Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Item 2- What To Do About The River

Ok Delmarva, so here is what we know: Barrie Tilghman's administration started the Waste Water Treatment Plant but the company who designed and engineered it did a shoddy job so it broke to the tune of....lots and lots of money. Now the plant is useless, a lawsuit is pending against the contractors, and in the meantime the river is getting progressively worse.

Here is what we would like to know: Numbers. How much did it cost to build the plant? How much will it cost to fix it? Got any details on the case? We are also curious as to what exactly broke and when it is expected to be repaired.

As always all input is appreciated and will be put towards Operation S.S.F.I.. God bless and Godspeed.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The WWTP was built for one simple reason: the state of Maryland deemed it obsolete, and ordered that the city upgrade/modernize it. The total cost of the project was, I believe, in the $70 million range. The city of Salisbury's portion of the payment was in the $30 million range. Debt service, in the form of municipal bonds, are paying for the city's portion. The designers of the WWTP conceived a concept, whereas the old WWTP plant would continue operating while the new one was "retro-fit" and modernized. An analogy the designers used during the public discussion of the plans was: "Imagine driving your car to Baltimore, and during the drive, having your engine re-built." The new plant was designed to deliver very low, exceptionally low, nitrogen discharge levels into the Wicomico - levels far below what the state was mandating. Ultimately, the design to deliver those low levels has not worked. The plant, while functioning, is delivering levels of nitrogen into the river that are too high, unacceptable, and not up to the standards that the company promised. So the city, rightfully, is suing the firm which designed it. When ok'd for construction, the old WWTP plant was more than 50 years old, and had not had a modernization ever. The state ordered it, the feds chipped in, and the city ponied up their end. It was necessary and a no-brainer. Hopefully, litigation will bring the problem into its rightful conclusion: the design firm needs to deliver what it promised. (You should know that the Joe/Terry/Debbie conspiracy theorists have a completely different version of this, as usual. But the above are the facts of the case, and are indisputable.)

Anonymous said...

Do your own homework.

cruggly said...

You forgot about the one million dollar clause in the contract.

A.Adams said...

Thank you Anon 11:05- that info is really helpful and is exactly the kind of input we are looking for!

Cruggly- would you like to elaborate on that clause? We would like to hear about it.

Anonymous said...

11:16 Take your nastiness back to Joe's site where you fit right in with the other cult members.

Guys, check with the City on this issue. We have not been updated in at least 6-9 months as to the course of action the city will pursue. A company came in more than six months ago to present a proposal to repair the damage to the tune of another 60- 80 million. I am sure there are people that can give you the details in the City Public Works Department.

cruggly said...

I believe(dont quote me) a clause that says if for any reason a law suit is brought the most damages that can be recovered is one million dollars. Who the heck signs that kind of contract?

A.Adams said...

Thanks 12:44! And thanks Cruggly! We will look into all of this.