So many issues here.
The Valentine's Day snowstorm (remnants of which still cover entire lanes on some main roads in Wilkes Barre based on my trip there yesterday) collapsed the roof of the Montage Mountain amphitheatre, an entertainment facility owned by Lackawanna County.
The structure, which kind of looked like a tent put up in the middle of the night by a bunch of drunk frat boys, couldn't bear the weight of the snow and ice. Turns out that the geniuses running the County insured the cheap plastic seats under the roof from snow damage but, NOT THE ROOF itself! And, why should they -- it will only cost the taxpayer-owned authority $1,000,000 to replace the thing. (And, that's not even taking into consideration what happens if they don't get the work done in time for the next concert season, when their lessee gets to collect lost profits if the stage isn't ready.)
Brilliant, kids.
Genius-in-charge, Lackawanna County Commissioner Chairman Robert Cordaro boldly told the Scran'en Times that, “If there is blame, other than an act of God, we’re going to take action in that regard." Seems, though, he hasn't a clue where to begin the look for that blame and action. We'll give him a hand.
Let's first off assume that the roof didn't collapse merely because a mythical invisible man in the sky decided that his plan for the entire universe depended on the collapse of a music venue roof in Scran'en, PA.
Bobby, have you looked at the engineering drawings and calculations? What level snowfall was the roof designed to bear up under? 50-year? 100-year? Any though at all given to the fact that this thing was going up on Montage Mountain, in Northeastern PA, and that it is adjacent to a SKI RESORT????
Bobby, have you had a chat with the County's insurance agents? (Other than those conversations asking them for more donations, you know, so that they can rely on your vote to get the insurance contract again?) Did any of those geniuses bother reviewing the County coverage and note that, ya know, might be a good idea to cover 'yer damned roof?
Oh, Bobby, did ya talk with whatever flunkie you put in charge of the maintenance of County property to find out if your genius flunkie bothered to check on the freakin' roof? I mean, even everyday people knew enough to get out on their roofs, or use roof rakes, to scape off the snow and ice. Did your maintenance people ever think about that at any time while they were busy not keeping the streets cleared?
And, while we know that this is contrary to the policies up in your neck of the woods, how about looking at your self and fellow genius A.J. Munchak?
But why would you take responsibility for your own incompetence -- you don't even take responsibility for your own real estate taxes. Not this year, not last year, not -- well, you get the point.
(Photo Credit: The Dead at Montage, 8/4/04, Rick & Shelia, The Roof, 979x.com)
NOTE:
The Valentine's Day snowstorm (remnants of which still cover entire lanes on some main roads in Wilkes Barre based on my trip there yesterday) collapsed the roof of the Montage Mountain amphitheatre, an entertainment facility owned by Lackawanna County.
The structure, which kind of looked like a tent put up in the middle of the night by a bunch of drunk frat boys, couldn't bear the weight of the snow and ice. Turns out that the geniuses running the County insured the cheap plastic seats under the roof from snow damage but, NOT THE ROOF itself! And, why should they -- it will only cost the taxpayer-owned authority $1,000,000 to replace the thing. (And, that's not even taking into consideration what happens if they don't get the work done in time for the next concert season, when their lessee gets to collect lost profits if the stage isn't ready.)
Brilliant, kids.
Genius-in-charge, Lackawanna County Commissioner Chairman Robert Cordaro boldly told the Scran'en Times that, “If there is blame, other than an act of God, we’re going to take action in that regard." Seems, though, he hasn't a clue where to begin the look for that blame and action. We'll give him a hand.Let's first off assume that the roof didn't collapse merely because a mythical invisible man in the sky decided that his plan for the entire universe depended on the collapse of a music venue roof in Scran'en, PA.
Bobby, have you looked at the engineering drawings and calculations? What level snowfall was the roof designed to bear up under? 50-year? 100-year? Any though at all given to the fact that this thing was going up on Montage Mountain, in Northeastern PA, and that it is adjacent to a SKI RESORT????
Bobby, have you had a chat with the County's insurance agents? (Other than those conversations asking them for more donations, you know, so that they can rely on your vote to get the insurance contract again?) Did any of those geniuses bother reviewing the County coverage and note that, ya know, might be a good idea to cover 'yer damned roof?
Oh, Bobby, did ya talk with whatever flunkie you put in charge of the maintenance of County property to find out if your genius flunkie bothered to check on the freakin' roof? I mean, even everyday people knew enough to get out on their roofs, or use roof rakes, to scape off the snow and ice. Did your maintenance people ever think about that at any time while they were busy not keeping the streets cleared?
And, while we know that this is contrary to the policies up in your neck of the woods, how about looking at your self and fellow genius A.J. Munchak?
But why would you take responsibility for your own incompetence -- you don't even take responsibility for your own real estate taxes. Not this year, not last year, not -- well, you get the point.
(Photo Credit: The Dead at Montage, 8/4/04, Rick & Shelia, The Roof, 979x.com)
NOTE:
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3 comments:
A canvas roof. A CANVAS roof. Seems to me that somebody in Lackawanna County government needs to reread "The Three Little Pigs". Straw - bad, Brick - good... read between the lines... Canvas - BAD.
I thought that the covering at the end of the shelter was canvas, but the there was some sort of hard, moulded covering over the stage and most of the seating. No? A million bucks for a canvas roof? Now, that's some tent.
Check out this story on WNEP from yesterday:
http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=6157158
Not just canvas - an imported European "tarp"! Mind you this is no ordinary $1 million European tarp - it may be delayed because of anti-terrorism laws, according to Mr. Cordaro.
Customs agent: Hold it right there FedEx guy, what's in the box?
FedEx guy: European tarp. The fancy kind.
Customs agent: Yeah, what's it made of, napalm?
FedEx guy: Uhhhh, cotton.
Custom's agent: Yeah, well, we're gonna have to make sure that Al-Quaeda didn't weave some kinda secret code or explosives into the lining.
FedEx: But, but... Bob Cordaro ordered this "overnight express"!
Customs agent: Sorry son, we are gonna have to go over that tarp stitch by stitch. Mr. Cordaro and the good people of Lackawanna County will just have to wait. Anti-terrorism laws, ya know?
Anyway...
I just love the way Josh Brogadir puts that positive spin on the whole scheme. Oh yes, Josh Brogadir, we sure are "fortunate" that the authority had that million dollars just layin' around...
peace - t.g.
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