Borderline Service

To the Editor:

Well, now that everyone’s happy with their tax bills, I’d like to comment on the Highway Department and where our tax dollars are going. I happen to be retired (because of cancer) and have ongoing difficulty with culverts backing water up into my front yard. I call the highway department on a yearly basis, and get the usual lip service from management –– “we’ll get to it.”

Well, they never do. Today topped the list; seems that the storm catch basin work has been contracted out to a company with the initials PYE on the side of the truck. They did the two catch basins immediately in front of my house, went down the street and finished this side of the street. Then they came back up the street and looked at the catch basin directly across the street from where I live, got out and looked at the grate which was overgrown with weeds, talked among themselves and then got back into the truck (never cleaning the basin) and went around the corner to do the basins on Lantern Drive.

I called the Highway Department and made a complaint (of which, probably nothing will happen). Is it because we live near the Monroe line that this area consistently gets shoddy service from the town? The roads are deplorable –– but the town can sure take the taxes and give us nothing in return.

Art Hechler

2 Bayberry Drive                                 July 1, 2002