The Nashville City Council met last night and approved three ordinances.  One increases the maximum fine for violations that are deemed misdemeanors from $500 to $750.  The State has passed legislation allowing local governments to raise their maximum fine amounts.  Another is replacing the old ordinance dealing with the City curfew with a new ordinance that is more detailed.  Anyone under the age of 13 cannot be out alone between the hours of 9 PM to 6 AM.  Those between 13 and 17 years of age cannot be out alone between 11 PM to 6 AM on Sunday nights through Thursday nights, as well as not being allowed to be out between 12:01 AM to 6 AM on Saturdays and Sundays.  Exceptions include being with a parent or legal guardian or sibling that are at least 18-years old, as well as anyone over the age of 21 that the parents have consented to.  Also, going to or returning from work, a school or religious activity or event, and being out due to an emergency are exceptions.  Police Chief Brian Fletcher also thought the ordinance was in order.  The third ordinance deals with excavations within the City limits.  Utilities Superintendent Blaine Middleton spent months gathering information to put this together and he explains the purpose of it, as it protects the city and its infrastructure and the citizens.  It allows them to know and have a documented record of contractors coming in to town and boring or digging, so that if the city later finds out their lines were damaged, they have that back-up.  It also puts certain limitations on these outside groups as to where they can and cannot put something into the ground.  They are not allowed within a certain distance of any city line already in the ground.  If the city does need to fix their lines, they don’t have the added expense of moving the other company’s line.  If you noticed last month, there was a company boring in line on the west side of Route 127, south of Route 15.  They had to use that side of the road, as the city lines were on the east side of Route 127.  Middleton says this does apply to any city resident if they are putting something into the ground, but not if it is to fix an existing line.