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Gas shortage forces city to cut back


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Gas shortage forces city to cut back | CITY

Motorists were forced to pay $4-plus for gas today with some stations running out of unleaded regular.
Area drivers are frustrated with the gas shortage, and local government is looking at ways to make fuel reserves last as long as possible while keeping essential services.

Hurricane Ike may have caused less damage than expected, but it still left a string of idle refineries in its wake. The refineries may not be up to full capacity for another week.

The City of Murfreesboro pulled together Monday morning heads of departments that use the most fuel and asked for temporary cutbacks to save gas until the shortage passes, explained Chris Shofner, Murfreesboro spokesman.

“Obviously essential services are staying the same and we are going to answer emergency calls,” Shofner said.

“Like everyone else we’ve got to make it through this,” Shofner said. “We’re just looking at ways to cut fuel and keep essential services.”

Shofner said even essential services like the Murfreesboro Fire and Police departments will try to cutback on non-emergency fuel use until supplies are restored.

“As always, MPD officers are encouraged to conserve fuel when possible,” said Kyle Evans, MPD spokesman. “Answering calls for service and public safety will continue to be our primary concerns and will not be compromised.”

Nonessential services include mowing by Parks and Recreation and Streets and Signs departments.

“Soccer season is in full swing at the Cherry Lane park but e perimeter fields can lay fallow until this straightens out,” Shofner said, adding the Streets and Signs Department will only mow with half of its tractors for the time being but will continue to make street and pothole repairs.

The Solid Waste Department will continue as normal, although they will look at current routes to see if they can be optimized and will temporarily postpone yard waste and brush pick up.

Other departments like Urban and Environmental will temporarily cut back on services.

“They are going to implement these changes and then met again in about a week and … see how this is working and if we are saving fuel,” Shofner said.

Rutherford County Schools doesn’t plan to implement any changes at this time, RCS Spokesman James Evans said.

“There have been no problems as of yet due to fuel shortages. For now, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of diesel fuel,” Evans said.

In addition, RCS contracts with bus drivers and the county is not responsible for providing any fuel.

Calls to Murfreesboro City Schools and various other Rutherford County agencies and departments were not returned.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.
 
 
 
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Member Opinions:
By: Macgyver on 9/15/08
"As always, MPD officers are encouraged to conserve fuel when possible", No telling how many times I've seen an empty police car in town running in a parking lot.

By: barrettbear on 9/15/08
For some reason, I just am not bother by a parked patrol car running, as long as I know the streets are safe and crime is down.
Too, the blame for high fuel prices differ from middle east to hurricanes to terrorists, so what is the reason?

By: haleystheproblem on 9/15/08
How about folks like Gary Farley with the fire dept and others that drive Yukons and Tahoes, leave their free city cars parked in the garage for a while, or get them a compact car, since they are only riding around town in them. They're never off the road any where. The sign gustapo could take a break too, since thats non essential. God help us if there's a yard sale sign on a corner some where.

By: barrettbear on 9/15/08
Haleystheproblem: Did you ask Mr. Farley if he was just driving around or have assumed this? These folks have to check to see if buildings are up to codes, make sure public places such as schools,nursing facilities,etc. are in compliance with emergency evacuations. We as a community look for something of non-existence or exaggerate before we know what the picture really is about. If you think about a government vehicle somewhere remember we to poop,piss, and eat just like everyone else.

By: haleystheproblem on 9/15/08
do they really need giant suv's to do that kind of work? I dont think so.

By: barrettbear on 9/15/08
Maybe. Some have to carry equipment to demonstrate with. Just like a hearse has to carry a casket and school bus has to carry @ 100 children. Those vehicles are not driven because. One important factor to consider some of these guys and gals are on call 24/7. You know in case a major catastrophic event occurs like 9/11. Folks think sometimes before you become agitated to make a call on something that is not there.

By: stregha on 9/15/08
you know, maybe you guys should look into hemp. hemp makes a fuel that burns 100% cleaner than the current fuel. and oil that burns cleaner too. if they made gasoline from hemp, then we wouldnt have to worry about high gas prices. its true, look up hemp on wikipiedia. you will learn something new. :)

By: oldman on 9/16/08
yep, and if I smoked a little, I wouldn't be worried about running out of gas, either;)

By: life_is_short on 9/16/08
you can't get high off of hemp.

By: devolver on 9/16/08
oldman, good one...

And ya, hemp has more uses than the peanut.

and, barrettbear, honestly, "major catastrophic event occurs like 9/11"... is someone going to fly a plane into the Swanson building? That's just ridiculous.

By: barrettbear on 9/16/08
Yea devolver it is all ridiculous until something happens, however, I am sure you keep the bench warm while the others clean up the mess. Stupid.

By: devolver on 9/21/08
Name calling. Nice, barrettbear.


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