Crabby Fat Guy

Once a year I go out and buy my one and only bottle of hard liquor for the year – always a bottle of Scotch.  I like to select a mid-priced single malt.  Lancaster’s one and only liquor store had a very nice selection to choose from.  HAD is the key word here.  Since the liquor store has been moved to a middle of the store shack within the confines of Giant Eagle the selection has declined – a lot!  I would guess that the selection of Scotch is now a quarter of what it was at the old place.  I would guess that the selection of other adult beverages have also declined a similar proportion.

Having grown up a Hoosier I find Ohio’s liquor laws strange in the first place, but to have only a single liquor store in a city of this size is doubly strange.  Our sole source of spirits being so limited in selection makes the whole matter triply strange or is that strange cubed.

I guess if I want my beloved single malt I will have to travel out of town.  What a shame!

Here is an on-line book I found regarding the early history of Fairfield County…

Click Here

As of the city council meeting there had only been seven emails sent out to ask the city council members to take a look at the city’s utility rates. This site gets 1000+ unique visitors every day and seven families are all that care? I can’t believe that it’s OK with everyone to charge us nearly 66% more than if we lived in Columbus. Have we really become that apathetic? Have we really become so complacent that we simply roll over and take it? It certainly could not be that much of an effort to click on the link and add your name to the mail could it?

It’s not too late. Let’s get them a LOT more emails before the next council meeting.

Over the last year I have discussed the high cost of utilities in Lancaster. We are paying (on average) $87.39 more than person using the same amount of utilities living in Columbus. That’s for an average month.  In the winter the difference is much, much higher.  I feel that this additional cost creates a hardship for the hardworking men and women of Lancaster and especially our senior citizens living on a fixed income.

The hardship to the citizens of Lancaster is compounded by the anti-business atmosphere that these high utility rates create. Why should a business locate in Lancaster when they will have to pay thousands more in Lancaster for utilities than if they locate elsewhere.

I would like to invite all of you that are tired of these high rates to put the city on notice that we are not at all happy with these rates and that we wish to have city council investigate why the rates are so high and what can be done to adjust the rates downward. Click below to create an email. The email will have all of the email addresses and suggested body populated. Feel free to modify the body of the email to personalize the message. The email will be sent to all of the people on the city council plus Mayor Smith. The one exception is that Rudy Touvell of the Sixth Ward does not have email – only a fax. If you want to fax something to him his fax number is 740-654-6968. You can send a free fax via faxzero.com.

Here is a breakdown of an average bill in Lancaster vs. an average bill in Columbus.

Click here to email city council and the mayor.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! Besides sending the email please email everyone that you know that may be tired of paying utility bills that are higher than out neighboring cities. Click here to create an email to send to your friends. Just fill in the email address.

Yet another animation by Crabby…

Today is Robbie Burn’s birthday.  It would seem like a great coincidence that today I received the news that Scottish Haggis will now be allowed into the United States.  For those that do not know haggis is a Scottish sausage made from a sheep’s hear, liver, and lungs plus oatmeal, onions and spices and all boiled in a sheep’s stomach.  As you can imagine it’s delicious.  It is traditionally served on Robbie Burn’s Birthday. (click here)

NOW is the time to appeal your property tax. The market price of property has declined substantially over the last couple of years and you are paying for the peak valuation. You have until March 31st to appeal your valuation. I found this link to get you started: (click here).

I promised a special item today regarding utility prices in Lancaster. Because of technical issues that article has been delayed. Please check back.

UPDATE: The feature will be ready later this afternoon.