Bristol's Grand List shrinks sharply

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City Assessor Tom DeNoto

In the wakeof revaluation and shrinking home prices, the city’s newly compiled Grand Listplummeted 12 percent to $3.78 billion.Driving downthe tally of Bristol’s taxable property was the collapse of residential realestate. The median single family home lost 21 percent of the value it hadduring the last revaluation in 2007.But there’sa silver lining for most homeowners in that decline: they will likely pay lessin property taxes.CityAssessor Tom DeNoto that while home prices have been “falling off the cliff” duringthe past five years, commercial property dipped only slightly.That means,he said, there will be a “burden shift” that pushes more of the overall propertytaxes onto commercial property owners.That breaksa decade-long trend that has seen homeowners picking up an ever greater shareof the tab.Click here for the full story.To see a more detailed overview of the Grand List, click here.Saturday's Bristol Press will have more.
Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Bristol's existing snow removal policy

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City of Bristol – Public Works policy

25 Snow Removal and Ice Control

1.   PolicyName25 Snow Removal and Ice Control
2.   ResponsibleDivision and effective datePublic Works Streets Division, effectivedate 10/19/07
3.   Rationaleor PurposeThis policy establishes the formal SnowRemoval and Ice Control plan for the City of Bristol. The policy also defines the routesand priorities for snow removal and ice control.
4.   PolicyStatementThe Streets Division of Public Works hasresponsibility for control of snow and ice on City streets. The divisionstrives to provide snow removal and ice control in a safe and cost effectivemanner. The City uses Public Works staff and equipment as well as privatecontractors as needed to provide adequate snow removal and ice control for thesafety of travelers on City streets. 
5.   ScopeThis policy applies to all streets withinthe City of Bristol,with the exception of State-maintained roads. State-maintained roads within the City areRoute 72, Route 69, Route 6 and Route 229. The State is responsible for snowremoval and ice control on these roads. The Streets Division of Public Workswill respond when an emergency situation arises and the State Department ofTransportation is unavailable.Snow and ice control operations will beconducted when weather conditions do not endanger the safety of city employeesand equipment. Factors that may delay snow and ice control operations includesevere cold, significant winds, and limited visibility.
6.   ProceduresThe Snow and Ice Control Supervisor willdecide when to begin snow or ice control operations. The criteria for thatdecision are:Notice(s) from weather forecasts andservicesNotice from Bristol Police Department –precipitation/ emergency specific calls.Snow accumulation of two (2”) inches ormoreDrifting of snow that causes problems fortravel;Icy conditions which seriously affecttravel; andTime of snowfall in relationship to heavytraffic patterns. To conserve funds and personnel,snowplowing operations will not generally be conducted for snowfall of lessthan two (2”) inches, however, ice control products and/or abrasives may beapplied to assist in melting ice and traction.
Personnel scheduling and mobilization:Once snow and ice control operations areinitiated, the Snow and Ice Control Supervisor will contact the appropriatenumber of Public Works staff and private contractors to inform them of thestart time and location for operations to begin. Private contractors are onlyutilized for plowing. There are various phases of operations,shown below, but each event will be unique based on weather forecast, type andduration of precipitation:Pre-Storm: Anti-icing agents will beapplied to streets when a storm is imminent.   Public Works staff will apply anti-icing agents based on whenprecipitation is expected to begin, and where safety concerns are greatest.Phase I – notable to significant (minimalsnow fall, rapidly melting snow, squalls or flurries) includes ice controlproducts and sand mixture being applied to streets where and when needed. Thiscan range from spot sanding specific areas to city-wide sanding as needed.Minimal plowing may occur resulting from precipitationPhase II – major (4”-6” of snowaccumulation expected) includes the use of Public Works staff and equipment,both plowing and sanding.Phase III – crippling to extreme (majorsnow fall, six inches (6”) or greater accumulation expected) includes PublicWorks staff and equipment, plowing and sanding, as well as private contractorsbeing called in to plow the Districts they are assigned to.  Post-Storm: Within six (6) hours after snowfall ceases, plowing operations will be completed and city-wide sandingoperations will begin. Factors that may prevent meeting this guideline includeequipment failure, freezing rain or other icing conditions, traffic congestion,emergency situations, residents/contractors placing snow into the travel way,and personnel availability.    Due to the unique nature of each stormevent, the Snow and Ice Supervisor must use experience and judgment to balancesafety and expenses for each storm.
PrivateContractors:Each fall, private contractors may apply tobe considered for assisting the City with snow plowing operations. Eligiblecontractors must provide their own vehicle and equipment and comply with allrequirements, rules, and regulations to participate. If enough privatecontractors apply and are eligible, a reserve list of contractors will becreated to serve as fill-in or relief.Private contractors are assigned to a snowdistrict. Each district has a Group Leader assigned. Group Leaders areresponsible for calling in their snow plow teams. The group leader will assigneach driver/plow to a specific street or area and amend assignments as needed.Group Leaders are also responsible to oversee and monitor snow plowing progressin their district. At the conclusion of the weather event, the Group Leaderwill complete pay sheets for their team and submit them to the StreetsSuperintendent.
Snow Routes:For snow removal and ice controloperations, the City is divided into five (4) districts which coincide withCity rubbish routes. They are: District 1, Monday routes – Northeastsection and Fern Hill Roadarea (portion of Wednesday route)District 2, Tuesday routes – Southeastsection and Bayberry DriveareaDistrict 3, Wednesday routes – NorthwestsectionDistrict 4, Thursday/Friday routes –Downtown, Federal Hill and the southwest sectionMinor arterials provide options foralternate traffic movement and may also connect major arterials; some throughservice is provided but traffic volumes are lighter than among major arterials.Collectors provide for traffic movement between neighborhoods within the Cityand also give access to adjacent properties. They create the connecting linksin the street system: traffic can be carried from local streets via collectorsto major and minor arterials. Streets classified as minor arterials andcollectors are included in the list below, along with schools. The streetswhich have high priorities for sanding and plowing are:
District 1 (Monday Routes)Ivy Drive (Ivy Drive School – arrival/dismissal)Felice Road / Ohio Drive (Northeast Middle School–  arrival/dismissal)Jerome Avenue (B.A.R.C., Bristol Housing Authority)Lewis StreetMaltby Street (Saint Paul School)Maple AvenueMines RoadMix Street (Edgewood School)Oakland Street (north of Farmington Avenue)Round Hill RoadSonstrom RoadStafford Avenue (north of Farmington Avenue)(Saint Paul School)Shrub RoadStevens Street (Northeast Middle School)Vanderbilt RoadWillow Brook Road (Edgewood School- arrival/dismissal)
District 2 (Tuesday Routes)Anderson Avenue (Street Matthew School –arrival/dismissal)Andrews StreetBirch StreetBrook StreetEmmett StreetCentral Street (Manross Public Library)Church AvenueCurtiss Avenue (Saint Matthew School– arrival/dismissal)Frederick StreetLincoln AvenueLouisiana AvenueMountain View Avenue (Mountain View School)Pine Street (Greene–Hills School)Redstone Street Redstone Hill RoadStafford Ave (south of Farmington Avenue), (Senior Center)Todd StreetWashington Street West Washington Street (Hubbell School)Welch Drive (Saint Matthew School– arrival/dismissal)
District 3 (Wednesday Routes)Barlow StreetBattle StreetChapel StreetClark AvenueCurtiss StreetCypress Street (Jennings School- arrival/dismissal)Hart StreetHill StreetJacob StreetJames P. Casey RoadJennings Road (Jennings School- arrival/dismissal)Marsh RoadMatthews StreetMeadow Street (City Hall)Minor StreetNorth Main Street (Farmington Avenue to Curtiss Street)North Pond StreetPeacedale Street (Burlington Avenue to Hart Street)Peacedale Street (Eastwood Road to Perkins Street)(Chippens Hill School- arrival/dismissal)Perkins StreetPound Street
District 4 (Thursday Routes)Belridge Road (Woodland Street to Brewster Road)Bellevue AvenueBlakeslee StreetBrewster Road (Belridge Road to Queen Street)Broadview StreetCenter Street (Bristol Historical Society)Church Street (Bristol Board of Education)Federal StreetGoodwin StreetHigh Street (Bristol Public Library)Maple StreetMain StreetMellon Street (Riverside Avenue to Prospect Street)Moody StreetNorth Main Street (Farmington Avenue to Church Street)Oakland Street (Farmington Avenue to Goodwin Street)Page AvenueProspect StreetQueen StreetRiverside Avenue (North Main Street to Main Street)Stewart StreetSummer StreetWoodland Street
Allentown RoadCrown Street (Bristol Central School –arrival/dismissal)Cross StreetDivinity StreetDowns StreetEast RoadFall Mountain RoadGridley StreetLake AvenuePeck LaneRockwell AvenueSouth Street ExtensionUnion StreetView Street (Bristol Central School -arrival/dismissal)Willis Street Witches Rock Road Wolcott Street (Wolcott Street-(Route 69) to Fall Mountain Road) Waterbury Road
Priority:High volume routes are addressed first.Streets classified as high volume routes (minor arterials and collectors) whichconnect major sections of the city and provide access for emergency fire,police, hospital and medical services are considered high volume. City vehicles are deployed to high volumeroutes. Contractors may assist the street crews as required. The second priority streets are thosestreets providing access to schools, Bristol Public Schools and MunicipalBuildings, and business centers. These are also cleared by Public Works staff,but may be assisted by contractors.The third priority streets are low volumeresidential streets. Contractors are primarily assigned to these streets. Thefourth priority areas are municipal parking lots.The Bristol Park Department is responsiblefor the bus shelters located on Blakeslee Street and Broad Street and the abutting sidewalk atthe Forestville Veterans Memorial. All other bus shelters are maintained by theStreets or Building Maintenance Divisions. School sidewalks and designatedsidewalks within the City of Bristolare addressed by the Board of Education maintenance staff.City properties, Bristol Public Schooldriveways and parking lots are addressed by the Streets Division. The lists ofproperties maintained by the Streets Division are:
District 1 Edgewood School – Mix Street / Willow Brook RoadIvy Drive School – Ivy DriveNortheast Middle School – Stevens Street / Felice RoadBristol A.R.C. – Jerome AvenueCommuter Parking Lot – Mix StreetPump Station – Cherry Hill DriveDistrict 2Bristol Eastern HighSchool – King StreetEllen P. Hubble School – West Washington StreetGreene Hills School – Pine StreetMountain View School – Vera Road Manross Library, Forestville– Central Street/ Garden StreetStafford School – Louisiana AvenuePump Stations – Broad Street, East Main Street, WoosterCourt
District 3Bristol City Hall parking lots – Laurel Street / Meadow Street Chippens Hill Middle School – Peacedale StreetClara T. O’Connell School – Park StreetClarence A. Bingham School (formerly) – North StreetJohn J. Jennings School – Burlington AvenueDistrict 4Board of Education – Church Street (plow only)Bristol Public Library (Main &Children’s) – Main StreetBristol Central High School – Wolcott Road /Crown Street / Peck LaneLake Ave. Commuter Lot– Lake Ave.Memorial Boulevard Middle School – Memorial Boulevard, SouthStreet / Willis StreetSouth Side School – Tuttle Road Bristol A.R.C. (2) – Lake AvenueBristol Transfer Station –Lake AvenueBristol Waste WaterTreatment Plant – Battisto RoadPump Station – Tyler Way
The City will clear snow and treat Citysidewalks abutting City owned property as necessary. The list of sidewalks isbelow. All other sidewalks, except sidewalks under the jurisdiction of theBristol Board of Education, Bristol Housing Authority, and the Bristol ParkDepartment are the responsibility of the abutting owner(s). Sidewalksmaintained by the Department of Public Works include the following:
Church Street - (vacant lot)North Main Street – (both sidewalks from Center St. to North St.), North Main Street(Court Complex)Laurel Street @ North Main Street – (City Hall)Meadow Street @ Kelly Street – (City Hall Employees Lot)Main Street - (underpass)High Street – (#5, #51)High St. @ Queen St (southwest corner)Riverside Avenue – (#270)East Street – Bridge (North Side of Blvd.)Mellon Street – (underpass)West End Commuter LotUnion Street – (opposite #151)Hill Street @ Battle Street Brook Street @ Farmington Avenue - (southwest corner)King Street – (#361)
In the event of a life threateningemergency (such as medical and/or fire response) the Police Department canrequest that a snow plow escort the emergency response vehicles. On days whenschool is in session, winter maintenance efforts will be timed to coincide withbus routing and delivery. On weekends, winter maintenance efforts will be timedto coincide with religious services, excluding State roads which fall under thejurisdiction of the CT Department of Transportation.
Snow and Ice Control Materials:The city will use sand, ice controlproducts, and other chemicals when there are hazardous ice or slipperyconditions. Streets with snow and/or ice are treated with sand/ice control productsmix and magnesium chloride is used as an alternative melting agent when applicableand available. Magnesium chloride is dispensed in conjunction with the icecontrol products and sand mixture to accelerate melting. Different materials may be used toexperiment their effectiveness for de-icing purposes. The material will bespread at an appropriate rate for effective control of ice and snow. Theinitial application of material is used to minimize the bonding of snow/ice tothe pavement. The City will limit its use of chemicals if there is a negativeimpact on the environment as a result of their use. Public Works is working to establishparameters for appropriate use and volumes of materials used in winteroperations.

Equipment Inspection:Atthe conclusion of the winter season, Public Works will asses each vehicle forneeded repairs and perform preventive maintenance based on available funding.In September, the Fleet Maintenance group will be preparing snow removal andice control equipment for the upcoming season. Preventive maintenance, seasonalpreparation and improvements and repairs are done as needed.  
Equipment Calibration:Thewinter operations fleet is diverse and each truck is unique in design andequipment. Calibration for distributing ice control products, sand, andmagnesium chloride is done manually by vehicle operators at the direction ofthe Snow and Ice Supervisor based on current and expected weather conditions.The Department of Environmental Protection mandates what abrasive materials areallowed for snow and ice control in the state of CT, and Public Works complieswith these mandates.
Loading Procedures:HeavyEquipment Operators load dump trucks with ice control products/sand for winteroperations using front bucket loaders. When a weather event is imminent, trucksare loaded in advance of the storm. Newly employed and qualified HeavyEquipment Operators are trained in all aspects of the dump trucks, bucketloaders and loading process. Truckdrivers fill magnesium chloride tanks on their vehicles. Before the start ofeach season, refresher training is provided to the drivers on proper proceduresfor filling magnesium chloride tanks, and required PPE’s (Personal ProtectiveEquipment) when filling tanks. Alltrucks are loaded appropriately based on the Gross Vehicle Weight.
Spreading and Plowing Procedures:Snow will be plowed in a manner so as tominimize traffic obstructions. The center of the roadway will be plowed firstto open the roads for travel. The snow will then be pushed from left to right.Contractors with smaller vehicles may need to initially plow the gutter portionof the street during heavy snowfalls in order to get the snow pushed off theroadway. The discharge will go onto the tree border area of the street. Theentire width of the street may not be cleared immediately. Our focus is to havetraffic flow during the storm. On designated streets, the snow will bepushed toward the center line of the road, with openings cut in the berm ofsnow for businesses, intersections, driveways, and pedestrian traffic. Thestreets where snow will be plowed to the center of the street are: North Main Street –between North Streetand School Street,and Riverside Avenue- between Main Streetand North Main Street.Public Works may choose from time to time to expand or discontinue this methodof plowing.When plowing an intersection, the snow maybe pushed diagonally across from the intersection; the truck will back upcarefully and make a right turn, pushing the snow away from the center of theintersection and/or continue plowing to the intersection and make a right turn,keeping the intersection clear as possible. Generally, the street shall beopened for two (2) way traffic flow and final push back of snow shall be completeat the end of the storm. When plowing cul-de-sacs, the snow will bereasonably distributed to all abutting properties. Most of the snow will bepushed out of the cul-de-sac, unless there is a staging area located in thecul-de-sac.In times of extreme snowfall, streets willnot always immediately be able to be completely cleared of snow. During heavysnowfall, heavy equipment may be used to keep streets open.
Snow Storage:The Snow and Ice Control Supervisor willdetermine when there is a need for snow to be removed from an area using heavyequipment and trucks. Such snow removal will occur in areas where there is noadequate room on the tree border for snow storage, snow accumulation of (18”)eighteen inches in the gutter portion of the street(s) in the downtown area,designated streets where the snow is pushed toward the centerline of theroadway and in areas where accumulated piles of snow create a hazardouscondition (i.e. cul-de-sacs and intersections). Snow removal operations willcommence at the conclusion of other snowplowing operations. Snow removaloperations may also be delayed depending on weather conditions and personnel.The snow will be removed and hauled to a snow storage area. The snow storagearea will be located so as to minimize environmental problems. Excess snow inthe downtown area can be stored at vacant City owned property in the area, snowfrom the northwest section of the City can be stored at the Old Peacedale Street excavation site, andPine Streetacross from Mitchell Streetcan be used to store snow from the southeast area.
Snow Operations Damages:Winter operations may cause propertydamage. Crews use due care when they are addressing the streets during winteroperations. Damage typically occurs within the City right-of-way. This is thearea where curbs, driveway aprons, lawns, mailboxes, sidewalks, trees, andutilities are located. This area is known as the tree border. Damage to privateproperty, the area located outside of the City right-of-way occursinfrequently. The City will accept responsibility to private property if it isapparent that the damage was caused by Public Works or private contractors(hired by the City for snow removal and ice control) equipment and personnel.Residents who sustain damage should call the Public Works Department at 584-6125to report the damage. Prior to the start of winter operations,each contractor Group Leader must review their district and proactivelyidentify problematic issues (manhole cover or catch basins protruding abovestreet level, basketball hoops in the street, mailboxes not properly installed)and report their findings for the Streets Superintendent to address. If damage occurs from winter operations,and it is verified by the Public Works Department, the Streets Division willassist the homeowner with such repairs when applicable (mailboxes, lawn damage,curbing, driveway aprons or tree damage). The Streets Division will make thedamaged area safe to any immediate hazards. The reported damage will be logged into theservice request data base. Permanent repairs are typically done in theconstruction season following the winter season. If a damage report is disputedor a claim is made of damage to personal property outside of the right-of-wayfrom winter operations, the resident may make such claim with the ClaimsDepartment of the City of Bristolat 860-584-6153. Curbing is frequently damaged by winteroperations. Broken curbing that is dislodged from the curb is picked up afterwinter operations conclude. Broken curbing still in place will be left andremoved in the construction season as needed. New curbing, loam and seed willbe installed as necessary.The driveway apron is located at the end ofthe driveway where vehicles enter and exit the property from the street. Damageoccasionally occurs to this area during winter operations. The driveway apronwill be repaired during the construction season. The driveway apron isinstalled in the right of way portion with a one and one half inch lip toprevent water from entering the property.Lawns which are scraped by the plow ordamaged from equipment will be repaired with loam and seed the following seasonas the weather dictates. Residents are encouraged to water these areas once therepair has been made.Mailboxes are frequently susceptible towinter operations damage due to their placement in the right-of-way. Whenmailboxes are damaged from winter operations, the Streets Division will attemptto permanently repair the mailbox when feasible. If the mailbox cannot berepaired, a temporary mailbox is provided and a new mailbox and post, ifrequired, is installed in the spring time. Public Works uses a standard mailboxconfiguration for replacements (4” X 4” pressure-treated post with a basicmailbox) and if the residents want a different type of replacement, they willbe referred to the City’s Claims Department. During pre-season inspection by contractor Group Leaders, if a mailboxesis identified that is not properly installed per Post Office specifications, anotice is left with the resident to advise them to correct the situation toavoid damage from snow plowing activity. If the mailbox and post were locatedincorrectly, and the resident was notified of the issue, the city will not beheld liable. If a mailbox and/or post were in poor condition prior to damage,the City may not be held liable. Claims for damage to utility poles are alsoreferred to the Claims Department.
Parking Limitations:City ordinance prohibits on-street parkingbetween the hours of 2:00 AMand 6:00 AM between December15th and March 15th each year. When warranted, a more restrictive storm parkingban will be enacted which prohibits all on-street parking. The parking ban willbe announced to the public through media resources and stay in effect till theconclusion of the operation.
7.   Roles/ResponsibilitiesThe Snow and Ice Control Supervisor role isfilled by the following positions, in the order presented, based onavailability: Streets Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Streets,Superintendent of Solid Waste, Solid Waste and Recycling Operations Analyst,Assistant Director of Public Works.It is the responsibility of Public Works tomanage ice control and snow removal to ensure safe travel on City streets.The Streets Maintenance Supervisor willassign winter operation Group Leaders  toinspect their respective district prior and during  the winter operations season and proactivelyaddress any hazards that may cause damage to personal property or equipment.Supervisors; and Group Leaders (when invoked) will make necessary adjustmentsto their assigned areas due to circumstances which affect winter operations.Group Leaders will oversee trucks and equipment which have been assigned tothem by the Supervisor for storm fighting. The Supervisor(s) may handle asmaller operation when group leaders are not warranted. It is the responsibility of residents toproperly locate and maintain mailboxes and other personal property in theCity’s right-of-way to avoid damage from snow plowing. Travelers are urged to stay off the streetsduring a winter storm to help minimize delays in service. It is advisable tohandle all errands prior to the predicted winter weather.  The Streets Division and travelers mustafford reasonableness to each other during inclement weather. The Departmentappreciates the cooperative effort by the residents and travelers of Bristol.  
8.   DefinitionsN/A
9.   ReferencesSee also City of Bristol, Code of Ordinances:Section 14-32,Section 14-39, Section 21-23, Section 21-24, Section 21-25, and Section 21-25.2
10.              Consequences of Non-ComplianceN/A

Approval authority:Board of Public Works
Approved date: 10/19/07Draft revision:   09/12 (change back to 4 districts)
Review cycle: Annually 


Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Wilson: 'Qualified to lead'

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Here is a copy of an email that Board of Education Chairman Chris Wilson sent this week to members of Bristol's Democratic Town Committee:

Democratic Town Committee Members: I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.  Many of you I know, but some I do not.  Some may not know my background, so I thought I’d send this email to give you a snapshot of Chris Wilson and why I believe I could be Mayor.  I have been trying to call as many of  you as possible and will continue to do so over the intervening weeks and months.PERSONAL:  I married my wife Jill, a nurse,  in 1977.  After completing my military commitment, Jill and I worked as US missionaries for United Methodist Church, spending a year in El Paso, Texas, and a year in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky .  In 1980, we  returned to Bristol and raised three children.  We are now blessed to have five beautiful grandchildren living in town. EDUCATION:  I graduated from Framingham North High School in Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1973.  (Yes, I am 58.)  I attended the University of Bridgeport from 1973-1975, where I studied and played football, one of my passions.  I entered the US Army in May of 1975 and served until May 1978.  While in the Army, I was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and was able to continue my college education  at the College of New Jersey in Trenton, and in May of 1978, I received a BA in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Sociology.  In 1983 I enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Hartford and received a Master of Science from the Barney School of Business with a concentration in insurance in 1987.  I also have attained two professional certifications from the American College-Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter and Chartered Life Underwriter.  Both programs require passing of 10 national examinations. BUSINESS:  For the past 32 years I have been an employee of C.V. Mason & Co., Inc.  In 1992 I bought the company from my father-in-law and have run the company as its president since that time.  During my tenure we acquired four insurance agencies to grow Bristol-based C.V. Mason & Co. from 6 employees to 15.  During my tenure as an insurance agent, I have been fortunate enough to serve on several agency/company councils interfacing with many Fortune 1000 CEOs and management of insurance companies.  The running of my own company and my interaction with insurance companies have shaped and informed me of best-practice management, human relations, marketing and public service. PUBLIC  SERVICE:  I have a long history of public service and I won’t bore you with it all.  Some of my highlights are member of the boards of directors of Bristol Day Care Center, The family Center for Girls and Boys,  United Way, New York Annual Conference (a United Methodist Organization) and  Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce.  I am a past President of Bristol Rotary, McCabe-Waters Little League, CT Professional Insurance Agents Association and ASCNET of CT(an insurance agency management organization).  Currently I am president of West Cemetery Association and president of Trustees at Prospect United Methodist Church.  I have also served as a member of the Bristol Board of Education for 9 ½ years with the last year as chair.  I have served on a Charter Revision committee and the Mayor's Task Force on efficiency and fiscal matters. I believe my education, work experience, and public service make me qualified to lead the City of Bristol.  I believe I can be a leader who collaborates when necessary and makes decisions in the best interest of Bristol.  I realize it will be a significant and challenging task and I know I come at it from a very unconventional perspective, but I believe that can be an asset given these fiscal times and the difficult challenges facing Bristol in the next couple of years.   As I said earlier, this is just a snapshot of who I am.  I look forward to getting to know each of you in the coming months.  I want to share a vision where the party can prosper, but more importantly, Bristol can prosper.  The public expects more of government and I believe I can help change the culture in Bristol so that city leaders can meet and exceed some of those expectations. Christopher C. Wilson  CPCU, CLUInsurance Agent

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Buffalo Bill's Trip Report and Desperado Update (Also the 1st Coaster Ridden in 2009)

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While most parks are still closed for the winter, there are a few parks in California and Florida that are open year around. Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino on the California/Nevada border is one of those year around parks that I normally visit on trips to Las Vegas. Using a coupon from the Vegas Entertainment Book, it is possible to ride twice for $7.00 which is about as a deal as one is going to get in the land of eternal sunshine. Julia and myself took a trip out to the resort on January 2nd and had a great time. One of the restaurants inside the resort was running a special on T-Bones for under 8 bucks so we a good meal plus a couple of coaster rides each.

At Buffalo Bills, there are a number of attractions including a log flume (pretty good by itself but better when the laser guns are working.....they were down for repair this last trip), and S and S Supershot launch tower which offers a great view of the surroundings, a Frog Hopper for the kiddies, and c couple of 3D attractions which I normally avoid like the plague due to headaches. The main attraction however is one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters on the planet: The Desperado.

I have reviewed the coaster previously on this site so feel free to scroll down to read it. It is a very fast and intense ride offering different rides based on seat location and how many people are in the train. The main positive is the outstanding view offered of the surrounding desert including the Vegas lights at night and the long line of cars on the freeway. The coaster is simply not placed in an area anyone would think a coaster would be in which makes a fun ride.

At Buffalo Bills, they offer a number of pricing options which can be found on the official website. Wristbands or single ride purchases are possible with discounts for younger children. One warning however. The casino is open 24/7 but the rides have strange hours. Be sure to call before you visit to make sure they are operational. Also, Desperado and the Launch Tower are quickly closed of inclement weather including high winds arise.

In summary, we had another fun trip out to ride one of my special coasters. Too bad I missed the snow (yep snow) on the ground the previous week.

# 2 - The World's Most Famous Roller Coaster

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The Coney Island Cyclone is not simply a roller coaster. It is an American Icon and a total experience that no enthusiast (or common rider for that matter) should ever miss.

Without a doubt, it is one of the most famous coasters of all time located in one of the greatest cities in the world. The experience is like no other ride in the world today. Despite being among the most cloned coasters of all time, the original is still unique and ranked way above the others. You can read my very lengthy and detailed review as one of the first posts on this site. If you want a better account of this ride, I recommend that you go there. However, for the purpose of this post, keep in mind that my solitary ride back on July 3rd of 2008 was one of my best total experiences (not just at theme parks) ever.

I will never forget it.