One fun way to let off steam and make a point about the condition of city streets is to launch a contest to find the biggest pothole. Some residents of White Bluff TN have done just that. The idea for the contest came from Sissy and David ( aka The Dude) as “just a bit of fun for us that have to put up with the hypocrisy of city government. ” The contest was posted on Bluff Watch found at http://blufwatch.tripod.com Monday May 25th, 2009 for the worst pothole within the city limits of White Bluff, the winner will be announced on July 4th.
WORST POTHOLE IN WHITE BLUFF, TN(city limits)
runs through July 4th, 2009
at stake is a gift card for $20(american) to Cracker Barrell.
Donated by Sissy & the Dude, who will also be judges for the event. (all decision will be final)
Send the pics to voicesonthebluff@bellsouth.net or a post a link on the messageboard from any other site you have posted them on. Send directions and dimensions of the offending hole.
A pothole picture and its measurements were sent in to the BluffWatch message board (and verified) for a hole 3 feet long, 2 feet 1 inch wide and 6 inches deep at the deepest part, an unofficial entry is approximately 5′long, 3′wide and 6-7″ deep. These do not seem to be annoying little bumps in the road, but more like gaping craters willing to eat tires and jerk cars out of alignment! Not that they are big enough to lose small animals in, but I would hate to see a motorcycle hit one unexpectedly in the dark!
Web Master Nickey McNeil has been posting pictures and running commentary for this event on his web site . The conversation seems to be friendly enough and a great way to vent legitimate grievances without inciting rage and reaction. Part of the local complaint seems to include the lack of funds for repairing the streets around the newly built ~and costly~City Hall which has been dubbed The Palace. In general the tax payers would like to know why they have a large new city hall while the roads are going to pot.
Carol Harmon, Assistant City Recorder of White Bluff and very nice lady, assured me that the county is aware of the need for repairing potholes after all the spring rains and that they are on the Street Department’s agenda for the “next few weeks”, weather permitting. Ms Harmon also explained that some of the Street Department’s attention has been on helping with the White Bluff Library and on mowing the sides of the streets. Asked if they were aware of the Biggest Pothole contest, she said that it had been mentioned in the City Hall but had not been a topic of discussion nor has it made a difference in the scheduling of road repair.
Linda Hayes, Mayor of White Bluff, agrees that White Bluff has big potholes, apparently she drives in White Bluff too, and says the street department is ready to get started- “this is repair work as usual each year”. When asked about the funding for the new City Hall vs the funding of street repair and paving, Mayor Hayes stated that(in reference to the Fire Hall/Emergency Center and the City Hall) “Those two capital projects have no bearing or impact on repairing potholes in our streets. This is ongoing maintenance and repair work that has to be done in every town, city and state. Bottom line, the money in the budget which pays for capital projects does not in any way have anything to do with repairing or not repairing the streets and potholes.” She also said that there is a paving project each 7 years funded by state gasoline taxes . While the last paving project should be paid off in 2 years, they will begin looking at the next set of streets and roads to be completely repaved next year.
Tax payers want their streets safe and drivable~ a reasonable request. The City Government has a budget and wants to provide all the services the good folks of White Bluff need~ plain and simple.
Tune in next week to find out the winner of the Biggest Pothole in White Bluff- coming to a street near you.
