Post by Poor Richard on Nov 7, 2021 11:18:45 GMT -7
South Glastonbury Road Work - Incomplete and Behind Schedule
Landowners charged $500.00 for gravel that cost $200.00
Landowners charged $500.00 for gravel that cost $200.00
On November 5th, 2021 an inspection tour was conducted on South Glastonbury platted roads. The tour participants included landowner Walter Wunsch, GLA director and Road Committee member Claudette Dirkers and GLA President Pro Tempore John McAlister. Wunsch is not a GLA director nor a member of the Road Committee.
The bid from Standish Excavation for $66,220.00 was accepted by the GLA board and written into a contract that was finally signed by Chad Standish and GLA Vice President John McAlister in late September. The bid, dated September 16, 2021, listed all the platted roads and work to be done. It was stated in the contract that all South Glastonbury road work should be completed by the end of September. After October 1st, snow and freezing temperatures can prevent grading and ditching. The South Glastonbury fall road work was thought to be completed and thus an inspection tour, as required by the contract, was requested.
Even before the inspection tour began, complaints about incomplete work were coming in from GLA directors. Arcturus Drive was poorly graded and contained many loose cobbles Director Ladewig said. Director Brockett noted that ditches were not cleaned in High South, many roads still needed grading and fresh gravel was not deposited on Sagittarius Skyway. Brockett also noted that Hercules Road from Dry Creek to SpecTec was beautifully graded, all the ditches were fresh and at least 20 belly dump truckloads of donated fresh gravel were deposited on the road. SpecTec is owned by Walter and Regina Wunsch.
The bid from Standish Excavation for $66,220.00 was accepted by the GLA board and written into a contract that was finally signed by Chad Standish and GLA Vice President John McAlister in late September. The bid, dated September 16, 2021, listed all the platted roads and work to be done. It was stated in the contract that all South Glastonbury road work should be completed by the end of September. After October 1st, snow and freezing temperatures can prevent grading and ditching. The South Glastonbury fall road work was thought to be completed and thus an inspection tour, as required by the contract, was requested.
Even before the inspection tour began, complaints about incomplete work were coming in from GLA directors. Arcturus Drive was poorly graded and contained many loose cobbles Director Ladewig said. Director Brockett noted that ditches were not cleaned in High South, many roads still needed grading and fresh gravel was not deposited on Sagittarius Skyway. Brockett also noted that Hercules Road from Dry Creek to SpecTec was beautifully graded, all the ditches were fresh and at least 20 belly dump truckloads of donated fresh gravel were deposited on the road. SpecTec is owned by Walter and Regina Wunsch.
Walter Wunsch recently volunteered to solicit donations for gravel from South Glastonbury landowners. He was asking them to pay $500.00 for a single 20-yard truckload. He claims to have garnered $10,000.00 worth of donations but the GLA board has only received one check for $500.00. The Forum discovered that 20 yards of gravel purchased from Durgan's quarry only cost $200.00 if you brought your own truck. If you hired a truck and driver the going rate for delivery was $100.00 an hour. A test drive at 5 mph under the speed limit from Durgan's quarry to SpecTec in High South took 30 minutes.
As the inspection tour progressed it was discovered that only Arcturus Drive and Hercules Road to SpecTec received significant maintenance. Hercules by far received the lion's share of work. Hesperus Road, Aquila Way, Virgo Way and Libra Drive all remained untouched by Standish Excavation even though they were listed in the bid and contract. Only the first 100 feet of Sagittarius Place and Scorpio Way were worked upon even though they were scheduled to have extensive grading. Upper Hercules past SpecTec contained washboards and potholes from the spring of 2021. Sagittarius Skyway was scheduled for ditching and three 20-yard truckloads of gravel. No gravel was dropped and the ditches were still clogged. Overflowing water has eroded deep gouges into the road surface and created muddy potholes. Large rocks are protruding from the roads and are a danger to landowners and snow plow operators.
Much of the road work specified in the Standish $66,220.00 bid still needs to be completed. Standish Excavation has not responded to the inspection report. The question of gravel donations must be answered too. It appears Walter Wunsch ordered Standish to purchase 20 loads of gravel without permission from The GLA. Legally only the GLA Board and Road Committee have the right to spend landowner's money. One director, after contacting an attorney, said that Walter Wunsch should be held personally liable for the cost of the 20 loads of gravel. He also stated that Standish could be sued by the GLA if he does not agree to complete the work as promised in the bid and contract.
As the inspection tour progressed it was discovered that only Arcturus Drive and Hercules Road to SpecTec received significant maintenance. Hercules by far received the lion's share of work. Hesperus Road, Aquila Way, Virgo Way and Libra Drive all remained untouched by Standish Excavation even though they were listed in the bid and contract. Only the first 100 feet of Sagittarius Place and Scorpio Way were worked upon even though they were scheduled to have extensive grading. Upper Hercules past SpecTec contained washboards and potholes from the spring of 2021. Sagittarius Skyway was scheduled for ditching and three 20-yard truckloads of gravel. No gravel was dropped and the ditches were still clogged. Overflowing water has eroded deep gouges into the road surface and created muddy potholes. Large rocks are protruding from the roads and are a danger to landowners and snow plow operators.
Much of the road work specified in the Standish $66,220.00 bid still needs to be completed. Standish Excavation has not responded to the inspection report. The question of gravel donations must be answered too. It appears Walter Wunsch ordered Standish to purchase 20 loads of gravel without permission from The GLA. Legally only the GLA Board and Road Committee have the right to spend landowner's money. One director, after contacting an attorney, said that Walter Wunsch should be held personally liable for the cost of the 20 loads of gravel. He also stated that Standish could be sued by the GLA if he does not agree to complete the work as promised in the bid and contract.
