Between a rock and a hard place
Courtland Drive culvert replacement lacking grass
A successful Courtland Drive culvert replacement project was completed in November 2016. Efforts to grow grass in the affected area by contractor Mark Haynes Construction, Inc. have been less successful. Photo by TERRY BRLAS
STRONGSVILLE – A culvert replacement on Courtland Drive took place last year to replace three undersized culverts that had difficulty handling stormwater flow when heavy rains occurred. While the project was a success, the aesthetics are leaving at least one resident less than pleased.
Mark Haynes Construction, Inc. was the contractor for the culvert replacement project at a cost of $663,650. What has not successfully taken place is replacing grass in the culvert area since the project was completed in November 2016 where approximately 1,300 acres of land drain.
The city has held $67,508 to date arising from the contract for additional landscaping work. Haynes requested 50 percent at the present time or $33,754.
“This a practice we’ve used in the past when a project is almost 100 percent complete,” said Mayor Thomas Perciak prior to the Sept. 5 council meeting.
City council suspended any decision to release additional funds to Haynes Construction until the next meeting on Sept. 18.
Alan Abegglen, who lives at 8622 Courtland Drive, was the centerline of the culvert replacement project.
“I have no grass in my front yard. I have weeds, crabgrass, rock, and bare dirt,” Abegglen said.
Abegglen added the company has made efforts to reseed the property, one of which was by the owner of Haynes Construction.
“He came out with a bag over his shoulder, spread seed abundantly over the area. Unfortunately, it was straw and was compacted. The seed was useless,” Abegglen said. “They proceeded to seed again and put down more straw so we have straw on top of straw on top of straw.”
Abegglen had a soil analysis performed. The results revealed neutral ph, deficient nitrogen, deficient phosphorus and high potassium.
“It can’t support growth. It has no nutrients,” he said.
Courtland Drive sits in Ward 4, represented by Councilman Jim Carbone who felt uneasy about releasing any funds to Haynes at the present time.
“When I went there it was all clay and there were a lot of rocks in there. I think it could have been done a lot better,” he said.
The reseeding effort was bad timing, according to City Engineer Ken Mikula.
“It was planted initially right before summer and it didn’t take. We had a very dry summer,” he said.
Mark Haynes Construction, Inc. was the contractor for the culvert replacement project at a cost of $663,650. What has not successfully taken place is replacing grass in the culvert area since the project was completed in November 2016 where approximately 1,300 acres of land drain.
The city has held $67,508 to date arising from the contract for additional landscaping work. Haynes requested 50 percent at the present time or $33,754.
“This a practice we’ve used in the past when a project is almost 100 percent complete,” said Mayor Thomas Perciak prior to the Sept. 5 council meeting.
City council suspended any decision to release additional funds to Haynes Construction until the next meeting on Sept. 18.
Alan Abegglen, who lives at 8622 Courtland Drive, was the centerline of the culvert replacement project.
“I have no grass in my front yard. I have weeds, crabgrass, rock, and bare dirt,” Abegglen said.
Abegglen added the company has made efforts to reseed the property, one of which was by the owner of Haynes Construction.
“He came out with a bag over his shoulder, spread seed abundantly over the area. Unfortunately, it was straw and was compacted. The seed was useless,” Abegglen said. “They proceeded to seed again and put down more straw so we have straw on top of straw on top of straw.”
Abegglen had a soil analysis performed. The results revealed neutral ph, deficient nitrogen, deficient phosphorus and high potassium.
“It can’t support growth. It has no nutrients,” he said.
Courtland Drive sits in Ward 4, represented by Councilman Jim Carbone who felt uneasy about releasing any funds to Haynes at the present time.
“When I went there it was all clay and there were a lot of rocks in there. I think it could have been done a lot better,” he said.
The reseeding effort was bad timing, according to City Engineer Ken Mikula.
“It was planted initially right before summer and it didn’t take. We had a very dry summer,” he said.