The Village has released edited recordings from the Roads & Bridges Committee meeting held on February 17th. The link to the menu of edited recording segments can be accessed here.
Four people participated during the public comment portion of the meeting, but we believe most readers can relate to the second speaker. His comments can be heard here.
In addition to the topics on the original meeting agenda, Dan Strahan of Gewalt Hamilton was asked for an update on the Route 68/Dundee Road project announced earlier in February in The Observer. According to Strahan, not only is IDOT resurfacing Route 68 from Village Hall to the Kane County boarder, they are also adding four-foot paved shoulders along the roadway with gravel shoulders beyond the new paving.
This is likely a first for any road in Barrington Hills since many have no shoulders to speak of, let alone paved. Once again, we’ll be providing updates on this project as they become available.
Resurfacing with four-foot paved shoulders on Dundee is not an improvement, it’s an encroachment.
With the public now invited to attend the R&B meetings, residents are beginning to understand how they can mold and impact policy in their village. This is not a unique concept, but an overly desired one. I found it interesting, that a normally subdued administrator Kosin, was very animated and aggravated by the possibility of the suggestion of bonding for our roads.
His reaction, and that of the engineer as well to me confirms that our tax dollars that are lavishly spent on road maintenance are not being done correctly. We, as residents should demand more from those agencies and contractors.
At the last meeting, chairwoman Meroni suggested that residents would be willing give more monies toward future road repairs. Based on the past, I don’t believe that their requests should be granted. Giving more fuel to the fire, Trustee Messer referred to the roads, as “they suck”.
Leaving residents to ask why this department is deserving of more money.
Gewalt Hamilton has certainly been a rich benefactor throughout this period as well. I’m waiting for a full accounting from them down the line to explain their role in this mismanagement.
When property owners retain me as an attorney to negotiate significant commercial/residential construction improvements, I insist as part of the contract the architect or engineer, as the case may be, not only prepare and certify the drawings, but also certify under oath as to the both the “percentage” and “quality” of the work performed before any requested draw is paid. This is basic construction practice and it would be shocking if R&B Meroni is not following this protocal.
When architects and engineers are called upon to act in this capacity, rest assured, the property owner will have the best constructed improvement contract money can buy. The reason is simple, if the architect or engineer improperly certifies a draw they open themselves to legal claims by the owner and they know this from the commencement of the project. With the money VBH has paid G-W Hamilton, it would be impossible to imagine this is not a feature of the VBH contract with them.
Therefore, when having to furnish these certifications, the architect/engineer make every assurance that not only has the work been performed in accordance and usually beyond the specifications and industry standards but payment is in line with the percentage of work completed. When these certifications act as a condition to payment, the engineer informs the contractor prior to commencement of work added attention and focus is paid to the job.
This is basic 101 construction practice for any municipality. I cannot imagine VBH Trustee Meroni would allow any payouts to be approved by BOT without first obtaining these certifications sworn to under oath by G-W Hamilton. Any thing less would be negligent on the part of the village.
A performance bond simply ensures the job will be completed in the event the project, contractor or subcontract goes bust, but will not ensure high end work which must come from engineer with proper oversight and accountability through certification process.
While I am not a big fan of the way Meroni has been managing village roads I cannot imagine for a second the depths her failings go this deep. This would be an absurdity and would seriously call into attention what VBH taxpayers are paying G-W Hamilton for and why it would not include this fundamental industry task. If are roads are failing, VBH should be relying upon these certifications and addressing it directly with G-W Hamilton.