Cabarrus Cheap Seats

Well, Harold’s got a new bureaucrat to pick on this week - Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg. However, he picked the bridge on Oakwood Avenue as his beef with Mike Legg. Here’s the deal - it may not even be Mike Legg’s issue to deal with. Here’s the text from Harold’s e-mail he sent Thursday August 18th: 

Open Letter to Mike Legg
Published by Harold Smith
Dear Mr. Legg,
The citizens along Oakwood Avenue are frustrated with the bridge being out. Below is an excerpt from one citizen:
“The bridge near our house has been out on Oakwood since June. They were supposed to finish August 1. Everyone has to detour more than 6 miles now just to get around. The community has sacrificed hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel alone waiting for it to be finished. If Nehemiah could build the equivalent of a GREAT WALL in 60 days, I cannot fathom why a 30 foot bridge is such a challenge…:)”
Please communicate with the citizens about this issue and do what you can to speed up the completion of the bridge.
Harold Smith, http://www.goharoldsmith.com/

I thought something seemed fishy; because the George W. Liles Parkway widening is going on over near my house and it’s taken forever. Unfortunately for us, we can’t complain to the city; because it an North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) project. So, I thought it was kinda strange that the City of Kannapolis would take on that project all on their own, and promise it in a month. Well, I did a little investigating on the Web and while I was in the area and I found out all I needed to know.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

My research consisted of looking up the project on the www.ncdot.org site and driving to the site.

As Blue Collar Comedy Tour favorite Bill Engvall would say, “Mr. Smith, here’s your sign”

Two things to notice. One is the length of the project “Early June THROUGH August” That would suggest to me that the project would get done sometime after August, not at the beginning of it. Second, is who to call…not the City of Kannapolis; but NCDOT.

We’re going to need the Construction Worker for this one

Now I know that Harold Smith wouldn’t just complain about this project without first figuring out what the scope of it was. And I know, from his presentation into the County Attorney and from his analysis of the FY2006 budget that he knows how to dig up documents. You can imagine my shock when I saw this complaint posted to the City Manager, a man that Harold wants to work with, and the fact not lining up. Surely, Harold has made an innocent error. He wouldn’t be doing this just to grab a couple of votes.

I’ve taken a long, hard look at this sign. I can’t figure out how to make the message more clear. I tried to make the sign rhyme; but to no avail. It’s when I thought of the construction workers on the scene that I figured out the best way to make this clear to Harold…just modify that classic by The Village People - YMCA

NCDOTHarold - it’s OK to be down
Harold - they’re moving lots of red ground
That Bridge - it’s taking some time
It’s OK for the folks to whine

Harold - there’s not much you can do
Harold - they’re all listening to you
That Bridge - a political keg
But you don’t need to call Mike Legg

You gotta call
NC-D-O-T
You gotta call
NC-D-O-T

Some people there may even care
It’s really worth a try…

You gotta call
NC-D-O-T
You gotta call
NC-D-O-T

Harold - are you listening to me?
That call - it don’t look toll-free
Call them and you might find
Delays aren’t on their mind

Harold - they take the lowest bid
Harold - Please don’t lose your lid
You can’t - afford to lose this vote
The truth please try to sugar coat

You gotta call
NC-D-O-T
You gotta call
NC-D-O-T

They build across the state, projects are always late
But you can work your magic hard…

You gotta call
NC-D-O-T
You gotta call
NC-D-O-T

Harold - I was once in your shoes
My town - is full of construction crews
That bypass - is a year behind
It hasn’t helped when we would whine

Harold - it’s not K-Town’s fault
They can’t - unlock DOT’s vault
Tippett - that’s the man you should call
If you want it to get done at all

You gotta call
NC-D-O-T
You gotta call
NC-D-O-T

They take their time and it’s almost a crime
But what are you going to do…

You gotta call
NC-D-O-T
You gotta call
NC-D-O-T

Hopefully, that cleared things up.