It is encouraging to read of plans to replace sidewalks on a 400 foot stretch of High Street in the vicinity of the dam. Replacing sidewalks in conjunction with adjacent roadwork does make sense. While it has been decided to use concrete for the new sidewalks because concrete lasts longer than asphalt, one is left to wonder if that is an economic decision. That is, was there a cost/life cycle analysis done to compare alternatives? How much longer is "longer?" With 35miles of sidewalks in "good to poor" condition, the difference in materials costs is substantial.
It is also good to read that Town Manager Russ Dean proposes spreading sidewalk replacement over a number of years to minimize the impact to taxpayers. Hopefully the discipline will be there to actually implement the plan each year.
Yes, these sidewalks are a great public works make-work job that benefit the people who avail themselves of downtown at the expense of those who live at the outskirts.It's a perfect example of taxing some to benefit others.
ReplyDeleteThe real devastation of this sort of taxing and wasteful spending is the production that doesn't come into existence, the jobs never created, the technology never invented, all because our government taxes the wealth for us to do so.
Right. Because even if you "live on the outskirts" you derive no benefits from a thriving downtown.. No...living on the outskirts makes you a pioneer...a direct descendant thos who rode the wagons west.
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