Didn't see that coming
N&O:
HS:
Anyone who's lived in Durham since 1996 and has watched the revenue from two major bond issues buy incomplete and substandard projects is shaking their heads right now and mumbling something about Northgate Park. This is the way our city manages almost all of its projects. This time, though, the customer is not a Durham resident and appears to, you know, have expectations.
How inconvenient.
This month Minor League Baseball CEO Pat O'Conner complained about construction delays and poor quality of work. By 11 a.m. Monday, Bonfield had told several top city staffers he wants an "update report" by next Tuesday.
"This is a very serious matter for the project, the city's relationship with Minor League Baseball and the City's credibility as a whole," he wrote in an e-mail.
Chris Boyer, director of the city's General Services Department, which is managing the project, said compiling all the facts during a holiday week, when many of those involved are away, might be difficult.
"It's a complex project," she said Monday afternoon. "There are a number of issues involved and a number of different stakeholders."
HS:
In a Dec. 19 letter, Minor League Baseball President Pat O'Conner said he and his staff "fear the DAP renovation project is falling short of everyone's goals and expectations."
Specifically, they think there have been "numerous failures to meet the construction specifications for the field design," to the point the city might have to spend money on repairs that could be put to better use elsewhere in the stadium, O'Conner said.
He added he wants a Minor League Baseball-chosen contractor to take control of field maintenance as soon as workers finish planting its turf and wants an "independent review" of its renovation.
Anyone who's lived in Durham since 1996 and has watched the revenue from two major bond issues buy incomplete and substandard projects is shaking their heads right now and mumbling something about Northgate Park. This is the way our city manages almost all of its projects. This time, though, the customer is not a Durham resident and appears to, you know, have expectations.
How inconvenient.
Since 1949, Durhamites have slept soundly, secure in the knowledge that, in our town, erection can be depended upon. Now, thanks to the power of the internets, we can spread that security all over the world.
2 Comments:
I live in Northgate Park and this doesn't surprise me at all.
No pun intended, but shouldn't this accountability fall under the City's Audit Services Dept.?
http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/audit/overview.cfm
We don't have a comptroller per se, or a version of the Federal Government's General Accounting Office, but the lack of follow-through on projects funded by taxpayer dollars (oddly, except in places like Watts-Hillandale--which has the world's most awesome traffic calming project--or any other special nabes in D-Town?...) is appalling.
It's reason enough to vote "NO" on any next bond issue and you can quote me.
I mean if you vote "YES" for an infrastructure improvement bond and it doesn't happen like you were told, then wouldn't it make more sense to vote "NO" and know for sure what your ballot just accomplished?
By
onanist, at 10:49 PM
TomBon's gonna have to show some serious management chops before i vote for another park bond, i'll tell you that.
By
Barry, at 11:07 PM
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