Fire Melts Police Car As if Morgan Hill Police Cmdr. Joe Sampson
didn
’t already have enough to worry about Friday night, while the
department was investigating what turned out to be a homicide,
Samson’s police car burst into flames while he was in it.
Fire Melts Police Car
As if Morgan Hill Police Cmdr. Joe Sampson didn’t already have enough to worry about Friday night, while the department was investigating what turned out to be a homicide, Samson’s police car burst into flames while he was in it.
Sampson said the Ford Taurus, which is outfitted with emergency equipment like the department’s patrol cars, had 1,200 miles on it. He was able to get out of the Taurus before it was totally engulfed in flames, Sampson said, and he is thankful he wasn’t driving the vehicle, with the power windows up, when the fire broke out.
“I might have had to kick my way out,” he said Monday.
The fire apparently started in or near the Taurus’ engine or the dashboard. The front of the Taurus is scorched, while the dashboard and steering wheel are melted.
The fire is under investigation by Ford and by the company that installed the emergency equipment, Sampson said.
City Approves $50,000 Loan to South County Housing
The city recently approved a $50,000 loan to South County Housing to demolish commercial buildings at the corner of Ciolino Avenue and Monterey Road.
The demolition of the buildings is part of an agreement between South County Housing and the city involving the Via Ciolino apartment project.
In 2001, SCH completed the award-winning residential project, which eliminated 28 blighted apartments on Ciolino Avenue behind “Albertson’s Center” and replaced it with 42 affordable family units. The city loaned SCH $2.375 million to build the apartments. The site on the southwest corner of Ciolino Avenue and Monterey Road is part of the final portion of the project and designated commercial.
As a condition for the project’s approval, SCH agreed to demolish the two commercial buildings on the site within five years of completing the housing project or once the units were vacant. The buildings are now vacant, so SCH is seeking a short-term loan to clear the site in order to complete the project as soon as possible.
The loan is fully deferred, accrues at a 3 percent interest, with principal and interest due in 12 months or upon the sale of the property, whichever is sooner. The loan is secured by the property.
City approves development plan by Barrett Ave. and Butterfield Blvd.
The city recently approved a plan for a 36-unit single family residential development to be located on the southeast corner of Barrett Avenue and the Butterfield Boulevard.
The Villa San Marcos project will be located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Barrett Avenue and Butterfield Boulevard. A zoning amendment the council approved would establish a 36-unit residential development on lots that range from 3,170 to 6,993 sq. ft. Plans include a 1.37 acre park along the west side beside Butterfield Boulevard, with trees and recreational amenities.
Councilman Mark Grzan said he liked what the developer had done with the project in terms of adjoining Butterfield Boulevard, by incorporating the existing water feature with recreational amenities.
“I really like the concept there and would like to use it as a model,” said Grzan. “It opens up the area. There are no sound wells there. To me, this is where we should go as a city. I’d like us to do more examples of this. It’s an example of integrating natural features even if it is a drainage ditch.”
Supe’s Restore Shelter Positions
San Jose – Santa Clara County supervisors agreed to restore 1.5 staff positions at the San Martin Animal Shelter in late September, its final act to keep the shelter open six days a week for at least the next year.
In June, the county decided to cut staff and close the shelter two days a week. After an outcry from shelter employees, volunteers and the community, the county changed course and appropriated funding to the shelter, though they cautioned more cuts may come again in next year’s budget.
The county’s top animal control official, Phillip Jewitt, who led the fight to keep the shelter open, was relieved of his duties as shelter manager during the controversy.
