Word is that the downtown project had a contract issued in November 2006 providing 12 months to get the work done. Word is that
council was told to expect the work could be completed in even less time.
Word is
council was told some work might be done at night and the contract required one lane of traffic to always be kept open -- no street closures, minimal traffic disruptions.
Word is that when asked about the timing -- winter was coming on, after all --
council was told there were material options specially developed for pouring concrete to certain temperatures and laying asphalt at certain temperatures. The past 18 months have seen seasonably favorable conditions (ask any public energy utility and they'll show how warmer temperatures impacted their revenues).
Fourteen months later with much of the work still incomplete (January 2008),
council was told an extension had been granted, but no questions as to the reasons why this occurred from
council, who was told that given the type of funding (federal transportation dollars administered through VDoT) penalties were
probably not allowed to be assessed against the contractor by the town. Did any council member ask how long the extention would be for?
Word is that there are actually two asphalt layers to be applied, and
council was told again this would happen in February.
Council was told if the temperature was above freezing, the first asphalt layer could be laid down.
At a more recent meeting,
council was told the temperature had to be above 50-degrees for some number of hours in order to pave the street. Different data no council member challenged.
One council member, in discussing the tourism development group's deliverables last fall, wanted to know how those funds had benefited the town -- stating he could see when paving happened (but couldn't readily see any tourism related results). So, where's the pavement, councilman?
Why does this council blindly accept information -- if
council was told the world was flat, would they also accept this unconditionally? The
FOIA debacle is yet another example of why council must be better engaged and held accountable for having accurate and timely data -- and
asking questions in a public forum.
The town's website still proclaims the aquatic center will be online Fall 2008. Does anyone believe this facility will be finished and open in seven months?
At a recent meeting it was reported that a town resident asked for the construction of a short sewer extension that had been included in the budget for many years. Funded, yet incomplete.
Was council told why this had not been done, or when it
would be done?
Word is there's high-tech equipment being used to measure surface temperatures, and readings have been taken on Main Street.
But don't expect anything to happen this week ... word is the construction crew is enjoying itself at a "conference" in Las Vegas.
Was council told about that?