By Andy Wall
Former Assistant City Engineer
If I had been the reviewer of this plan when it came out I would have had a lot of comments. But I will confine my comments to statements made in the Eagle-Tribune article.
First of all the photographs used were taken in February which is a winter month and anyone who knows about winter knows that the ground freezes to at least three feet on average. Therefore you will have puddles when it rains or the snow melts.
The pathway is compacted stone dust. By its very nature stone dust does not let water seep through it. It’s too dense to allow that. Also this is the only path that everyone uses. Therefore ruts and depressions are bound to happen.
The loss by erosion is due to a sloped walkway with an intersecting side slope that directs the water down hill along the path. A minor grading change could have prevented this.
As to the issue of the soils compacting and not allowing proper drainage as the Mayor stated, the Specifications were very clear that compaction of the subsoil was needed and was to be verified by the Landscape Architect. The plans clearly show filling was needed to level off the area. Also all soil work was to be approved by the landscape Architect.
In regards to the grass issue, it was not clear to me if they installed a sprinkler system. Whether they did or did not does not matter because again the Specifications called for the Landscape Architect to sign off on the grass before accepting the project on behalf of the city. According to the Specifications the Contractor was responsible until May 1 or Final acceptance by the Architect.
I believe that the Mayor was in a rush to deliver on a promise and the grass was stressed by over use and DPW is not equipped in knowledge or manpower to properly maintain or repair it.
Ultimately the Specifications made the Landscape Architect responsible for approving all the work dealing with the field from grading, soil testing, and seeding.
Editor’s note: Mr. Wall is a graduate civil engineer who worked during 17 years for the city in that capacity. Then, Mayor Dan Rivera fired and placed Theodoro Rosario, an agronomist as city engineer.
