Potty Time

I’m sorry but this just cracks me up:

PLEASANT PLAINS — A golden toilet stool at the end of a rainbow has become a symbol of the future growth and economic development Mayor Jim Verkuilen hopes
new municipal sanitary sewer lines will bring to this village of about 800.

“It’s like a pot of gold,” Verkuilen said with a laugh.

The stool and rainbow adorned a float the village entered in Pleasant Plains High School’s homecoming parade last month, and the float will be on display during the community’s “First Flush Party” on Saturday.

The party was organized to celebrate the recently completed sewer installation and say thank you to all of the project’s workers as well as residents who were patient during construction, Verkuilen said.
…
The village’s use of septic systems deterred many developers and residents alike from coming to the village, Verkuilen said, adding that he believes the municipal sewer lines will make Pleasant Plains more attractive to businesses and families.

Now that the installation is complete, a new 60-lot south-side subdivision is expected to go up. The village also has annexed about 160 acres north of Pleasant Plains High School and is looking for a developer.

As a former resident of Pleasant Plains, let me say that the worst part of living there wasn’t the septic systems (we never had any problem with ours). Rather, it was the distance from Springfield where both Mrs. TEH and I worked. And shopped. And ate out. And about everything else except sleep.

When we moved into Springfield, gas prices were half of what they are now, but I calculated at the time that our savings in transportation costs would go a very long way in offsetting the cost of the more expensive house we bought on Springfield’s west side.

While Plains is a nice, quiet, safe place to live, it’s kind of out there and not near anywhere you want to go. And to get to Springfield, you have to take the two-lane Route 125/97 which is one solid line of cars during the morning and evening work commutes. It’s not a bad road otherwise, especially if you like deer.

Maybe I’m wrong; sewers will attract people to live and set up businesses in Plains. But I’m betting it won’t make a big difference. Meanwhile, congrats to the citizens of the community for gaining a worry-free flush lifestyle.