Members, when will our individual board members think for themselves, demand sound project management and contractor selection? While Hurricane Matthew was preparing to head our way, the one man grounds contractor quit (Garrison said, "they were fixin to get rid of him anyway".). After the storm, during the October board meeting, we were informed that McMillin had found us a new grounds contractor who was willing to work for the same amount, as the previous one - interim contract, until the next bidding cycle. No one told us how the board selected, and voted on this contract. No one told us why the board didn't just start a bidding cycle now.
We didn't get a real report on how a contractor was selected to do Hurricane Matthew clean up. As always, members get the best (sort of) information, if they stand up and ask questions during the resident comment section of the meeting, because little is reported from the cohesive, I can't think for myself, or vote by myself, board table. We were informed that Hurricane Matthew clean up would be handled by the new interim - don't know how we got him - grounds contractor, because he had called on a clause in the grounds contract that states the grounds contractor has first refusal on storm clean up.
I asked during resident comments, how the new contractor could do this when all I had seen was the contractor with a small wood chipper, and regular sized landscaper's utility trailer. I was informed that he had a few more pieces of equipment, and they might have to bring in the ice storm contractor - S&W, at some point! The contractor would be paid by the hour (who knows what rate). Looks like McMillin saved dumping fees, and dumped on Wedgefield once again, and your board let him.
It has been over a month, and clean up is going slowly. My short road took 3 days! Mean time, a resident noted, and commented in October, that the chips from the wood chipper were being dumped behind the gate (McMillin installed on utility company property.) on Governor Johnston. Mc Millin claimed he needed this gate so he could store all the great deals he could get on buying pine straw and compost in bulk. He, and his volunteer committee (usually him & one other board member), and the grounds contractor would then have ready access to cheap materials - thereby reducing cost.
Today, I drove down Governor Johnston, and walked back behind the gate. There is no way that I can quite describe the volume of chips, and debris. The pictures I'm about to provide below, don't begin to show the magnitude of crap your board has dumped. We now have a GATED WEDGEFIELD DUMP - ON SITE! Want a tour so you can see just how bad it is? Email me, and I'll be happy to pick you, and anyone else up, and drive you in my SUV, to observe your board's new dumping ground!
The pictures are provided below. Remember it is hard to capture the depth and volume. I just kept snapping pictures, and moved
full circle!
