Problems between Northampton County and the General Purpose Authority (GPA) continue. As explained in a memo from Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron, the GPA's Financial Statements for 2017 are still unapproved. The auditor hoped to present her findings at a meeting on May 1, but it was canceled. What this means is that the County is unable to release its own Financial Statements by May 1, as required under the Home Rule Charter.
In addition to this problem, lower Mount Bethel officials are concerned that bridges are being converted from one-lane to two-lanes. This might be nice for truckers, but it is detrimental to the rural charm of this farming community.
Also, bridge designs are calling for the condemnation of one family's garage.
10 comments:
Can't anyone in the county get these people under control. At least they should come to a meeting and answer questions about what is going on.
Hard to believe the county gave all its bridges to this group. Seems pretty irresponsible.
Brown, and the Republicans gave the bridges away to the GPA. I want you to remember that.
Why was the meeting cancelled?? Why can't they reschedule it sooner??
Don't like any of this GPA mess - from Lushis to those who approved his pillaging. But at least bridges are finally getting fixed. They'd been ignored for decades. Also, the two-lane vs. one-lane controversy is statewide. PennDOT won't help with one-lane replacements and they're difficult to get funded to save. Bucks Co has a controversial one in Tinicum, I believe.
"But at least bridges are finally getting fixed. They'd been ignored for decades."
Bridges were not ignored for decades. Nice sound bite but untrue. One bridge was completed, late and over budget. Bridges not needing repair were included to sweeten the deal. This is a private-public partnership that is all about private profit and public cost. It is a sham and is being run by an out of control unaccountable authority.
However, you can go and complain about county retiree pensions.
That's simply untrue. The number of deficient bridges before the start of the project was alarming. NorCo was not alone in this, but the bridges had been ignored. Coverage of the issue on this blog has been thorough and fair. Bridges badly needed to be addressed. The GPA slopped on what looked like an otherwise good idea.
The entire P3 project was a scam based on flawed information. The revenue stream for these projects to work requires tolls. This was basically twisting a plan to fit the desires of a few people looking to make money and look good. As far as the bridges condition, rater than broad generalizations check the actual bridge reports.
What about procurement changes. Maybe they will help.
Yup, Lower Mt Bethel has a valid gripe. In my town, we have the same issue with a sound single lane bridge that they plan to turn to double, in an area where there is no room to add the roadway to connect to the wider bridge. Brown was an idiot, thank God he is gone.
Aren't the roadways in Lower Mt. Betel two lanes or are you still driving a horse and buggy on dirt roads? Time to come into the 21st century. Speaking with people involved with the GPA project , I've been informed there are six bridges in the township being replaced and three are "Structurally Obsolete" and have a Penndot Suff. Rating of below 50. There is more than the condition of these bridges at stake, when you have school buses, emergency vehicles , business and farm equipment driving to navigate these 100 yr. old structures. Then again, the mentality is wait until something happens and then fix the situation. Some seem to forget that three of these bridges on Little Creek Rd were nearly lost in the 2004 flood. I know, I had family living along that road back then and the detour was time consuming. But imagine if those bridges were totally wiped out then ? You be praying to the county to hurry up and build some new bridges.
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