By MARK EVANS

mevans@stegenherald.com

Ste. Genevieve aldermen passed a bill on first reading last Thursday night to authorize entering into an agreement to pay an additional $8,900 in engineering and architectural fees to Bacon Engineering for the City Hall remodeling project.

Ward 3 Alderman Mike Raney and Ward 2 Alderman Bob Donovan, however, pressed city administrator Happy Welch to get more details from Bacon on how that $8,900 was being broken down before the board hears a second reading of the bill at its next meeting.

Raney asked whether Welch and the others thought it was unreasonable to ask for a line-item breakdown of the costs. Donovan said, I agree with you 100 percent.

Welch said he actually had received more details in an email from Bacon and would share that with the board.

I dont think thats a bad request to make on behalf of taxpayers, to have that information, Raney said.

Mayor Paul Hassler asked if the board wanted to hold the first reading of the bill until it had the information. It was agreed to do the first reading, then hear the additional information before having the second reading and taking a second vote in November.

The city has been looking into a major renovation of the aging building for more than two years.

WOOD UPDATESBOARD ON COVID

Jeanette Wood, provisional director of the county health department, reported that the countys total number of cases since March was up to 362, with 67 active cases, 10 of which were hospitalized.

While Wood said that while part of the continued rise in numbers is due to increased testing, the virus is clearly increasing.

Its a dangerous virus, she said. We have to stay alert. Once its over with and it will be and were sitting around the table, lets hope no one is missing.

She warned that pneumonia is becoming a major concern. Many COVID-19 patients feel fine their first five days or so, then begin feeling ill, Wood said. Of those, a number have developed pneumonia.

Pneumonia shots, as well as flu shots are now being offered. She said 861 flu shots have been given and that she wants to see 1,000 or more given.

She said she had not been able to find a definitive answer to a question Raney had previously asked. He had wondered whether there was any likelihood of a COVID-19 vaccine being offered to the public before it had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or other appropriate agencies.

WELCH: RETAINING WALLWORK ABOUT TO START

During his administrators report, welch said that work on installing a new retaining wall on Fifth Street at Washington Street would begin Monday, Oct. 26, weather-permitting.

The collapsing retaining wall, thought to have been built in 1936,

Cochran Engineering will be doing the work.

He also noted that the temporarily reconvened Joint Levee Commission would meet Oct. 26 to determine how best to turn land by the Urban Design Levee over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for use as a conservation area.

WILSON, CARRIGALSO REPORT

Steve Wilson, local manager for Alliance Water Resources, reported that nearly 700 dump truck loads of lime from the lime ponds.

He said one of the ponds will now be reshaped to make it more useful.

Right now its real hard to get equipment in and out, Wilson said. That will save us money in the long-run he said.

Another 400,000 gallons of material was removed from the wastewater plant, he said.

He also said all water liens have been installed in the water main project CE Contracting just seeds to come back and touch up a few yards and some asphalt will need patching, Wilson said.

Toby Carrig, tourism director, reported that the Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center had its soft opening and that the Ste Genevieve Art Guild had also opened its museum art center in the old museum building.. Additionally, Brix Urban Winery & Market, in the former Ste. Genevieve Winery building on Merchant Street, is opening.

Carrig also listed upcoming events, including the Deja Vu Spirit Reunion, Pumpkin Glow and the upcoming Hall

View original post here:
City Reviews Additional Fee For City Hall Renovation Ste. Genevieve Herald - Ste. Genevieve Herald

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the start of construction for the East Operating Dock in the Port Authority of Oswego and two wastewater pump stations in the Town of Irondequoit in Monroe Country, in addition to key milestones of theResiliency and Economic Development Initiative, which successfully completed its first year helping municipalities, residents and businesses along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

"The REDI program exemplifiesthe importance of partnerships between state and local government. Through open dialogue and thoughtful planning, we are assisting shoreline communities in not only building back but building back betterand stronger than ever before,"Governor Cuomosaid. "These projects willsafeguard economies, enhancepublic safety, protect public healthand conservethe environment of affected shoreline communitiesfor decades to come."

"We are committed to investing in projects to increase resiliency and prevent flooding in our communities,"said Lieutenant Governor KathyHochul."These projects at the Port Authority of Oswego and in the Town of Irondequoit will address damage due to flooding and weather events and help to build back better and stronger. Improved infrastructure is critical in helping to ensure our businesses and residents are safe and continue to strengthen the economy moving forward."

The Port of Oswego project seeks to address high water damage to the north end of the Port Authority's East Operating Dock, which is located directly on Lake Ontario and highly susceptible to wave action and flooding. During high water events, the existing stone retaining wall has failed to break waves, resulting in a breach of the wall and direct undercutting of the main dock. The town of Irondequoit projects will help eliminate flood risk at two of the town's at-risk wastewater pump stations, the German Village Wastewater Pump Station, which serves residences at Point Pleasant Estates and Bayfront North Lane, and the Sea Breeze Wastewater Pump Station located in the Sea Breeze Amusement Park.

As part of theState's ongoing response to record flooding that hit Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River shoreline communitiesduring spring and summer 2019,Governor Cuomo created the REDI Commission, a multi-agency team tasked with studying sustainable solutions to strengthen infrastructure and mitigate impacts from future flooding while bolstering the region's local economies.Through REDI, the State has committed up to $300 million to rebuild the shoreline, as well as improve resiliency in flood-prone regions along the lake, $235 million of whichhas been allocatedtoward local and regional projects that advance and exemplify the REDI mission.

Since the Governor's creation of REDI in theSpringof 2019,all 133 awarded REDI projects are underway, including 113 projects in the design phase, twelve projects in the construction phase, and eight projects completed in its first year. In addition to the REDI projects, twenty Regional Dredging Projectswere identified; one dredging project is currently underway, three are complete.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MILESTONES:

FINGER LAKES MILESTONES:

NORTH COUNTRY MILESTONES:

WESTERN NEW YORK MILESTONES:

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said,"Having a vibrant and thriving port in the City of Oswego is vital to the economy of the City, Oswego County and Central New York. Governor Cuomo's commitment to protecting the lakeshore communities and businesses along Lake Ontario is unprecedented and the Department of Transportation is proud to join with our REDI partners in state and local governments to do our part to improve the resiliency of this important center for commerce."

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner BasilSeggossaid,"Long after flood waters have receded, Governor Cuomo remains committed to shoreline communities impacted by high water. At every stage of the region's recovery, the Governor deployed the technical expertise and assistance needed to build back smarter and stronger. In its first year, REDI is setting the standard for progress when state and local governments work hand-in-hand. Today marks the start of construction to strengthen the resilience of the Port Authority of Oswego's historically susceptibleEast Operating Dock and two REDI projects in the town of Irondequoit, upgrading twoof the town's wastewater pump stations. I'm also proud to announce that today DEC is releasing 'New York State REDI: Building Resilience in Recovery,' a guide for home and property owners to strengthen protections and reduce future risks when high water strikes."

REDI Co-ChairandEmpire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO designate EricGertlersaid,"We are proud to help lead this multi-agency REDI initiative aimed at rebuilding and safeguarding flood-damaged communities, homes and businesses spanning the Lake Ontario and St.Lawrence River shorelines. At REDI's one-year mark, these ongoing and completed projects demonstrate thatNew York toughis more than just a slogan; it's practiced daily by New Yorkers across the state who work together to overcome obstacles and create more resilientcommunities and economies for the long-term."

New York State Office of General Services CommissionerRoAnnDestito said, "The project milestones announced today by Governor Cuomo are prime examples of what his REDI program is achieving for municipalities, businesses, property owners, and tourists throughout the region. In collaboration with local leaders, we are repairing the damage that waterfront communities have suffered as a result of past flooding and protecting the shorelines against future high-water levels."

The Department of Environmental Conservation recently released "New York State REDI: Building Resilience in Recovery - Homeowner Program Guidance for Shoreline Management" to help homeowners build resilience, reduce the risk of future property damage, and minimize impacts on natural resources. These general guidelines will help ensure that erosion protections are in place along the shorelines of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River before coastal design and development projects get underway.

Senator Patty Ritchie said, "The Port of Oswego is critical to not only Oswego County's economy, but also to our region's economy as a whole. Through this important investment, we will help strengthen the Port, as well as ensure its East Operating Dock remains usable and protected from potential high water for many years to come."

Senator RichFunkesaid, "I'm excited to see these two important projects move forward in the Town of Irondequoit. Projects like these protect residents by improving the resiliency of the wastewater and mitigating potential damage from flooding. My thanks to the Governor and the members of the REDI commission for their partnership in delivering the funding that made this possible."

Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay said,"Ensuring the strength and resiliency of the East Operating Dock in Oswego is critical to the safety and economic health of one of the region's most important infrastructure elements. This project directly addresses long-standing operational disruptions, and these mitigation measures will ensure structures and foundations remain stable for the dock's users, while avoiding adverse environmental impacts. I am thrilled to see its recent progress. When completed, it will offer numerous benefits to the region, local economy and visitors."

Irondequoit Town Supervisor David Seeley said, "Irondequoit is defined by its proximity to the water, and these upgrades to our sewer and wastewater infrastructure will better serve our waterfront businesses and neighborhoods. When high-water events occur, these new pumps will provide greater efficiency and capacity for flood mitigationwhichwill increase the resiliency of our community. I am grateful to Governor Cuomo and the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative for their continued support of our town and all the families who call Irondequoit home."

Port of Oswego Authority Director Bill Scriber said,"The East Operating Dock project is small in scope but enormous in value. The workbeing doneis vital to the continued operation of the Port, and to the safety of our employees. Thank you to Governor Cuomo and the REDI Commission for recognizing the importance of these rehabilitations and for the valuable partnership as our projects progress."

Port of Oswego Authority Board Chairman AmyTressidersaid,"The formation of the REDI Commission is an attestation to the Governor's commitment to the communities affected by the flooding of Lake Ontario. I think I speak for the entire board in thanking Governor Cuomo for his commitment to the Port, and for recognizing the importance of the work that is done here at the Port of Oswego."

For additional information, project profiles and REDI news, clickhere.

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Governor Cuomo Announces Groundbreakings for Resiliency Projects at the Port Authority of Oswego and the Town of Irondequoit in Monroe County - ny.gov

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District 47 - West TN Northern

Benton, Decatur, Henderson, Madison County, I-40 Sunday, November 1, 20, 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.: There will be moving lane closures for retracing of lines on I-40 in 10 locations. Benton Co. between MM 130.0 and 134.0, Decatur Co. MM 121.6. Henderson Co. six locations betweenMM 95.0 and MM 112.0, Madison Co. MM 77.5.

CARROLL COUNTY, SR-22A: Bridge repair in Huntingdon over Brier Creek at LM 0.34 and over CSX Railroad at LM 3.10

Restrictions: Monday, March 9, 2020: SR 22A will be reduced to one lane traffic with a traffic signal system.

DYER, LAKE, OBION COUNTY, SR-78: The resurfacing on SR 78 from SR 103 in Dyer County, through Obion County to south of SR 79 in Lake County will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over SR 211 in Dyersburg will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55 MPH.

Restrictions: Sunday, July 19, 2020: Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12 lane restriction.

DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US 51): The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on US 51 (SR 3) from near SR 105 in Dyer County to South Main Street in Obion County.

DYER COUNTY, SR-104: The resurfacing on SR 104 from SR 182 to the SR 181 including bridge deck repair will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

GIBSON COUNTY, SR-5:

Wednesday, October 21 through Saturday, October 31, 2020: There will be a closure of the right southbound lane and shoulder on SR 5 (north side of Humboldt) for construction of turning lane for Tyson S.I.A. route.

HENDERSON COUNTY (New Lexington By-Pass): The grading, drainage, construction of bridges and retaining walls, signals and paving on US 412 (SR 459) from US 412 (SR 20) west of Lexington to near SR 22 south of Lexington. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HENRY COUNTY, SR-54: The grading, drainage, construction of bridges, retaining wall and paving on SR 54 from near Rison Street to near Smith Road. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH.

Restrictions: Monday, November 25, 2019: Bridge work on SR 54 at LM 12.02 (Bridge nearest Guthrie) is causing a 10 lane restriction. *Traffic has been shifted to Phase 3 of traffic control.

OBION COUNTY, Future I-69 (Phase 3): Grading, drainage, construction of bridges and paving on future I-69 from west of SR 21 to US 51 (SR 3) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020: Bethlehem Road north from Clifford Rives Road to Lindenwood Road will be closed. Claude Tucker Road north from Cloys Road to Section Line Road will be closed. Detour routes are posted.

NON-TDOT

GIBSON COUNTY, SR-5 (US-45):

Wednesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 5, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 5 in Milan, just south of McDonalds for utility work.

District 48 - West TN Middle/Southern

CROCKETT COUNTY, SR-20: The miscellaneous safety improvements on US 412 (SR 20) from near the SR 54 ramp (LM 10.40) to Old SR 20 (South Cavalier Drive) (LM 12.80) may cause possible temporary lane closures both eastbound and westbound.

HARDIN COUNTY, SR-69: The construction of a Bulb Tee bridge over Doe Creek along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 69 at LM 10.06. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HAYWOOD COUNTY, I-40: Friday, October 30, 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: There will be temporary lane closures on I-40 east and west bound MM 43-77 in Haywood County for pothole repair.

HAYWOOD COUNTY, SR-19 (Brownsville Bypass): The construction of an I-Beam bridge along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 19 (Brownsville Bypass) from east of SR 87 to west of Windrow Rd. One lane will remain. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. Speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH within the project limits. Shaw Chapel and King Road will be closed at SR 19 and a detour put in place on August 27, 2020.

HENDERSON COUNTY, SR-20: The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on US 412 (SR 20) from Crucifer Road to near Sea Horse Drive will cause temporary lane closures daily.

HENDERSON COUNTY, SR-20: The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on US 412 (SR 20) from east of SR 22 to near the Chesterfield By-Pass, including bridge expansion joint repair and thin epoxy overlay will cause temporary lane closures daily.

MADISON COUNTY, I-40: The widening of I-40 east of US 45 (SR 5) MM 82.0 to east of US 70

(SR 1) MM 87 in Jackson, including bridges, retaining walls and installation of TDOT Smartway Intelligent Transportation System.

LOOK AHEAD

Monday, November 9 through Wednesday, November 12, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 east and westbound will have intermittent nightly left and right lane closures for widening activities from east of US 45 (SR 5) MM 82 to east of US 70 (SR 1) MM 87.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-186 (US 45 Bypass) and I-40: Interchange improvements on SR 186 (US 45) north and southbound from the I-40 ramps to Old Hickory Blvd for paving and construction of retaining walls. Widening of I-40 from just east of Exit 79 to just east of Exit 82.

activities.

Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

Saturday, October 31, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: I-40 eastbound and westbound will have intermittent lane closure at Exit 82 to allow for installation of overhead signs and opening of phase 1 of the on ramps. (BACKUP DATE: Sunday, November 1, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.)

Monday, November 2 through Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

LOOK AHEAD

Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will be closed and detoured for both north and southbound lanes from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection to allow for wrecking of overhang jacks, patching, and installing closure bay diaphragms.

Saturday, November 7, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: I-40 eastbound and westbound will have intermittent lane closure at Exit 82 to allow for installation of overhead signs and opening of phase 1 of the on ramps. (BACKUP DATE: Sunday, November 8, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.)

Monday, November 9 through Wednesday, November 11, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-186: The resurfacing on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way to Passmore Lane Overpass, including bridge expansion joint repair and thin epoxy overlay.

Friday, October 30, 7:00 p.m., through Monday, November 2, 6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures both north and southbound on US 45BP (SR186) from Channing Way to Passmore Lane Overpass for bridge work.

Sunday, November 1 through Friday, November 6, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures north and southbound for resurfacing on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way to Passmore Lane Overpass.

LOOK AHEAD

Sunday, November 8 through Friday, November 13, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures north and southbound for resurfacing on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way to Passmore Lane Overpass.

MCNAIRY COUNTY, SR-57: The resurfacing with hot in place recycling on SR 57 from the Ramer City Limits to the Hardin County Line, including bridge expansion joint repair will cause intermittent lane closures daily.

REGION IV GUARDRAIL:

Wednesday, October 28 through Friday, October 30, 8:00 P.M.6:00 A.M.: There will be night time lane closures at various locations on I-40 east and westbound between MM 44.0 and

MM 126.00 in Decatur, Carroll, Henderson, Haywood, and Madison Counties.

TDOT District 48 MAINTENANCE:

Wednesday, October 28 through Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis.

NON-TDOT/City of Jackson work

MADISON COUNTY, SR-1:

Monday, November 2, 7:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.: There will be temporary lane closures on SR 1 eastbound at Highland Avenue. One lane will be closed for sidewalk and curb ramp repair.

District 49 - West TN Southwest

FAYETTE COUNTY, SR-196: The repair of bridge over Shaw Creek will cause a lane closure with temporary traffic signal near MM 7.0.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, SR-19: The resurfacing with hot-in-place recycling on SR 19 from near Eastland Avenue to Haywood County Line will cause temporary lane closures daily.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, SR-88: The resurfacing with full depth reclamation on SR 88 from Dee Webb Road to Key Corner Road, including bridge deck repairs will cause temporary lane closures daily.

SHELBY COUNTY, I-40, I-55, I-240: (Bridge Repair)

Thursday, October 29, then Monday, November 2 through Thursday, November 5, 9:00 a.m-3:00 p.m.: There will be day time lane closures at various locations in Shelby County on I-40, I-55, and I-240 for bridge repair to knock loose concrete from the bottom decks.

SHELBY COUNTY, I-55: Bridge deck Repair on I-55 Bridge over Mississippi River

Sunday, November 1, 5:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: ALL lanes will be closed in the southbound direction of I-55 on the AR-TN Bridge over the Mississippi River to perform bridge deck repairs.

Detour will be posted.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-3: Resurfacing on SR 3 (Union Ave) from Bellevue Blvd to BB King Blvd.

Wednesday, October 28 through Tuesday, November 3, 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 3 east and westbound between Bellevue Blvd and B.B. King Blvd for asphalt paving operations. One lane in each direction will remain open. Weather Permitting.

LOOK AHEAD:Wednesday, November 4 through Tuesday, November 10, 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 3 east and westbound between Bellevue Blvd and B.B. King Blvd for asphalt paving operations. One lane in each direction will remain open. Weather Permitting.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Resurfacing on SR 14 from the Mississippi State Line to SR 175

Thursday, October 29 through Wednesday, November 4, 5:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.: There will be temporary lane closures on SR 14 (Third Street) north and southbound for resurfacing. One lane will remain open in each direction.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: The grading, drainage, construction of concrete Bulb-Tee and I-beam bridges, signals and paving on SR 14 from east of Old Covington Pike to SR 385 will cause possible lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Construction on SR 14 for a widening project from SR 385 to east of Kerrville Rosemark Rd. There will be possible temporary lane closures throughout the project. Access to SR-14 from McCalla Rd West will be permanently detoured to Donnell Rd. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-205: The resurfacing on SR 205 from SR-14 to Armour Rd will cause temporary lane closures.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-205: The addition of turn lanes on SR 205 (Airline Rd) from Brooks River Drive to south of I-40 will have lane closures throughout the project.Thursday, October 29 through Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 205 north and southbound from Brooks River Drive (LM-15.75) to just south of I-40 (LM-16.07) to perform temporary road widening work. There will be one lane traffic with flaggers present at times. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH. Weather Permitting.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-385 from LM-2.19 to LM-2.31): The resurfacing of SR 385 from MM 34.0 to MM 35.0 will have lane closures throughout the project.

Wednesday, October 28 through Tuesday, November 3: INTERMITTENT lane closures on SR 385 east and westbound from MM 34.0 to MM 35.0 for resurfacing activities.

TDOT District 49 MAINTENANCE:Thursday, October 29 through Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on all interstates and state routes in District 49 for routine maintenance activities on an as needed basis.

TDOT District 49 On-Call Guardrail/Concrete Barrier Rail Repair:Wednesday, October 28 through Tuesday, November 3, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be night time lane closures at various locations on SR 3 (Shelby County), SR 385 (Shelby County), SR 14 (Shelby County), I-40 (Fayette and Shelby Counties), I-269 (Fayette and Shelby Counties), I-55 and I-240. One lane will be CLOSED to repair damaged guardrail. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting.

Thursday, October 29 through Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be daytime lane closures at various locations on SR 195, MM 3.0-MM 3.4 (Fayette County), SR 3,

MM 10.0MM 24.0 (Lauderdale County), SR 206, MM 2.3 (Tipton County), and on SR 59, MM 20.6 (Tipton County). One lane will be closed. Flagmen will be used to direct traffic. Weather Permitting.

Wednesday, October 28 through Tuesday, November 3, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at the I-40 westbound On ramp from EXIT 12 Sycamore View, I-55 southbound EXIT 5A Off ramp to eastbound Brooks Rd, I-55 southbound EXIT 7 On ramp from SR 14, I-240 westbound EXIT 17 On ramp from Mt. Moriah , and I-240 eastbound EXIT 23B On ramp from southbound Airways Blvd. Weather permitting. If weather prohibits, the closures will be on the next available night.

LOOK AHEAD:

Wednesday, November 4 through Tuesday, November 10, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at the I-40 westbound On ramp from EXIT 12 Sycamore View, I-55 southbound EXIT 5A Off ramp to eastbound Brooks Rd, I-55 southbound EXIT 6B Off ramp to I-240 northbound, I-55 southbound EXIT 7 On ramp from SR-14, I-240 westbound EXIT 17 On ramp from Mt. Moriah, and I-240 eastbound EXIT 23B On ramp from southbound Airways Blvd.

TDOT District 49 Emergency Reference Marker Installation

Wednesday, October 28 through Tuesday, November 3, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime lane closures at various locations in Shelby County on I-40 westbound, MM 0.0MM 18.6; I-240 eastbound, MM 12.0MM 31.0, and I-55 southbound, MM 5.8MM 12.4. One lane will be CLOSED to install new Emergency Reference Markers. Weather Permitting.

NON-TDOT/City of Memphis work

SHELBY COUNTY, I-40: Sensor Installation in I-40 near Front St

Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3, 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be two lanes closed on I-40 westbound to install weight sensors at EXIT 1A (Second/Third St). The I-40 westbound EXIT 1A Off ramp to Second/Third St will be closed. Detours will be provided.

LOOK AHEAD:Wednesday, November 4 through Friday, November 6, 6:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be two lanes closed on I-40 westbound to install weight sensors at EXIT 1A (Second/Third St). The I-40 westbound EXIT 1A Off ramp to Second/Third St will be closed. Detours will be provided.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at http://www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or for West Tennessee follow https://twitter.com/NicLawrenceTDOT.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

In 2016, the Tennessee Department of Transportation lost three workers in the line of duty. All three were struck by passing motorists. Those tragedies bring the total number of TDOT lives lost to 112. We dont want to lose another member of our TDOT family. Were asking you to WORK WITH US. Click on the WORK WITH US logo to learn more.

Visit link:
West Tennessee Weekly Construction October 28-November 4, 2020 - tn.gov

Barry Morphew was working for a company owned by a longtime friend and arrived to do the work a full day before the job was scheduled to begin. What was Barry doing in Broomfield on Mothers Day?

A Colorado-based reporter has shared new information about Barry Morphews supposed alibi the day his wife Suzanne Morphew was reported missing.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Suzanne disappeared sometime on Mothers Day weekend; initial reports indicated that she had gone for a bike ride on the morning of May 10 and never returned. But while investigators reportedly found Suzannes abandoned bike not far from her Maysville, Colorado, home the same day she was reported missing, there has never been any concrete evidence that Suzanne actually went for a bike ride that day. She was last seen alive in the neighboring town of Salida the day before, when witnesses reportedly saw her and Barry out getting sandwiches.

While authorities in Colorado have said very little about the investigation since Morphew disappeared, Barry Morphew has said he was in Broomfield, Colorado, that weekend to work on a landscaping job; specifically, to build retaining walls next to the northwest parkway in Broomfield, about a three hour drive from Maysville. According to all available information, Morphew is believed to have left home for Broomfield in the early hours of Sunday, May 10, and returned to Maysville later the same day after he was contacted about his wifes disappearance.

Get your daily crime on! Breaking crime and justice news on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Lauren Scharf, a F0x 21 News reporter who has shared some of her reporting independently on her YouTube channel, revealed in a new video report on Thursday that Barry Morphew was contracted for the Broomfield job by a company based in Indiana, where he and Suzanne lived until 2018. Scharf said in her report that a general contracting company, Garrett Construction LLC, outsourced the job to E. A. Outdoor Services, LCC. That company then hired Morphew, who appears to have been working as an independent contractor since moving to Colorado, where he also works as a volunteer firefighter.

The president of E.A. Outdoor Services, LLC is Tony Miller, who Scharf revealed in the video is a longtime friend of Barry Morphews. Scharf said that Miller himself hired Barry for the job, and the report suggests a lack of transparency about the work assignment.

None of the public documents I dug up for this job ever mention Barry Morphew, Scharf said.

A worker for E.A. Outdoor Services who reportedly spoke to Scharf on the condition of anonymity expressed doubts about Morphews alibi and also said they knew nothing about Barry Morphew until after Suzanne Morphew disappeared.

According to the report, the Indiana-based source said the original retaining wall job took place in October 2019, but the work was considered poorly done. Morphew and his subcontractors were reportedly scheduled to return to fix and complete the job on Monday, May 11 raising the question of why Barry Morphew arrived to Broomfield a full day ahead of the planned work.

The source also said that the work was not considered particularly urgent, according to the new report.

Further, Scharf said she found that the city of Broomfield did not issue a special permit for work on the site to be completed on a weekend, which city ordinances reportedly require.

A Colorado-based contractor who worked for Barry Morphew told Scharf that when they arrived to the site on Monday, May 11, it looked as though Barry had done about half an hour of work. But the Indiana-based source who works for E.A. Outdoor Services told Scharf they did not believe Barry did any work on the wall that Sunday.

Him having to be there on Sunday, Mothers Day, to do that job was a lie because we wouldnt have allowed that if we had known, the worker said.

Interviews and documents Scharf collected reportedly show that necessary equipment for the work in May was never ordered. One of Barrys contractors told Scharf that they tried to do what work they could on that May Monday with the tools available to them, but acknowledged it was inadequate.

As Scharf notes in her report, the E. A. Outdoor Services LLCs website states that all landscaping jobs are monitored daily.

So my question is: Who from E.A. Outdoor Services was monitoring Barry on Sunday, when he started the project on the wall?, Scharf asked in the video.

Scharf called Tony Miller, the president of E.A. Outdoor Services, to ask him that question. Miller said only, No comment, according to Scharf.

The E.A. Outdoor Services worker who spoke on the condition of anonymity spoke more candidly.

None of it made any sense at the time, and it does not today, they said.

Watch the full report here:

Read more of CrimeOnlines extensive coverage of the Suzanne Morphew case here.

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BREAKING: Missing Suzanne Morphew husband Barry Morphew's 'alibi' questioned as new details surface about landscaping job Mother's Day weekend [VIDEO]...

AMHERST Renovations to historic municipal buildings and long-anticipated improvements to the North Common and Main Street parking lot in front of Town Hall are among $2.43 million in proposals seeking Community Preservation Act money.

In addition to requests to support affordable housing initiatives, $1 million for the build-outof a new special collections room at the Jones Library will again be reviewed by the CPA Committee. The special collections room is part of a $35.6 million renovation and expansion project.

The committee anticipates having recommendations brought to the Town Council in January.

Requests for major building repairs are coming from Jeremiah LaPlante, the towns facilities and maintenance manager. One of these is $408,500 for fixing the slate roofs at Town Hall, Munson Memorial Library, and the North Amherst School.

Repairing and replacing the slate roofs ensure the historic integrity and appearance of the three town buildings, LaPlante wrote in the application.

Another $265,000 is needed for restoring the historic stone steps at the main entrance to Town Hall and the emergency entrance on the south side of the building.

A long-delayed project to rehabilitate the North Common, the greenspace in front of Town Hall originally to have commenced in 2018, will depend on adding $500,000. The town would have close to $2 million on hand, if the money is approved.

The project will preserve a revered part of the historic Town Common, onto which the historic Town Hall, Grace Episcopal Church, Grace Church Parish House and the 19th century buildings along South Pleasant Street front, states the application, submitted by Senior Planner Christine Brestrup. The project will also preserve a number of the historic trees on the North Common along with the historic Womans Christian Temperance Union fountain.

Town Manager Paul Bockelman said it is time to bring back the plans, which were last presented as part of a Destination Amherst initiative to bring more visitors to downtown prior to the pandemic.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Guilford Mooring is asking for $40,000 that would shore up the south wall of the North Amherst Library, weakened during previous alterations to the building.

Removing and replacing the aging pavilion at Groff Park next to the Fort River would cost $45,000, while $65,000 would go to repair the main swimming pool at Mill River Recreation Area.

For affordable housing, the Amherst Municipal Housing Affordable Housing Trust is asking for $800,000 for development projects, such as to assist in the possible reuse of the East Street School for affordable apartments, and extension and expansion of an emergency rental assistance program.

We anticipate that the major share of funds would be spent to support a developer, following a detailed application and careful review by the Housing Trust, the trust wrote in its application.

Amherst Community Connections is seeking funding for four to six housing vouchers for chronically homeless individuals, at a cost of $151,140 to $226,710, and the District One Neighborhood Association is asking for $51,500 for an archeological heritage study of woodlands along trails from Mill River Recreation Area to the Cushman Common. There, cellar holesand retaining walls from long-gone mills, most of which had closed by the 1920s, and the Cushman Clam Club, a place where local parties and weddings were held, would be catalogued.

Finally, officials at Goodwin Church are seeking $12,000 to supplement $12,500 already raised as part of Restoring Goodwin. The money would be used to maintain the historic building by reshingling the roof, rebuilding the chimney and adding insulation to the attic and walls.

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Latest round of CPA requests total $2.43 million in Amherst - GazetteNET

In the 1999 film, For Love of the Game, Billy Chapel (played by Kevin Coster) is pitching for the Detroit Tigers and in the midst of a perfect game.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, with his arm weary and aching, he looks up to see Ken Strout ready to bat for the New York Yankees. Ken Strout is the son of Joe Strout, who Chapel played with 20 years prior.

Ken Strout is the last chance for the Yankees to break up the perfect game. As Chapel sees him walking up to the plate, he looks up and says, simply, Why not?

Thats how Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), might be feeling after this past week at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Harvick started on the pole and led early, but he brushed the SAFER Barrier on the outside retaining wall early on as the track may or may not have been a little wet during a constant mist. Then the rains came and, after more than 72 hours, the race finally got restarted late Wednesday afternoon.

Or, better than Why not? perhaps an overriding thought in Harvicks mind is, Its a journey.

Thats because 2020 has been a journey for everyone. NASCAR conducted four races, took a nine-week break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, then contested 30 races in six months before getting delayed by rain for more than 72 hours this week at Texas.

Never fear, though, because we (might) be almost done.

Harvick finished 16th at Texas and is still first in points, 42 markers above the cutoff to advance to the Championship 4.

He now moves on to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway for the final race in the Round of 8.

Harvick has one win, five top-fives, 19 top-10s and has led a total of 628 laps in his 38 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Martinsville. His average start there is 14.1, his average finish is 14.9, and he has a lap completion rate of 98.2 percent 18,695 of the 19,039 laps available.

Thankfully, Harvick will have the help of Mobil 1 as a sponsor and partner at the tight, half-mile Martinsville paperclip.

Mobil 1 isnt just the worlds leading synthetic motor oil brand, it also provides the entire SHR team with leading lubricant technology, ensuring that all SHR Mustangs have a competitive edge over the competition on the track. In its 18th consecutive season as the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR, Mobil 1 is used by more than 50 percent of teams throughout NASCARs top three series.

During the playoffs, Mobil 1 is giving fans the chance to win exclusive prizes, including signed exclusive SHR gear, race gloves, race used parts and die casts, one-of-a-kind stickers and a once in a lifetime opportunity to receive a zoom call from SHR co-owner Tony Stewart or Harvicks SHR teammate Cole Custer.

To find out more or to enter, fans can head to http://officialmotoroilofnascar.com/.

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Kevin Harvick Its a Journey - Speedway Digest

I go and read Frosts Mending Wall, since there is time for poetry again. But his spirit of bemused doubt now strikes the wrong note; the poets polite acquiescence to his patrician, wall-loving neighbor has lost its New England gentility. Its not hunters making the holes in walls anymore, as he has it in the poem. Its the hunted. And mostly they fail to make it through, and instead get crushed up against the walls, as happens in a stampede. There are 26 million refugees in the world and nearly 46 million internally displaced people. There is no patience left for this beautiful poem anymore, is what I think, shutting the book and replacing it on the shelf. Not in this burning, ravaged world.

I think of all the ancient walls in the Mediterranean, in the Levant, built to terrace the land, so that it could grow grapes and olives, and which the millenniums have worn down and crumbled, have kicked in like teeth. Not long ago, Reuters reported that the chief rabbi of the Western Wall said that Jews should refrain from kissing its stones, so as not to spread the virus. That there is a chief rabbi suggests that this broken old section of retaining wall, whose holiness is born only of proximity, has more than one rabbi assigned to it. In any case, no one listens to the rabbi or rabbis of the holy wall: Everyone is still putting their lips to it.

The house is quiet. My children are busy trading emeralds for pigs. In a magazine, I encounter the phrase moral injury. The article, written by a war correspondent who has reported from conflict zones for 30 years, describes a condition that has come to light in her line of work. A moral injury, as defined by the expert psychologist quoted in the article, is a wound on the soul, an affront to your moral compass based on your own behavior and the things you have failed to do. There is a pandemic of moral injury, I think: It is impossible to read about the state of the world anymore without feeling a wound on the soul, an affront to our moral compasses based on our own behavior and the things we have failed to do.

I do a search of the journalist who wrote the article and discover her TED Talk. This is how war starts, she says. One day, you are living your ordinary life, youre planning to go to a party, youre taking your children to school, youre making a dentist appointment. The next thing, the telephones go out, the TVs go out, theres armed men on the street, theres road blocks, your life as you know it goes into suspended animation. She tells the story of a friend who was walking down a street in Sarajevo, in Bosnia, in April 1992, wearing a miniskirt and high heels, on her way to her job at a bank, when suddenly she saw a tank coming down the main road, knocking down everything in its path. She hid behind a trash can, feeling ridiculous. A few weeks later she was in a crowd of people, holding up her infant son and pushing to give him to a stranger on one of the last buses leaving Sarajevo to take children to safety. She struggled to get to the front. Everyone was yelling, Take my child, take mine! At last she managed to pass her son through a window of the bus. She didnt see him again for years.

My own children are now asleep upstairs, along with the dog. Not the one they feed in Minecraft, but the one I feed here, in our shared reality. They are too big for me to be able to pass them through the window of a bus, or to carry them at all. If a civil war breaks out, they will need to be able to walk or run themselves.

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Were Living in a World of Walls. Here Is a Window to Escape. - The New York Times

Oct. 26, 2020 By Allie Griffin

An effort to revitalize the neglected Hallets Cove peninsula along the Astoria waterfront will begin this winter, local Council Member Costa Constantinides announced Monday.

Construction crews will remove a nearly-70-year-old decaying pier at the site and plant new wetland vegetation in its place to restore its natural ecology.

Theyll also clean the litter dumped along the riverbank, cut down trees that have grown within the sites retaining wall and replace a chain link fence with a new railing.

Constantinides has sought to clean up the cove since he took office in 2014. He has allocated $1 million to the revitalization project since 2015 and former Borough President Melinda Katz invested another $3 million.

The days of Hallets Cove as a crumbling dumping ground are over, Constantinides said.

His office partnered with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the Queens Borough President and the Mayors Office to make the project a reality.

Thanks to our partnership with the EDC, the Queens Borough President, the Mayors Office, and the surrounding community, we will make good on a promise to reimagine this waterfront by restoring its ecology, Constantinides said. Im so excited we can get back to work and realize this vision for western Queens.

The council member hopes the upgrades will improve the quality of life for nearby residents of the Astoria Houses.

The residents at the Astoria Houses and the entire north western Queens neighborhood are excited to see this project get off the ground, said Claudia Coger, President of the Astoria Houses Residents Association.

As a lifelong Astoria Houses resident and a lover of the outdoors, Im especially grateful to see these beginning stages of our waterfronts revival and restoration.

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Revitalization of Astoria's Hallets Cove Waterfront to Begin This Winter - Astoria Post

It is Government 101: Protect the citizenry and allow them to flush their toilets.

From left, EPA Region 4 administrator Mary Walker, EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, DeKalb Watershed Management Director Reggie Wells and DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson pose for a photo following a Monday morning press conference to discuss a $265 million loan that will pay for sewer repairs in DeKalb County. SPECIAL PHOTO PROVIDED BY EPA

Thurmond said that 59 miles of new sewer trunk line (the big uns) will be installed in the county, including 41 miles in southwest DeKalb, where the most and the worst sewer spills occur. So much of the work must be done there partly because it has some of the oldest and most deteriorating lines.

The other part of it is race, Thurmond said. You dont make significant investments in lower-income minority communities. They were complaining but their voices were not being heard.

I get why people are frustrated, he added. You dont have any easy answer. (The fixes) are expensive and time consuming.

Its good news that DeKalb is finally getting on with it. Thurmond likes to say the work has accelerated since 2017. By the way, that is when he came to office. He says $800 million in repairs have happened since then, compared to just $300 million before. Part of that is a new leader recognizing this had to be done. And part of it is a government that has slowly pulled itself out of a morass of its own making.

In 2013, the courts released a grand jury investigation into corruption in DeKalb. It found evidence of endemic incompetence, patronage, fraud and cronyism in the government. The digging started when a DeKalb grease-trap inspector got caught taking bribes from restaurants.

Then-District Attorney Robert James initially focused his investigation on work connected to the $1.35 billion in capital improvement projects with the sewers. When you have that kind of money around, he figured, funny stuff happens.

Water and sewer upgrades are planned across DeKalb County, including at the Snapfinger Creek Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility in Decatur. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

After the grand jury report came out, I was assigned to look into the findings. I decided to start by examining the first major contract awarded in this enterprise. It was $7.7 million to an engineering firm for work at the new Snapfinger Creek Wastewater Plant in south DeKalb. But the hiring of the small, obscure firm raised several questions. When AJC reporter April Hunt and I raised some of those questions to county officials, they let the firm go. And then the county had to rebuild a retaining wall because of shoddy work.

It went on like that. Stuff was screwed up from the start. Literally.

The investigation ended with the prosecution, conviction and imprisonment of then-CEO Burrell Ellis on tangential charges. The higher courts later overturned his case.

But over the years, three more of the seven county commissioners were indicted on various corruption charges, and DeKalb couldnt get out of its own way. The sewer revitalization project languished. During this time, the county burned through $80 million in interest on the money borrowed for the projects.

In 2015, DeKalbs interim CEO Lee May hired Scott Towler to oversee the sewer project. In interviews with those who worked with Towler, I was told he was a hard-charging, square manager who started getting the county focused on the job.

However, Towler ran into trouble with higher-ups when he started complaining that businesses were hooked up to DeKalbs system, even though there wasnt the sewer capacity for it. This was a touchy subject because no government entity wants to have its hands tied when bringing in development.

A year later, Towler was gone, leaving behind a letter blasting the county for, he said, making him bend the rules. Thurmonds office called him a disgruntled ex-employee who was double-dipping with his car allowance.

He later settled a whistleblower lawsuit for $40,000.

Commissioner Nancy Jester, who jumped headlong into the sewer issue after coming on the board in 2015, said: Scott Towler was crucial in changing the course in making DeKalb compliant. He was the necessary manager. Anyone who says otherwise is not clear on what happened. He ran up against politics.

Now, DeKalb is barreling forward, again, with a plan to fix its sewers even though critics like Jacqueline Echols, head of the South River Watershed Alliance, said the county has dragged its feet in trying to forthrightly face the issue. Her organization last year filed suit in federal court, saying the county was not doing enough to prevent spills. Her org said DeKalb was not being held responsible when it spills.

Between 2012 and 2019, the county reported 1,297 spills and paid $859,000 in fines an average of $662 per spill. Thats like a bad speeding ticket.

They could fine you $10 million, but thats $10 million you cant use to fix it, Thurmond said.

He added that no rate increase is in the offing for the near future. The county had several increases a decade ago. But commissioners say a hike is inevitable.

Zack Buersmeyer, a Tucker resident, has complained for years about sewer spills on his property and has used urinal cakes outside to help quell the smell. His property, next to South Fork Peachtree Creek, was on a 2017 list for sewer repairs. He said the county has three times in the past decade brought bulldozers to his property and taken down trees to allow work to be done on a sewer line behind his home. Theyve also been there many other times for minor repairs. Crews were out there again Tuesday.

Theres been so many changes with personnel; it seems like they start from scratch every three years, he said. But its just been a Band-Aid. Id like to see it future-proofed so they dont have to come back.

Not to worry, CEO Thurmond swears its a new day in DeKalb.

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OPINION: Flushed with pride that fix is in, finally, for DeKalb sewers - Atlanta Journal Constitution