Well, what can I say. The city of Fort Worth is up to old tricks and citizens of East FW, particularly West Meadowbrook, are rolling over on their backs like beaten dogs.

It wasn't long ago that I was a resident of an Arlington Heights neighborhood, when street construction projects completely tore out old pavement and repaved the streets. Now, I am a resident and owner on the 2800 block of Wilkinson Ave. You neighbors may recall that I've raled about issues from code compliance to the behavior of certain neighbors and municiple leaders but now construction work and those hired to perform this work is what consumes my attention and demands address from the city and its contractors.

Currently, construction is going on in the 2700 block of Wilkinson and old concrete and asphalt from the 2700 block is being dumped on our 2800 block. I recall such debris from similar construction projects in Arlington Heights being immediately being removed and dumped at a dump site and not on the street back in 1996. Do we not deserve the same service and consideration as West Meadowbrook citizens that Arlington Heights residents were granted, or have standards in service fallen to such a present deplorable state? Such piles of debris are obstacles for local residents and the machinery involved has caused significant damage to existing curbs on a block which is not designated for re-pavement. This is an egregious error in judgement and planning on the part of the city's contractor. I doubt that the curbs on my property and my neighbor's property will be repaired on account of this debris being dumped, and local property owners are seriously inconvenienced by the blocking of their driveways. Why is this debris being dumped on our street instead of being hauled away?

I and other neighbors have made several attempts to communicate with those individuals working for the city but none of these individuals speak English let alone proper Spanish, or make the effort to address our questions. We are given vapid stares and insipid gestures pointing in one direction or the other. Two workmen were seen relieving themselves in the alley. Just yesterday evening, one low-brow type in hard-hat just threw out a dozen soda cans on the street on Harwood. I've seen other workers leave their glass beer bottles near our homes after finishing their shuffling of debris from one location to another. How can a respectable municipality be associated with the hiring of such cretans exhibiting such socially undesirable behavior. This behavior certainly brings into question the manner in which these services provided will be executed and the ultimate cost to our city and taxpayers. A five ton backhoe has been parked across from my residence for the past five nights. How can this not damage our street? Will we see it repaired? Debris which should have been immediately hauled off has blocked my neighbor's driveway for two days and although the drive is now accessible, the debris still sits awaiting for some equipment to haul it away. When it does, what damage will be done to the street and curb in front of this property? These people are concerned with how the city will pick up their garbage. As it is, other residents have had their garbage pickup overlooked and if we as property owners left construction debris on the curb as your contractors have we would be cited and fined. It is time to cite and fine the city.

These issues must be addressed now and remedied. Are you not incensed? How much more will you take? Will you only act until prompted by some percieved personal slight like construction dust on your new car? Or will you watch what is really going on around you and complain. The fact is whoever is in charge is really milking this process, rooking the city and citizens for a pretty dollar, and being exceedingly negligent in their commission. I'm ready to get pretty ugly about this and I hope you are too!

See my post.

Jan,

See my post titled Wait Til It Rains to read my response to your post.

Richard

Long drawn out project.......

I wrote the following letter at the end of Sept 2007. Our street project was to start in July of 2006 and be complete within 7 months. The project did not start until December 2006. Nothing had been done other then tearing up then no sign of anyone for about 5 months. Then I wrote a letter asking for a updated timeline. They showed up and tore more up and then disappeared again for SEVERAL WEEKS again, so here is what I wrote the second time around.

Sorry Council Hicks I know you have a full plate but something has got to get some fire lite under someones behind. This is not any fault of yours but this is one of those things that we are all getting very tired with. If this were the street the mayor lives on it would have been started on time and completed on time if not early. We have been given a updated time frame and that isn't even going to be met if they don't get off their behinds and get busy. If I had a job performance as poor as the responsible parties for this project I would expect to be fired! I believe whoever is over-seeing this project needs to do some explaining. The Project Manager is Gopal Sahu, and the inspector is Michael Collier, 817-871-8306 for anyone who is interested. All we get is a truck that drives the street now and then spraying water to hold the dust down. That happened only since we complained. So we either have a mud trail as mentioned or a dust bowl.

I have never in my life filed a law suit but I am about to start doing some foot work to see if one can be and suggest to the residents of Normandy to join together and protest. I thought Kenwood Ct was a cluster when going through that street project but this beats that. I think all of us have been MORE then patient with this situation. I think all of us could be somewhat understanding of the delay if we could see some results, but NOTHING! Can someone PLEASE be upfront and honest and tell us really what is going on. There is rumors that their is a law suit against the contractor and that is the hold-up, is that true? If it is the contractors, (Stabile & Winn, Inc.) fire them and get another contractor in here. enough is enough.

I included Channel 4, 5, 8, & 11 also Fort Worth Weekly and Star Telegram on my e-mail. I feel it is time that everyone knows what we are going through and it is time to get serious about this. We did get a letter about five weeks ago that said the reason for the latest delay was due to trees that needed inspected by a Arborist to recommend removal procedures. This is BS, this is nothing but more excuses for poor planning. This process could have been done during the rainy season when they said nothing could be done.

The contractor Stabile & Winn Co. in their own words.

See part II

By Mike Phipps

Long Drawn Out Project II

QUOTE: Cement stabilization will begin on August 20th, and begin cement paving on Sept 7th, and complete the flat-work in 20-25 days following this date. (this means this process should be done by Oct 2nd, Can't see that commitment being fulfilled) The contractor will then back-fill the surface on Nov. 8th and begin joint sealing on Nov, 28. We expect to do a final seal and sweep the project by Dec 6th, (Keep in mind that is a quote from the Street Progress Report that was received by my request Aug 17) That same report states that we have been given ''Priority Status'' Thank God, I would hate to see the progress had it not been.

Again, This same report gives ''The Neighborhood Impact'' comment stated: Currently pedestrian and vehicle traffic is allowed. Please respect warning signs and watch for construction vehicles. Well we keep watching but we are not seeing construction vehicles.

I don't like placing a complaint without offering a solution but this is out of our hands and we don't have the solutions other then GET BUSY!

Update: Within 36 hours of sending off this letter we had contractors onsite and have not stopped working yet. We now have gas, water, streets and curbs appx 90% done, and now they are working on sidewaks and drives. The project is to be complete now by the first week of December.



By Mike Phipps