Residents and council try to iron out sidewalk differences
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Paul Helman, Joel Bittner and Barry and Carolyn Shoemaker brought concerns about the storm sewer work on South Allison Street to a special meeting hosted by Greencastle Borough Council Monday night.

The borough engineer thinks the storm drain installation was done fine and the residents on the east side of South Allison Street think the work did not meet contract specifications. Both factions argued their points Monday night at a meeting for affected residents.

The Greencastle Borough Council hosted the session for approximately 30 people to explain the timeframe for the installation of curbing prior to the final street paving this summer. Letters had been sent to 36 homes. Residents are required to pay for new curb in front of their homes by June 1 and to complete sidewalk installation by Oct. 31.

Joel Bittner, 222 S. Allison St., was the primary spokesman for his neighbors. He said the installation of the storm sewer from South Ridge Avenue down South Allison Street was not done according to specifications. Charles E. Brake Co., Inc., St. Thomas, was hired in February 2007 for the storm drain project. Theirs was the low bid of $503,400 out of 10 vying companies.

Bittner alleges the fill along the trench was inadequate because the rocks used were too large. The street settled significantly after a major rain and over the winter. He wanted a 10-year guarantee from the borough that the sidewalks would not also sink.

Barry Shoemaker, 242 S. Allison St., added, "The borough ought to be concerned about the street. We're concerned about the sidewalks. If they collapse because of the backfill, your street will too."

Bittner and others took photos during the construction process and he says the neighbors are prepared to go to court. They aren't ready to pour concrete.

"Until we get that guarantee we will do nothing," he declared.

Borough engineer Keith Moore from Frederick, Seibert and Associates, was confident the work was satisfactory.

"I think it was executed fine. I don't see there will be a huge problem with this."

He said his firm did visual inspections and had staff onsite during the whole process. After the rain, Brake re-excavated along the trench.

Council members Charles Eckstine, Paul Schemel, Duane Kinzer, Craig Myers and Harry Foley defended Moore and Brake.

"We pay an engineer. We have to trust someone," said Eckstine.

Foley asked if the residents would abide by the opinion of an independent geotechnical engineer to review the trench and conduct a compaction test. Bittner insisted on the guarantee.

Ted Mercado, owner of State Farm Insurance, 200 E. Franklin St., asked what would happen if the compaction test failed.

"Go back to the contractor and force the warranty," replied Moore. "I don't think that will happen."

Because the warranty is for just one year, Schemel favored doing the test soon. Myers asked the residents to mutually agree with council on an independent engineer to conduct the test and then to trust the answer. If it was positive, he wanted them to proceed with the installation of the curbs and sidewalks.

Bittner said photos revealed that some curbs which didn't pass inspection by Moore and former borough manager Ken Myers last April were actually fine. Since they have already been taken down it was a moot point, but Foley said in the future the borough would take its own digital pictures.

One man listened to the extensive arguments and said, "It's time to move on. Take up your issue with the borough separately. A bunch of us people here on the west side of the street have no problems."

The council met in executive session following the meeting and authorized Public Facilities chairman Harry Foley to contact Bob Schemmerling from RHS Engineering for recommendations on geotechnical engineers. They planned to have details for the March 3 meeting. Eckstine also said they would investigate whether the borough had paid Brake to do a compaction test even though it was not done, due to pre-bid decision by Moore.

Curbing details

Borough manager Ken Womack told the residents they had three options for installing the curbs and it made sense to move forward on getting bids from the different sources even before the storm drain issue was resolved.

The first choice was that the borough contract out the work. It could result in a cost savings to the homeowners even if prevailing wage was paid. The residents would have two years to pay back the borough The second choice was that the owners band together and get a group bid. It might be the cheapest route but could entail a little more work on the residents' part.

The third choice was that each homeowner handle it in whichever way he saw fit. That would likely be the most expensive plan. In all three cases, Womack said the standards had to meet borough specifications. He cautioned anyone from doing the work himself unless experienced in concrete.

"Curbing is the issue now," he said. "We can't lay the street without the curb."

He suggested sidewalks could be given a later deadline but he didn't want the street put off another year.