower.”

One of the major problems is that these clippings stop up the storm-water drainage systems and prevent them from working properly.  The clippings also get into the cracks in the street and cause grass to grow in the cracks.

Another aspect that can subject a homeowner to serious litigation is the traffic hazard resulting from grass clippings blown onto a roadway. Freshly cut grass is slippery and can cause a motorcyclist or bicyclist to lose traction and crash. In such a spill, damage to one of the popular Harley-Davidson motorcycles instantly reaches four figures, not to mention an injury lawsuit by the rider.

The best way to dispose of the clippings is to use mulching blades on the mower. They have a special shape which shreds the grass after cutting and deposits it on the lawn. Not only does this eliminate the discharge blowing out on the side, it also adds valuable nutrients back to the soil. If used regularly, before the grass gets too high, there are no clumps or ridges.

Savings in fertilizer, possible city fines and elimination of a hazard to fellow citizens make mulching blades a great investment.

Water rates for the City Water System will increase by 6% as was mandated in ordinance 2015-05 per Kentucky Infrastructure Loan A15-097.

Click Here to see COF Ordinance 2015-05

Below are the new water rates:

Rates Inside the City Limits 

Rates Water District 

City Hall will be closed from 9-10:15 this morning for training on new computer software.

MUNICIPAL AID ROAD FUND MEETING

2017-2018 FISCAL YEAR PROPOSED USE HEARING

A public hearing will be held at City Hall on Monday, July 24, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of obtaining written and oral comments of citizens regarding possible use of Municipal Aid Road Funds.

All interested persons and organizations in the City of Fulton are invited to attend the public hearing to submit oral or written comments on the possible use of the Municipal Aid Funds. These funds will be used for the construction, reconstruction, maintenance or repair of city streets.

Any persons (especially senior citizens) who cannot submit comments should call City Hall at (270)472-1320 so the arrangements can be made to secure their comments.

We apologize for the confusion on trash pick up this week.  There was going to be an alternate pickup but that has been removed.

THE BUSINESSES WILL BE PICKED UP TOMORROW AND THURSDAY’S.

HOUSEHOLD PICK-UP WILL RUN ON THURSDAY NOT FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK.

THEY WILL RUN ON ALSO ON JULY 4.

Dr. Bill Smith will conduct a “Stop The Bleed”   training session June 27 at 6:30 in the Harvey Vick meeting  room at South Fulton City Hall. This training is sponsored by the American Trauma Society.  For additional information you can contact Dr. Smith at 931-220-0023.