Post by Poor Richard on Mar 30, 2021 16:12:32 GMT -7
Snow Plow Charges for February and March Are $39,920.00
2021 Budget Only Allocated $27,500.00 for all of 2021
Standish Excavation was authorized in February, by then Road Chair John Carp, to perform work without a signed contract. The invoices for February and March snow plowing have arrived and total more than the entire 2021 Snow Removal Budget. The first invoice for $22,730.00 covers plowing in South Glastonbury between February 19 and March 8. The second invoice is for $5,050.00 and appears to cover South Glastonbury and Dry Creek Road from February 6 to February 21. Many entries just list a date and services but do not indicate what roads were plowed. The third invoice is for $12,140.00 and covers North Glastonbury plowing from February 6 to February 25. Only $27,500.00 was allocated in the 2021 Draft Budget for all of 2021 snow removal.
The February snow plowing is the most expensive yet. The plowing service was marked by multiple delays and breakdowns with Standish Excavation equipment. Director Brockett has repeatedly complained to the GLA Board that High South snow plow costs are way beyond what landowners used to pay. In the record snow storm of 2010 Director Rich Spallone cleared High South roads with his own treaded skid steer and snow blower. He charged $75.00 an hour. It took 4 hours to clear the most difficult road Sagittarius Skyway. By contrast Standish uses an antique road grader with only the lower blade and a front end loader. He traditionally takes two days to complete what Spallone did in 4 hours. Standish charges $140.00 per hour for EACH piece of equipment. Spallone cost landowners $300.00. Standish costs landowners $4,480.00 to perform the same work.
Treasurer John McAlister has stated that he will not pay these invoices without an approved 2021 budget and without approval by the board. The GLA Board has yet to hold a regular monthly meeting in 2021. They remain deadlocked, in violation of Montana State law and almost completely unable to function.
The February snow plowing is the most expensive yet. The plowing service was marked by multiple delays and breakdowns with Standish Excavation equipment. Director Brockett has repeatedly complained to the GLA Board that High South snow plow costs are way beyond what landowners used to pay. In the record snow storm of 2010 Director Rich Spallone cleared High South roads with his own treaded skid steer and snow blower. He charged $75.00 an hour. It took 4 hours to clear the most difficult road Sagittarius Skyway. By contrast Standish uses an antique road grader with only the lower blade and a front end loader. He traditionally takes two days to complete what Spallone did in 4 hours. Standish charges $140.00 per hour for EACH piece of equipment. Spallone cost landowners $300.00. Standish costs landowners $4,480.00 to perform the same work.
Treasurer John McAlister has stated that he will not pay these invoices without an approved 2021 budget and without approval by the board. The GLA Board has yet to hold a regular monthly meeting in 2021. They remain deadlocked, in violation of Montana State law and almost completely unable to function.
It has also come to the attention of the GLA Board that Standish Excavation is billing at least one landowner for plowing done on platted roads. The GLA is responsible for plowing and maintaining all platted roads. Any bills received by landowners from Standish Excavation for unrequested work should not be paid. Instead they should be sent to the GLA Board.