By Ian Berry
Staff Writer
Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck said the county should consider taking over the vehicle emissions testing program here once the current contract runs out in 2011.
The program is run by Envirotest, a private company that contracts with the state. Mr. Beck and others have raised questions about the implementation of the program and the hardship they say it poses for some residents.
In a meeting with the Times Free Press editorial board Thursday, Mr. Beck said reviving “safety lanes,” which would check issues such as headlights and windshield wipers, also would give the county more flexibility to administer emissions tests.
Mr. Beck first expressed support for the concept at a meeting with emissions testing officials last week, when Commissioner Bill Hullander raised the possibility. Mr. Beck said he has not sensed support for the concept among other commissioners, one of whom said it would cause headaches for the county.
“I don’t see what a headache that would be,” Mr. Beck told the Times Free Press editorial board Thursday. “It’s more of a headache now.”
Mr. Beck, a Democrat who represents District 5, faces Republican Bernie Miller in the county’s Aug. 3 general election.
Dr. Miller on Wednesday revealed what he said was a “proven” way to pass the emissions test. He said then that the program, although a hardship for some, is working to clean the air and has allowed the county to pursue tenants for the Enterprise South industrial park.
The county agreed to implement emissions testing in the face of possible restrictions by the Environmental Protection Agency. State officials have said the program had to be administered in a certain way to appease the EPA.
“I’m all for taking emission testing off the backs of poor people,” said Dr. Miller, a Republican. “I just want to know how Mr. Beck plans to do it and still be in compliance.”
During last week’s commission meeting on emissions testing, a state official said that if the county wanted to implement its own program in 2011, it should tell the state and Envirotest much sooner than that.
At his meeting with the editorial board on Wednesday, Dr. Miller said Mr. Beck was focused only on “the symptom.” He said people should know how to pass the test, and he described a “proven” method involving STP gas treatment, super unleaded gas and making “sure the engine is hot” when you take the test.
Mr. Beck said the goal is to tweak the system and make it more effective, rather than trying to avoid it.
He also joked that he wished Dr. Miller had told him about this method before he paid to have his own car fixed.
“He could make a lot of money off of that if he patented it,” Mr. Beck said. “Bless his heart.”
District 5 includes areas around the airport, Bonny Oaks, East Chattanooga and Ridgeside.
E-mail Ian Berry at iberry@timesfreepress.com
Staff Writer
Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Beck said the county should consider taking over the vehicle emissions testing program here once the current contract runs out in 2011.
The program is run by Envirotest, a private company that contracts with the state. Mr. Beck and others have raised questions about the implementation of the program and the hardship they say it poses for some residents.
In a meeting with the Times Free Press editorial board Thursday, Mr. Beck said reviving “safety lanes,” which would check issues such as headlights and windshield wipers, also would give the county more flexibility to administer emissions tests.
Mr. Beck first expressed support for the concept at a meeting with emissions testing officials last week, when Commissioner Bill Hullander raised the possibility. Mr. Beck said he has not sensed support for the concept among other commissioners, one of whom said it would cause headaches for the county.
“I don’t see what a headache that would be,” Mr. Beck told the Times Free Press editorial board Thursday. “It’s more of a headache now.”
Mr. Beck, a Democrat who represents District 5, faces Republican Bernie Miller in the county’s Aug. 3 general election.
Dr. Miller on Wednesday revealed what he said was a “proven” way to pass the emissions test. He said then that the program, although a hardship for some, is working to clean the air and has allowed the county to pursue tenants for the Enterprise South industrial park.
The county agreed to implement emissions testing in the face of possible restrictions by the Environmental Protection Agency. State officials have said the program had to be administered in a certain way to appease the EPA.
“I’m all for taking emission testing off the backs of poor people,” said Dr. Miller, a Republican. “I just want to know how Mr. Beck plans to do it and still be in compliance.”
During last week’s commission meeting on emissions testing, a state official said that if the county wanted to implement its own program in 2011, it should tell the state and Envirotest much sooner than that.
At his meeting with the editorial board on Wednesday, Dr. Miller said Mr. Beck was focused only on “the symptom.” He said people should know how to pass the test, and he described a “proven” method involving STP gas treatment, super unleaded gas and making “sure the engine is hot” when you take the test.
Mr. Beck said the goal is to tweak the system and make it more effective, rather than trying to avoid it.
He also joked that he wished Dr. Miller had told him about this method before he paid to have his own car fixed.
“He could make a lot of money off of that if he patented it,” Mr. Beck said. “Bless his heart.”
District 5 includes areas around the airport, Bonny Oaks, East Chattanooga and Ridgeside.
E-mail Ian Berry at iberry@timesfreepress.com
