SYRACUSE -- Some residents of the valley section on Syracuse's far south side feel a lack of communication over a construction project caused a waste of taxpayer money.
Bob Metzler, who lives on Kimber Avenue, says the street was resealed just a few weeks ago, only to be dug up again as part of a large storm sewer project. Metzler feels there was a breakdown of communication between two city departments.
"The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. It's like browning the hamburger before forming the patty," Metzler complained.
He says it would have made more sense for the city to complete the sewer work first and then reseal the road.
"Now they'll just have to come back and refinish the road. It's a waste of taxpayer money," Metzler said.
Syracuse Common Councilor Bob Dougherty, who represents that portion of the city, says it appears to be "an inadvertent waste of money."
Dougherty says he contacted the Syracuse Department of Public Works commissioner who told him the city had hired a private company, Seal Kote, to apply a "slurry" coat to more than a dozen roads in the valley section.
Dougherty says when officials realized six roads would be dug up for the sewer project, the city told the company to stop work immediately.
"It's a problem. I wish there was more coordination." Dougherty said.
Workers at the site told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon that the sewer work is the third phase of the Valley Drive Project under the jurisdiction of the City Engineer's office.
First Deputy DPW Commissioner Tom Simone characterized the mistake as "an internal miscommunication." Simone explained that "With the busy construction season, the small window we have to work with, sometimes that occurs. We are trying to get a lot done in a short period of time." Simone estimates that taxpayers will have to absorb about $9 thousand for the cost of the slurry seal which had already been applied to the streets which were dug up.
