The Pemberton Journal
The Pemberton Journal O fficial Publication
of
Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Association
July 2012, Vol VI, Issue VII
Pemberton Water Utility Work Design Phase To Start
Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Lunch
Betty Trent, AIA LEED AP PHNA Government Affairs Committee
Inviting all neighbors to join us for a monthly lunch to meet, get to know each other, and discuss issues of importance to you. We welcome all neighbors, especially new neighbors!
June 14th, Austin Water Utility staff made a presentation on the status of their upcoming project to replace water and wastewater lines on various streets throughout Pemberton The design phase of the project is about to begin with an estimated design phase completion date in December The Utility anticipates construction will occur between July 2013 & September 2014 The streets expected to be included are shown on the list. Water utility work is shown on the map in blue, while wastewater line work is shown in green.(Map on Page 4) The streets to be included in this project were identified by testing undertaken in several areas throughout the neighborhood. Many of these streets were originally identified by complaints about water service over the years by residents. The replacement work unfortunately may not improve the low water pressure experienced by residents, but will replace old leaking lines helping the city to save water. Fire line service is expected to be improved. The work will include new larger 1 1/2" service lines to the existing meters at adjacent homes. The city's contractors are expected to repair any irrigation lines disturbed by the work in lawns planted in the street right of way. The new work will also include new clean outs at the wastewater lines. Pre-construction meetings will be held with residents on each street, starting in early summer of 2013, before the construction phase begins. Residents concerned about leaks or low pressure should contact city staff so these concerns can be investigated during the design phase. Areas that have not received complaints may not have been tested. At the presentation, residents expressed concerns about the state of the existing curbs and gutters. Many residents noted that curbs have been damaged and the paving has been overlaid so many times that many curbs no longer function properly for drainage, causing flooding at lawns or low spots with standing water. The city representatives said that they will ask the designers to survey the curbs to see how these repairs might be included in the project. Residents also requested that the work include restoring the damaged street name tile mosaics at curbs. Staff said they will investigate including that work. City staff have been in discussions with the PHNA triangle committee to include water meter service to the two triangles at Wooldridge and Jarrett. Once water meters have been installed, landscaping of these triangles can be completed. Questions? Neighbors may contact: Jill Mayfield at jill.mayfield@austintexas.gov (972- 0150) or Rohini Kumarage at rohini.kumarage@austintexas.gov (974-7222) Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.
WHERE & WHEN: The second Wednesday of each month. At 11:45. At Russell’s on Kerby Lane COST: Each attendee pays for their own lunch by separate check. CONTACT: Betty Trent at betty@austinarchplus.com to rsvp, however you are welcome to come without rsvp, just look for us at the table with a PHNA sign.
Summer Scam Season Underway Betty Trent, AIA LEED AP Unfortunately summer often brings unscrupulous contractors into the neighborhood, looking to talk residents into hiring them to perform repair or maintenance work. While many of these companies are reputable, others are fly-by-night contractors lacking the qualifications to do the job right. Many organizations warn against hiring door-to-door contractors who use high-pressure sales tactics or offer you unbelievable deals. In order to avoid paying for substandard work, or worse, paying for work that will not be performed, follow the advice below from professionals: 1. Seek referrals: Pemberton neighbors can utilize the listserve or visit the PHNA nextdoor.com website to view referrals from neighbors. You might also talk to friends who have hired various contractors. 2. Check credentials: Call your local Better Business Bureau to find out how long a company has been in business. Google the name of the company’s owner; be aware that sometimes unscrupulous contractors will go out of business and then start back up under a new company name. You can run a criminal background check at the DPS website. Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical work will require a license, be sure they provide you a copy. 3. Ask potential contractors to provide their insurance information: A reputable company should carry workers’ compensation, property damage, builder’s risk, and personal liability insurance. Ask for their documents and look for expiration dates to be current — you don’t want coverage to expire before your project is done. 4. Visit a current job site of a builder or contractor: Are they clean? Does the site look safe? How do workers handle tools and (Continued on Page 3) The Pemberton Journal - July 2012
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