Engineering Dept.- making us feel we're not worthy

[Laura_Kurtz]

Here's my story:

A year ago we bought a house in Howell in a small neighborhood and on a street that most people didn't even know existed!  Soon after purchasing the house, we found we had a BIG problem with water sitting outside of our property after every rain.  It didn't matter how long it rained, or how hard it rained, we would get a river in the front of the property.  Sometimes it gets so bad that the "puddle" extends from one end of our property line to almost the other and could measure anywhere from 1 ft. wide to almost 4 ft. wide.  Can't cross the street unless we go to our neighbors and use their property to cross.  It happens that our street, when last paved, was not done correctly, in our opinion.  There is a great pitch in the road directly in front of our house which is causing the massive flooding.  It's hard to miss.  Then there's the winter months.  When it snows and then melts, it's a river.  But then when it gets cold and freezes up, it becomes a huge ice block.  If there is a great amount of snowfall and this happens, the ice will extend out into almost the middle of the road.  We have alot of cars that cut through and MANY of them do NOT drive the speed limit.  If one them hits the patch of ice while going fast, they'll lose control and end up in our yard.  It may not seem like a big deal but what if my child or anyone elses child was playing in the snow on our front yard while this happened to the car.  They could possibly get hurt or worse, killed.  Luckily last year we didn't have a BAD winter.  But who knows what this winter will bring.  

Now you know my story, let me tell you about the Engineering Dept.  It took quite a few phone calls before someone finally called me back (maybe almost 2 months).  Then it took a few more phone calls to get someone to finally come out and survey the problem.  When he finally came out and saw that there was a problem with the street, he was going to bring back his results to the office and if I didn't hear back in a few weeks to call.  About 1 1/2 months later, I had to call the Engineering Dept. again.  After a few more phone calls, I finally was told that there is no money in the budget to do anything about it but she could present the situation at the next budget meeting which was to be in Sept.  I was also told don't hope for much, in so many words.  It is now November and I have not heard back from anyone.  I am tired of continually calling them and being made to feel like I'm a bother, I'm a nuisance.  It gets a little old being a squeaky wheel.  It feels like if they don't stay in touch with updates, maybe we'll just go away along with our problem.  Well, I think it sucks!  And I don't want to keep hearing that we're just little people and that we don't matter and how Howell has much bigger things to do with their budget!!

I thank you for letting me get that out of my system.  Right now we have a river that could be home to some fish.   But, it seems  some people in Howell could care less.  And that is a shame.

[William Field]

Have you tried taking this to a council meeting?  Sometimes what it takes is a public airing of these problem.

-William

[Janine_Skierski]

I too have experienced multiple problems with the engingeering deptartment.  Quite honestly, I am at the end of my rope and I am drafting a letter to the mayor.  We too bought a new house, just built in Howell.  We were so excited about the move, and I have been here 9 months and have dealt with nothing but headaches when having to deal with the township employees.  It's a shame, we all live here and there is just no reason to behave in this manner.  

[Laura_Kurtz]

UPDATE:  FEBRUARY 17, 2010

We STILL have our flooding problem especially now that we have all this snow and it's slowly melting.  As the warm days continue to melt the snow, the huge puddle in our driveway is going to turn into a lake.  The BIGGEST problem with having this flooding situation is my 10 year old daughter still CANNOT get on the bus when it is like this!!  We do not have sidewalks/curbs so all of our children get picked up at their homes.   I tried for almost 3 years to get something done about this.  I talked to Mike Howell (at the time he was on the Council), Helene Schlegel and even went to a council meeting with pictures so everyone on the council including former Mayor DiBella could see what we were dealing with.  The head of Engineering at the time said "there is no money in the budget to fix the problem".   Sad to see that my child's safety (and others) is not a priority or at least near the top of the list.  I am very disappointed with Howell Township.  Perhaps if I draft a letter to the Mayor regarding this problem, it will be reconsidered  but I dont' hold out for much hope in that happening.
 
Venting sure helps even if it is temporary.

[Pat Garaffa]

"The head of Engineering at the time said "there is no money in the budget to fix the problem".   

See article below (and my rant on the main page).  The money is there.  It's just in the wrong column again! 

* * * * *

Dog park may still be a possibility

Howell ‘under the gun’ to use matching grant by June, official says
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer

Howell officials are taking a wait-andsee stance on a proposed dog park off Easy Street in Howell.   Township officials had planned to build the dog park at the Bonim recreational facility with a $169,000 matching grant from the Monmouth County Open Space Grant Program, but coming up with the matching municipal funds has become a problem with the sour economy, they said.

The county’s promised matching grant will expire in June, Deputy Mayor Angela Dalton said at a recent Howell Township Council meeting.

Dalton, who serves on the Recreation Advisory Committee, said the committee is looking for direction from the council.

“They are looking for the council’s position, if they are going to move forward or not move forward,” she said.

The original plans for the dog park called for water fountains for humans and pets, pet waste stations, dog agility obstacles, a shade structure, benches, separate entrance and exit vestibules, landscaping, natural grass berms, a thick stonedust surface along the perimeter of the fences, a natural grass surface on the center areas, and parking spaces.

Dog parks generally provide a facility where owners are permitted to let their pets run without a leash and interact with other dogs.

“We don’t need to have every bell and whistle,” Dalton said. “I think we could scale it down and make it a workable plan.”

The 178-acre Bonim tract fronts on Easy Street and Lakewood-Farmingdale Road (Route 547).

Several council members favored the idea of seeking private donations to help cover Howell’s portion of the matching grant.

“A dog park is a nice thing to have,” Councilman William Gotto said. “I think we are going to have a hard time looking at the cost of the work. First and foremost, use the private funds first. Without that, it’s tough for me.”

“I don’t think we are able to spend the money when people are homeless or are in foreclosure,” Councilwoman Pauline Smith said. “I don’t think we should be worrying about such things.”

(Although I don't always agree with Pauline Smith, she appears to be the lone voice of reason here.  And even if we can easily afford it, what kind of message are we sending?) 

Dalton asked Chief Financial Officer Jeffery Filiatreault if Howell had already bonded for the municipal matching funds.

Filiatreault said that action has not been taken.

“I don’t borrow anything until we actually spend it,” he said. “I don’t borrow anything in advance.”

Mayor Robert Walsh asked Filiatreault if officials decide to downsize the dog park project and borrow the matching funds, could the bond run for a 20-year period.

“It sounds like a reasonable time period for land improvement,” Filiatreault said.

Township Manager Helen Schlegel suggested that Dalton go back to the Recreation Advisory Committee and discuss the possibility of downsizing the project and using the tract as “very simple open space” for the dog park.

“Fencing, just very simple basics,” Schlegel said. “At that point the private donations may even cover it. You are really under the gun with the [county] grant.”

Smith said she was amenable to a downsized dog park.

“Just a fence and few benches for people to sit on,” the councilwoman said. “I have no problem with that. Actually, I think that’s all a dog park needs to be.”

(What? No doggie merry-go-round?)

[Laura_Kurtz]

You've said a mouthful Pat!!  BTW, can South Longview Road to Eagle Drive in the Windmill Club have anymore holes in it???  Some look like they could swallow a large dog!