Page 2-Thursday, February 2, 1978-The Michigan Daily
Woman's tangle with gas
company still not over
By RICHARD BOCKMAN
One woman's fight with Michigan Consolidated Gas Com-
pany over a billing error isn't over yet, nor is likely to be
settled soon.
In a hearing earlier this week, the woman, Catherine
Burrell, and her attorney, Joe Bachrach, tried to appeal a
$350. billing error, to little avail.
Michigan Consolidated Gas Company apparently in-
correctly billed Burrell last fall, charging not for her own use
of gas, but for that of a neighbor. The mix-up showed Burrell,
by the company's records, owing $350. The Gas Company
wa nted her to pay within three months.
.But Burrell claimed that was unfair. The welfare
recipient then became the first person in Washtenaw County
history to fight a utility bill at that hearing before a represen-
tative of the Public Service Commission (PSC).
At the hearing, the gas company offered to split the dif-
ference in losses with Burrell. They offered to only charge
her $175 and to extend the billing period from three to 12 mon-
ths.
Bachrach and Burrell refused the offer, saying the attem-
pt to charge Burrell for the error is a breach of contract.
When a person opens an account with the gas company, that
person contractually agrees to pay the bills, they claimed.
Burrell paid the bills regularly, so she claimed the extra bills
were not part of the original contract, and she is not respon-
sible for the mistake.
But the hearing officer ruled the offer a fair one. Burrell's
appeal to the PSC has not yet been scheduled.
Garbage,
(Continued from Page 1
thinking. We're all the same. We all
want to hop in our cars and go here
and there," the Democrat said.
"The question is, can we change the
thinking of people so they won't want
to drive to work."
Sheldon stressed the importance
of compromise on Ann Arbor's ex-
tremely partisan Council and the
need to make long range plans.
In a separate interview, Mitchell's
opponent said, "You can make these
ideas, but people will do what they
want."
This difference of opinion is sym-
ptomatic of the traditional split bet-
ween the parties in Ann Arbor over the
solutions to the traffic problem in the
downtown area: parking structures or
public transportation.
There isn't much doubt about the
Third Ward's answer to questions with
a partisan label. The ward has more
acres-and more Republican
voters-than any in the city. Council
member Bertoia won the second of his
two successful Third Ward races with a
2,000 vote margin out of 5,000 cast.
From the end of South University on
the western side, the Third Ward
spreads east to include about one-fifth
of the city's registered voters. Between
Plymouth Road on the north and
Packard and Washtenaw on the south,
there are 15,252 people signed up to
vote. Only 685 of them are students.
"It's pretty-mostly resiential," said
Sheldon of the ward.,
"The Third Ward is a pretty good
cross-section of the city as a whole,"
according to Mitchell. "There are some
small businessmen, some University
people. And then you have us common'
people who work in the vineyards ofj
potholes t
life," smiled the Democrat.
Neither of the candidates in the Third
Ward has ever held a public office but
both are proud of their jobs.
Sheldon, 35, a thing bespeckled loan
officer and vice-president at Ann Arbor
Bank has 'served as a Jaycee's
president, division chairman of the
United Fund, a member of Ann Arbor
Tomorrow (a nonpartisan citizens' ad-
visory planning group), and on the
Community Devleopment Block Grants
(CDBG) Advisory Board. The CDBG is
an influential twelve-member group
which directs federal funds for local
projects.
The sturdy Mitchell, 61, is a long time
employe of Michigan Bell and has been
active in local citizen and labor groups.
He has served on the Committee of
Political Education (COPE) under the
AFL-CIO Huron Vally Labor Council,
as president of the local Senior Citizens
Guild and legislative chairman of the
4011 chapter of the Communications
Workers.
Sheldon, who holds a masters in
Business Administration from the
University, said, "I honestly don't see
any major issues beyond representing
the Third Ward voters." He said his
work at the bank shows "I can make
some decisions."
Mitchell listed a number of issues he
considers important. "Housing is
probably the biggest issue," he said.
Mitchell said poor families can't afford
to live in the Third Ward.
"Four kids (students) with $150 each
can price any black family right out,"
Mitchell said. "It is increasingly true
that you can't afford to live here."
Mitchell said police operations are
another important issue in the race. He
said the police department is "top
heavy" with administrators and called
op issues
for more foot patrols in the city.
He also listed the problems of the
elderly as critical. "We need to get
more attention focused on the older
citizens' wants, needs and desires," he
said. "Nobody wants to toss older
people onto the scrap heap of life. But
it's the process."
When asked what he would do for the
elderly, Mitchell replied, "All they
want is a fair return on their invest-
ment. The little things. Garbage
removal, sidewalks plowed, to be able
to walk three blocks without being
mugged."
Sheldon agrees on the importance of
city services. "You talk to the average
person on the street, they're worried
about holes in the street, garbage, the
basic city services."
Sheldon and Mitchell also line up
together in a critical view towards the
University's role in city politics.
Sheldon said "in general" relations-
between University officials and city
administrators have been good, but ad-
ded, "You do hear feelings expressed
that the University is inflexible." He
cited the University Hospital
replacement project as a sensitive
issue with many citizens.
Mitchell took a somewhat stronger
position against the University. He
agreed the University is "not very
compromising." Mitchell cited Univer-
sity intervention in hospital access
plans now under consideration by a
local planning group as an example of
University heavy-handedness in joint
efforts.
Mitchell sees himself as a populist.
"People in positions of power have to
come out of their ivory tower and try to
understand the common man," he said
with a deep draw on his cigarette.
Dutch Auction
urday, Feb.4
sembly Hall
There's
a solution but...
Birth
defects
are
forever.
Unless
you help.
March
of Dimes
THIS SPACE CONTRI BUTED BY THE PUBLISHER
9 to 5
Tuesday, Jan.31 thru SatL
Mich Union Basement As
[ i
- Paid Advertisemn
'OOD
FOk
THOU H T
ANN ARBOR'S UNIQUE NEW NA TURAL FOOD RESTAURANT
Turtle tad
Q.
featuring
Turtle Island. Judging from its name one might expect a palm tree strewn South Sea
retreat cooled by quiet tropical breezes. Well, the Turtle Island on 315 South State
Street isn't quite so tropical, but a glance at the decor on our first visit there reveals
that it is no less charming. The restaurant's interior features wood block "tables,
paneled walls bearing black and white photographs or outdoor scenes, fresh cut
flowers, and a soft, muted lighting. Such atmosphere is standard fare at Turtle Island,
and a steady stream of Jazz music makes one's visit even more relaxing.
The hosts at Turtle Island are co-managers Jim Fuchs and Jamie Dansicker, a pair
schooled in Boston in the fine art of natural food cooking. Their experience is reflected
in the restaurant's varied menu, not to mention such diverse dishes as the scallops and
fried soba buckwheat noodles which we tried.
All food featured at Turtle Island is fresh. The fish is flown in daily from Boston, and
the Japanese noodles (found nowhere else in town), while not imported from the
orient, are like everything else cooked right on the premises.
The patron at Turtle Island is served generous portions of good food. The meals are
well prepared, and presented nicely by friendly, gracious waitresses. Thanks to helpful
staffers who don't turn crimson with anger when asked to explain, a diner at Turtle
Island avoids the headaches of trying to understand the name of the sometimes exotic
natural fare.
The restaurant features soup-salad combinations for those who seek to grab lunch
in a hurry. However, for more ponderous patrons hearty portions of tempura may be
ordered up at dinner. If vegetable tempura isn't exciting enough there are five others
to choose from, among them scallop, shrimp, and fish tempura, as well as the
mysterious tempura deluxe.
After the meal, or even with it, one might try either the hot spiced cider or the Tur-
tle coffee. The latter is a tempting combination of coffee, hand whipped cream and
maple syrup, and it alone makes an outing to Turtle Island well worth the effort.
The specialties include any fish dish, in the $3-$4 range ($4-$5 at dinner); the
soba-buckwheat and udon-japanese noodle dishes in the $2-$4 range; and the cheese
or mushroom omelettes for $2.75.
Turtle Island is owned by Eden Foods, and it faces the unenviable challenge of oc-
cupying a storefront that has hosted a number of natural food eateries in the past few
years. However, the high quality of Turtle Island assures it of a not so transient
future, and by our estimate it is a welcome addition to Ann Arbor's restaurant scene.
THE LORD FOX
Dinner Hours 4-10 p.m. 668-9387
Featuring Ann Arbor's largest selection of fresh seafoods,
steaks, and wines. Special flambeed desserts. Old-fashioned
hospitality striving for a balance of American and Continental
dishes.
NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRE-D
1 % miles east of US 23 on Plymouth Rd.
l. A B.\ A ROR'N jl( -I \Fh' NA T 1711 [001) RI ST 11R \T
Turtlelsiand
Featuring:
super soups
salads
sandwiches
fresh fish and vegetables
world-famous fried rice
nowhere else noodles
tempuro (dinner only)
desserts
and fresh flowers on oIl tables
21,
Tue.-Sa.. 11:30-4:301
Dinner:
Tu~es.-Thurs. 4:30.8:30)
F-ri. & Sat. 4:30-9'.30
Sunday 4:00.8:30
Closed tMndays
r---
---
315 S. STATE (between Ufierty & William) 663-3525
Full dinner. . . including
Bar-B-Que Beef Ribs, Pan- a t -
Fried Fresh Perch, Pineapple
Baked Ham, Broiled Sea
Scallops, Southern Fried Chick-
en, Fresh Great Lakes Smelt, GatheringPlace
Veal Parmesan, Home-made ,
Lasagna. and Pan-Fried Frog Legs.
Plus, a great salad bar and fries near as e at
or corn on the cob.
Saturday thru Thursday Sun. 1-8pm. Sat. & Mon. -Thurs. 5-8:30 pm.
Delicious, Quality Food & Cocktails
j Elegantly Prepared
Graciously Served
At
Chez Crepe
328 S. Main
Tues.-Thurs.-11:00-3:00, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Fri. & Sat.-11:00-3:00, 5:00-9:00 p.m.
Sunday-4:00-9:0O p.m.
Reservations Suggested-(313) 668-8300
Closed Mondays 8 Holidays
Comolete Italian-American Menu
A U * ~ * WV if W -