Rose Street Proposal

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="2c1e8643.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Maiandra GD" ><B>Georgetown Politics</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |  </B> <B>  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Georgetown Politics"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Maiandra GD" ><B> </B></FONT><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Accolades"><U><B>Accolades</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id195.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Commentary"><U><B>Commentary</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Town Boards and Commissions"><U><B>Town Boards and Commissions</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Miscellaneous"><U><B>Miscellaneous</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Warm Fuzzy Thoughts"><U><B>Warm & Fuzzy Thoughts</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Donate"><U><B>Donate</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Muckrakers Unite"><U><B>Muckrakers Unite</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Comcast"><U><B>Contact Comcast</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Over a 1/4 of a million dollars estimated to refurbish Rose Street and finish/repair Straight Creek Construction work! When is the town going to explain to citizens why they refuse to do the fiscally responsible thing - which could be to recover the losses from Straight Creek Construction, LLC.?</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto:sccdocs@georgetownpolitics.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:sccdocs@georgetownpolitics.com"><U>email us to see the Straight Creek Construction, Inc. Rose Street contract and the addendum that required them to repair the sidewalks</U></A></div> <bR> <div> On November 23, 2004 the BOS approved this scantily detailed Rose Street proposal submitted by Cindy Neely.  This proposal includes the installation of flagstone sidewalk all along Rose Street. Here are some various concerns that we have regarding the sidewalks - we're not even touching on the fact that the town is broke and should not be paying for Rose Street paving AGAIN!(the actual proposal is below):</div> <bR> <div> 1. The town laws <A HREF="id169.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sidewalk Construction Code 12.08"><U>(12.08)</U></A> clearly state that abutting property owners are  responsible for the construction, reconstruction or repair of sidewalks. There are many property owners in town who can attest to having to pay for their own sidewalk repairs (even after pleading to the town for help because the drainage was destroying their property). So, why do Rose Street residents get our town money ($60,000) to pay for what is legally their (the abutting property owner's) responsibility? As was stated at the November 23rd town meeting, it was the construction company (Straight Creek Construction) who damaged and destroyed much of the sidewalks needing to be replaced or repaired. If the residents did not sue the construction company for destroying what is their (the property owner's) responsibility, then that is their own fault and the town should not be picking up the bill for it. </div> <bR> <div> 2. We question the "cost estimate" provided for the installation of the flagstone sidewalk and believe that it is more than what other construction companies would estimate it at. What happens when (and it will have to) this job is put out for public bid and the bid comes in lower than this cost estimate? </div> <bR> <div> 3.  Flagstone sidewalks are a hazard to the elderly and children alike. They are uneven (if they are installed as they were historically, and being as how the town plans to get a state historical grant to pay for part of this project, we're assuming that's what they will be like), not to mention difficult and cumbersome to shovel the snow off of it and also harbors puddles/ice when it rains.  The best feature in town for children is the Foster's Place park at the end of Rose Street. Folks who would like to stroller their children, use walkers, wheelchairs or any other handicap aid to go to Foster's Place via Rose Street will not be able to. So much for Rose Street being important for the whole of town and ALL of our visitors and citizens. </div> <bR> <div> 4. We are truly baffled by the insistence of some in town to continue the supposed historic installation of flagstone. Even the State Historical Fund has questioned this tactic stating "flagstone is not historic, but Georgetown likes it". Even if we were to agree that they were historical, does that mean that Rose Street shouldn't be paved? After all, dirt roads would be just as historic (and just as impractical and hazardous) as flagstone sidewalks would be, don't you think? </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> If the town has decided to use our town funds to pay for the  flagstone sidewalks on Rose Street, then Georgetown citizens have the right to let the State Historical Fund and town officials know of their opposition to them. <A HREF="mailto:Flagstonepetition@georgetownpolitics.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Flagstonepetition@georgetownpolit"><U>Email us</U></A> or call us at (303) 569-3808 to sign a petition that will be sent to both. </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> * special note to jcc, yes we have contacted the ADA regarding the sidewalks, we'll keep you posted...........</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="285524c0.jpg" border=0 width="850" height="1100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>