Like a bridge over troubled water

By Veronica Clark

If you have ever been unfortunate enough to be traveling on Saddlecreek near the Dodge overpass during a rain storm, you need no explanation as to why sewer systems in the Omaha area need to be revamped. What you might not know is that the new sewer system Omaha is set to put in place over the next twenty years is mandated by the federal government’s Clean Water Act of 1994. Part 7 of the act addresses “CSO’s” or Combined Sewer Overflows.
When sewers were first placed in cities large and small, the water from rainfall and also sanitary runoff were combined into one system and flushed into rivers and streams. As with the Saddlecreek area, the runoff is too much and it floods the area. The CSO policy of the Clean Water Act doesn’t really care about flooding. It is more concerned with treating the waste water before it is released back into the environment.
In 1994 when the policy was released, it made it mandatory for all cities and states to enact their own policy and have it completed by 2024. Nebraska is the only state left in the union not to have a final framework in place. This year, the city hired the firm of Wade Trim to help them achieve this goal.
Omaha’s 51 square mile radius has been divided into 10 different basins, with the Leavenworth basin (Saddlecreek area) being the most challenging. According to Wade Trim’s website, the initial evaluation began in 2006. Field work gathering additional data won’t start until the winter of 2007. The final approach will be due to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality in October of 2009.  In the City of Omaha’s 2007 budget, the total approved for this “initial phase” is $5.6 million dollars. And that’s just evaluation and gathering “data”.
The solutions to the CSO policy can happen in three different ways. First, the consulting firm could recommend separate storm and sanitary sewers throughout the ten Omaha basins. This would be the most expensive and disruptive plan. The second possibility is to find ways to treat the overflow water before it is discharged into rivers and streams. This would entail building large underground holding tanks where the water can be treated then released after the rainfall. Last but not least, the consulting firm could recommend changing the way pumping stations are operated to reduce the amount of raw sewage dumped into the waterways.
The firm handling this is partnering with several Nebraska area contractors to get the plans in motion. The actual work will be handled by the City of Omaha Public Works Department. As the Wade Trim press release states, “Both cost and non-economic criteria will be carefully considered in finding not necessarily the least-cost alternative but the best fit for the City of Omaha and the public.”  The bottom-line is that the city will be picking up the total cost, with Public Works absorbing the cost of the new sewer installation and the street maintenance division digging up and replacing the roads and sidewalks.
Perhaps the representatives at Wade Trim should speak more often with the city council.
Dan Welch, president of the council has noted that Omaha will have to “watch every penny it spends on the projects” (CSO’s). 
With a $500 million dollar to $3 billion dollar price tag for cities comparable to Omaha’s projects, Dan Welch was quoted as saying, “This is on that borderline of being unaffordable for small cities like ours.”
Having known since 1994 that within 20 years Omaha would have to build this capitol into its budget, the Environmental Services Director, Marty Grate stated, “This isn’t one of those situations that we can continue indefinitely. We must take affirmative steps to correct it.”
The CSO project is yet another example of Omaha’s out of control spending and the inability of the mayor and the City Council to plan ahead. In the 2007 budget, a $1.60 raise in the administration fee already assessed to taxpayers has been added. Let’s all cross our fingers and start saving for the exponential increases in the years to come and maybe we can teach our civic leaders a thing or two about “planning ahead”.

Buy here, pay forever

By Jennifer Novacek

“BUY-HERE-PAY-HERE!!!”. We have all seen the signs and commercials and for many with no car and low credit scores, these business operations offer credit acceptance, low down payments and low monthly payments. If you are on a limited income or are in need of a car quickly, the Buy-Here-Pay-Here solution may be your only alternative.
Considering the poverty levels in Omaha and the surrounding areas and the amount of American’s in debt and labeled as high credit risks, people often turn to these dealers as a way to get from Point A to Point B and own a vehicle.
But beyond the usual “buyer beware” advisement, there are state and federal laws that these specific businesses are required to comply with. There may not be any legal recourse if the car breaks down two blocks from the lot where you purchased your “finance contract” on the car. But because of the nature of the business, a duality exists that many do not know about. These are not just friendly, wacky people with cheap cars and high interest rates. These are also, by law, financial institutions.
Those of us who are not privy to federal laws regarding banking and finance might be surprised to know that the contract you are signing might be illegal due to violations in the “Truth in Lending Act” or any other federal laws applicable to banks and mortgage companies.
The same rules that apply to Wells Fargo apply to the “mom and pop” car lot that offers you financing. So what can a car buyer do to protect themselves?
Check that the lot you are dealing with is registered as a “finance company” with the Banking and Finance Department of the State of Nebraska. If they are not registered to be dealing in finance contracts, contact the department immediately and report them. They could be fined and investigated and you may be helping put a “bad business” out of business!
When reading through the contract, look at the area regarding how much the payment would be if you paid off the contract early.  Amortizing loans in the state of Nebraska cannot be done using the “Rule of 78’s”. Nebraska is one of only 15 states that makes this practice illegal. If you see that stipulation in the contract, again, contact the Banking and Finance Department and look elsewhere!
Do not sign any part of the contract that states if you were to default on the loan the “finance company” would be able to take any personal property now or in the future to pay-off the contract. This too is against the law with regard to these types of contracts.
Ask questions! Why is it “cash only”, why must I come into your office to make the payments? Are the taxes on the payment’s I make being paid to the state?
The main thing to remember is to be your own advocate. Do your research and do not be scared to ask questions. We as consumers may be intimidated by the purchase or even the paperwork. The salesperson may even be intimidating and patronizing. Take the power back into your own hands and familiarize yourself with the laws that protect you from illegal operations. Do your homework and report any shady activity to the state of Nebraska. So, take what you have learned and drive-on!

Sports

Marcia Clark, will knock you out

By Ryan DeHarty

Maybe you have heard of boxing legends, Floyd Mayweather or Roy Jones Jr., and not Marcia Clark. Could she be one of the next great boxers?
As a child, growing up in Michigan, Marcia loved physical activities. At the early age of eleven, she began to study the martial art of Karate. For years, this was great, however Marcia longed for more. In high school, Clark began to take an interest in boxing. When asked if she found it challenging to be a female in a male dominate sport such as boxing, she simple smiled and said that this is a tough sport for anyone.  She stated the only advice she would give to anyone wanting to get into this sport would be “Make sure you really want it!”
Women are now a large part of the USA Boxing Organization and contend in sanctioned competition within the United States as well as, internationally. Almost 2,000 female boxers currently are registered with USA Boxing.  Rules regarding the women’s boxing program are similar to the men’s program with a few differences such as length of the rounds, use of breast protectors instead of athletic cups and a required waiver stating that the fighter is not pregnant at the time of the competition.
In the United States Marcia has been encouraged by family, friends and co-workers to pursue her dream of becoming a professional boxer. This was not the case in England, where she was previously stationed. Currently stationed at Offutt Air force Base she said that it seemed to be more acceptable here in the States for a female to be in the ring.
Discipline, concentration and determination were her beginning steps. Training is very demanding. Six days a week, nearly four hours a day you will find her working on her strength, speed, and agility. Craig McIntosh and Mike Seymore have been at Marcia’s side coaching her at In Training Fitness, at 2861 Capehart Road in Bellevue. 
I went to see Marcia practice in the ring to find out how dedicated she really is.  Seeing her quick skills in action, I was sure that she was determined in her sport. I can just image what her opponents must feel.Marcia is known by the name “Poison” among her peers. Focused in on the bag with almost a death stare, I do not think she even noticed me as I was taking a few pictures. 
Talk around the gym is that Clark might be ready to go professional in a year or so. If you would like to see Marcia in action, her next bout will be at the Omaha Civic Auditorium on February 9th & 10th at the Golden Gloves Tournament at 7:30pm. Tickets are $12-15.