Eastpointe, MI - Simple Catch Basin Repair Gone Wrong

Resident wants Eastpointe street repairs done before Sept.
July 17, 2007
Bridget Baulch / The Detroit News

What's the problem
After more than a year of phone calls and e-mails, and eventually speaking at a City Council meeting, the collapsed catch basin in front of Gail Starzynski's home, on Johnston Street in Eastpointe, was finally repaired this month. (It wasn't repaired, just another patch on a patch) Starzynski thought that would be the end of her problems, but it was just the beginning.

Status
While repairing the catch basin, city workers struck a gas line causing a leak and leaving Starzynski without gas in her home for nearly 12 hours.
"They completely disregarded the gas line flags," said Starzynski. (Yellow paint markings were also present) "Now my and my neighbor's front lawns are dug up and the street is all tore up. It looks 10 times worse than before."
After Consumers Energy repaired the gas leak, (which will cost the city) Starzynski wanted to know when the orange barrels would be gone and the street repaved. After daily unanswered e-mails to City Manager Darwin Parks, Starzynski got a response stating repairs would not take place until the fall.
"They said it looks like they'll try to get it fixed in September," said Starzynski. "It would be nice to get it done before then."

Who's responsible
The Public Works Division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of city streets. To report a street in need of repair, call Department of Public Works manager Greg Brown at (586) 445-5040 or City Manager Darwin Parks at (586) 445-5016.

From the Blog Editor
This should have been simple straight forward repair, remove 1-2 rotten concrete sections of street, raise the sinking catch basin (several can be found throughout the city) fix the sinking, crumbling curbing and street, all at the same time. Actually several concrete slabs should be replaced in this same general area of the street.

Actually, others on this street are irritated as well not just one resident.

The city has a sidewalk program that they strongly enforce (a good thing) but when it comes to items such as this, they are typically put off, delayed, forgotten or ignored. A poor looking broken up street or the mess left behind is not at all appealing to one's property.

Here we are, nice looking homes, well maintained properties...... and no Thanks to our city, now looking like a wart on the face of a beauty Queen!

Instead, it turns into another city "Oops" event.