A huge waste of money
Sunday, August 24, 2008 1:04 AM PDT
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E-mail this articleAug. 24 Letters to the Editor
A huge waste of money
I have a home off Ostrander Road, north of Kelso. The roads leading into the subdivision are maintained by the Cowlitz County Public Works and, in September 2007, the public works director outsourced an asphalt paving project in this area. The project was much appreciated by the residents.
Driving home last week, I was shocked to see the county road crew laying a new coat of gravel and black tar over the top of our nicely paved roads. I stopped and asked a roadie why they were covering newly paved roads. He said that the county had received a lot of money through the state and, since they hadn’t been out in this area for five years, these roads were put on their schedule.
After some discussion with him, I realized the possibility exists that the county engineer doesn’t inform the road crew when contract paving is done, and that the road crew can’t distinguish new paving from old.
The result of all this is that the tar also coated the residents’ vehicles, home interiors and children’s shoes. I repair vehicles for friends and family and have replaced brakes on two vehicles (so far), one of which was mine. The brake failures were caused by erosion due to rocks and tar wedged between the rotors and calipers. I consider this to be a huge waste of funds, both for Cowlitz County and the homeowners.
Ron E. Axt
Kelso
Cats shouldn’t run free
I’m writing in response to M.L. Colburn’s Aug. 17 letter. I 100 percent agree with what Colburn said about owners who let their cats run free. I live at the Mint Place Apartments where many cats run free and I despise them all, along with their owners.
The hood of our car has tons of tiny scratches on it from cats. It makes me mad because cat owners have no consideration for other people’s properties.
We like to leave our back door open so our three-year-old can play out back, and more than once a cat has come into our living room. I have a baby and the cat startled him. I’m more afraid of the cat scratching him or something.
So, yes, people should not be surprised when their cats wind up dead, because I, too, may “accidentally” run one over.
Annie Carmen
Longview
DOT is mowing too late
The recent grass fires along the freeway bring up the Department of Transportation’s policy on mowing. DOT, in an act of futility, is out mowing late in August along the freeway near Castle Rock and other places. If all goes as usual, they will be mowing late into September.
There are three primary purposes of mowing: One, of course, is fire prevention, mowing also improves the appearance, and thirdly weed and brush control.
By the middle of August we are already over halfway through the highest fire risk. Even mowing now leaves dry stubble and clippings that still support a high risk for fire. The tourist season is nearly over; mowing now missed most of the travelers to Washington. Finally, most of the noxious weeds have already gone to seed. Alders, blackberries and other brush species have already stored up in their roots all of the energy for next spring’s growth.
If the DOT would mow in mid- to late-June, soil moisture is near the wilting point. The grass would green up a little but remain short, be far more fire resistant and make the roadsides attractive all summer. This would be more in keeping with a green Washington. Mowing in late June, just after the weeds, alders and other brush have just completed tapping all their stored up energy, are at their most susceptibility for controlling.
Mowing this late is a waste of taxpayer’s money.
Kelly C. Niemi
Kelso
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