JASON'S MAILBAG: Why do they call Cedar Point Road 'the chaussée'

Q: Jason, can you find out why we call the back way to Cedar Point "the shaussey?" As we direct tourists that way they often comeback with, "Why do you call it that?" It comes up as a road in the Ukraine on Google. Thanks. -- Mark on Deerwood RoadA: Thanks for the question, Mark. The word is actually spelled "chaussée." It's a French word meaning "highway" or "street."I don't know the specific reason people in Sandusky call Cedar Point Road the chaussée. If anybody knows, please write me with the answer. Maybe it has something to do with the upper-class reputation Cedar Point Road has. People often associate the French with high class and sophistication, so I could envision a scenario where people labeled the wealthiest area in Sandusky using its French name.Or maybe some of Cedar Point Road's inhabitants were originally French?Hopefully, one of our readers knows. If someone writes me with a better answer, I'll pass it along.Q: Hey Jason, love your column. Has Malcolm Pirnie explained yet why the coal-tar investigation cost more money than the city expected ($143,000)? And how come the city didn't bid out the work? -- Pete on Perkins AvenueA: In response to your first question, I don't believe Malcolm Pirnie has given a breakdown of costs yet, even though Todd Roth, the city's engineering director, asked the company to do so by no later than the end of last week.As for your second question, when it comes to very specialized work like a coal-tar investigation, the state doesn't require local governments to bid out such projects. That's because Ohio assumes that when it comes to areas of specialized expertise, you often get what you pay for. So Ohio wants local governments to choose a company with the best expertise, not necessarily the lowest price.The same goes for lawyers: Cities don't have to bid out legal work, because the state assumes there's a correlation between cost and quality.But there's also a second answer to your second question: The city paid for the coal-tar investigation using a U.S. EPA grant. And as part of that grant, the city had to get certain environmental consultants approved by the EPA in advance. The city had two contractors pre-approved (Malcolm Pirnie and Partners Hull), so it had to use one of those for the coal-tar investigation. Since Partners Hull had a conflict of interest, the city went with Malcolm Pirnie.Q: Jason, I have a question for you: I watched the Sandusky City Commission meeting on Oct. 25 and noticed the census people stating the Sandusky Transit System gets $1.1 million each year for only serving half the residents of the city. Why does the SPARC bus not pick up everyone on the west side of town for $1? (Instead they don't have any bus stops on the west side). Is this legal to use federal tax dollars to discriminate against west-side taxpayers? -- Jason on Fulton StreetA: The city's public transportation system, SPARC, can't go too far west because of the trains that come through the west side. Public transportation systems have to stay on very strict schedules so residents know they're reliable. And with the west-side trains, the SPARC buses would likely get caught and thrown off.Once the city and Ohio Department of Development build the west-side overpass -- which is scheduled for construction in spring 2011 -- the city will add west-side stops, said Carrie Handy, the city's chief planner.As it is, the city's newest SPARC route goes much farther west than the initial SPARC route did: It stops at the Dollar General store at Venice Road and Tiffin Avenue.West-side residents can also use Sandusky Transit's curbside pickup system by calling 419-627-0740. Each trip costs $1, and if you call ahead, they'll come right to your door.Q: Why did the city agreeto go to an arbitrator after it fired Dan Lauber, who could foolishly reinstate him (in my humble opinion)? Couldn't the city just have said, "You threatened someone, you created a hostile environment, you're fired," and just moved on? -- Bea on Erie AvenueA: Great question, Bea. As part of collective bargaining, the city and its unions agreed to settle all their disputes with an arbitrator. So if the union disagrees with a firing -- as it did in this case -- the two sides must go to an arbitrator, if they can't work out a settlement on their own.As part of collective bargaining, the two sides also agreed upon four specific arbitrators who would be used on a rotating basis. Since the city contractually agreed to all of this in advance, it must go along with the arbitrator's decision to reinstate Lauber, even if city officials disagree with her ruling.To ask Jason a question, send a letter to 314 W. Market St. or e-mail singer@sanduskyregister.com. Please include your first name and a location in the e-mail, e.g. "John from Decatur Street."