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Trip-hazard Middletown bricks

Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Engineering
Forum Description: City Engineering Department
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6430
Printed Date: Nov 21 2024 at 11:33am


Topic: Trip-hazard Middletown bricks
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Subject: Trip-hazard Middletown bricks
Date Posted: Mar 06 2017 at 1:57pm

Trip-hazard Middletown bricks won’t likely be replaced this year

http://www.journal-news.com/news/local/richter/uXflDgPmOLMkhUpWJZU0UM/" rel="nofollow - Mike Rutledge

Staff Writer

11:40 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2017   http://www.journal-news.com/community/middletown" rel="nofollow -

 

MIDDLETOWN

The city of Middletown’s insurers have been asking city leaders for about a decade to replace pavers at the building that houses offices of city government and the city’s school district.

The loose pavers, according to the city’s insurance carrier, pose a safety hazard.

City Manager Doug Adkins said the hexagon-shaped bricks could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace.

RELATED:  http://www.journal-news.com/news/local-govt--politics/middletown-budget-plight-could-spur-layoffs-city-manager-says/dYXIMyvl7ddC6pCyfFJbsN/" rel="nofollow - - Middletown budget plight could spur layoffs

In an email Monday to this news outlet, Adkins said there was “no definite timeline on fixing the problem.”

“My best guess is that the first step would be a design phase, break the project into repair pieces we can afford to make each year, and spread the project over several years,” he wrote.

Public Works Director Scott Tadych said options are still being evaluated.

The starting cost to fix what is just around the building, not including the plaza area, is about $750,000, according to Tadych.

MORE:  http://www.journal-news.com/news/fixing-middletown-crumbling-streets-carries-hefty-price-tag/WBu96Yor7CHjcoVLOVzcnI/" rel="nofollow -

Due to the cost of replacing the pavers, the city’s insurance carrier does not expect Middletown to replace all of them immediately, but does expect the city to formulate a plan to fix them over time, Finance Director Jacob Burton said.

“There is no penalty or higher rates due to the pavers at this time,” Burton said. “We had 2 claims related to the pavers in 2013, 0 claims in 2014, 2 claims in 2015, and 0 claims in 2016.”

Cost of replacing the pavers is small compared to the needs for street paving, Adkins told council members in 2015, placing a price tag on street paving at about $162 million.


Replies:
Posted By: whistlersmom
Date Posted: Mar 06 2017 at 3:06pm
So, Adkins said the cost to replace pavers could be hundreds of thousands of dollars... is Adkins thinking of repaving with gold?

The biggest reason Adkins has no plan yet to fix the pavers is ... he hasn't figured out how to get the cost placed on the taxpayer's back.

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing" Edmond Burke

Posted By: whistlersmom
Date Posted: Mar 07 2017 at 12:02pm
How could Public Works Director, Tadych and City Director, Adkins have arrived at an exorbitant, inflated $750,000 estimated cost for the fix of our “paver problem”? Possible cost breakdown: 1). $747,500 administrative cost, 2). $500.00 for removing pavers, 3). $2,000 for stamped pattern, colored concrete.

What if they used public works labor to remove then properly reinstall them? Boy, it might take some research and common sense thought on how to install pavers properly, such as seen on PBS programs, This old House, etc. For example, the cost of perhaps, a bed of sand and some equipment (shovels and tamps and/or some rented heavy equipment) with our public works labor looks like an inexpensive solution. This could be done gradually, a section at a time. Public Works employees would have some constructive work to do! (What have they been doing recently? No snow removal, salting or mowing which are all mostly farmed out at tax payer expense anyway.)

The insurance company has been trying for ten years to get this resolved after having to pay several claims for injury due to the paver hazard. Maybe the insurance won’t cover the next claim and law suit since the city has been repeatedly warned. Who’s responsibility will it be then, Mr Adkins? And the property owners are now being forced to pay for concrete repair, replacement and installation of new sidewalks in front of their property to remove possible hazards. But the city can’t be responsible for it's own “front yard” hazards.


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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing" Edmond Burke

Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Mar 07 2017 at 1:28pm
w-mom:

"And the property owners are now being forced to pay for concrete repair, replacement and installation of new sidewalks in front of their property to remove possible hazards"

And speaking of the new proposal to force residents to repair their sidewalks, driveway aprons, etc.........

Went to the city site today and looked at the agenda notes from the last meeting. In the notes, there was an explanation of the new proposal and a list of approximately 20-25 homes on the list requiring concrete work and the estimated price for repairs ranging from around $350 bucks to over 15 grand for some poor soul. Actually, I was thinking this would be a witch hunt and an all-out assault on ALL city residents would be targeted to gain the almighty revenue they are always seeking. Surprised me it was such a short list but, then again, this is just the beginning of their little program to hassle those who can least afford the repairs they want. Time will tell whether this program will continue based on the amount of flak they receive when they start pushing the property owners too far. I would think that is bound to happen as time moves forward. Remember the old "peeled paint, rusty gutters" program they mentioned years ago? Haven't heard much about that for awhile. Must be keeping it under the radar lately.

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I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.

Posted By: whistlersmom
Date Posted: Mar 07 2017 at 2:00pm
VietVet

You have taken note of the short list of properties which were singled out due to "complaints" against them for defects (hazards) only. The longer list of 300+ properties had to do with an additional city ordinance forcing concrete repairs by the property owner to made previous to the city repairing their streets.

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing" Edmond Burke

Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Mar 07 2017 at 2:23pm
Ok. Didn't know there was another, longer list. Where would one find this additional list and, perhaps directed to Adkins and crew, why hasn't it been made available to the public as it involves the public? Would we property owners have received a nastigram in the mail from the city if it was our property targeted or would they have published the list in the Journal.

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I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.

Posted By: whistlersmom
Date Posted: Mar 07 2017 at 2:52pm
Find your info on the website CityofMiddletown.org and go to the workbook for today. Yes the property owners receive their nastigram AFTER council has voted to apply the abuse.

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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing" Edmond Burke


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