Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Extending the life of a product even relatively briefly can have significant benefits, according to Nathan Proctor, who leads the right-to-repair campaign at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy group. If Americans would extend the life of their cellphones by one year, for instance, it would be the climate-saving equivalent of taking 636,000 cars off the road, or about the amount of passenger vehicles registered in the state of New Mexico.

Right to repair advocates like Ms. Gordon-Byrne and Mr. Proctor highlight recent strides in the automotive industry. In next months election, Massachusetts will have a question on the ballot designed to ensure that drivers will continue to be able to have local repair shops not just authorized dealers work on their cars as they become more automated and manufacturers control access to that data.

That measure is designed to build on a 2012 bill in the state that required carmakers to provide independent repair shops with access to the diagnostic tools that had been available only to dealerships.

The new measure, known as Question 1 on the ballot, has met resistance.

If Question 1 passes in Massachusetts, anyone could access the most personal data stored in your vehicle, says the narrator in one advertisement. The campaign against the measure talks about the risks of hacking, identity theft and cyberstalking as part of a multimillion-dollar advertising spend by a group called Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, a manufacturer-backed organization that is fighting the question in November.

Conor Yunits, a spokesman for the coalition, said it sees the new measure as unnecessary: Massachusetts is already the only state that has a right to repair law on the books. The technology they care about telematics is already covered by the existing law. In our view, this is an attempt by national auto parts chains to get access to more consumer data.

Manufacturers have considerable influence over the standards to which their products are made, said Mark Schaffer, a consultant on the life cycle of electronics. According to a 2017 report that he wrote, thats because major manufacturers sit on the panels that set guidelines for things like environmental impact. As a result, he said, tougher standards can be difficult to achieve.

As a whole, the industry needs to raise the floor on repairability, Mr. Schaffer said. Thats probably not going to happen until there is a legal requirement at a state or at a national level.

See the article here:
Fix, or Toss? The Right to Repair Movement Gains Ground - The New York Times

Neighborhoods of single-family homes that don't allow renters are nothing new. But do you know what is? Neighborhoods of single-family homes that only allow renters -- that's what. In a table-turning sort of way, Minneapolis' Twin Cities are seeing a new trend: single-family rental neighborhoods, otherwise known as "built-for-rent" or "built-to-rent" housing. Is there something to this?

Single-family rental neighborhoods, like those currently being built in the Twin Cities' suburban areas, are upscale homes that rent for between $2,000 and $4,000 a month (or more). The homes range from 1,500 square feet to over 3,000 square feet and come with all the latest accouterments, such as keyless entry, front-door cameras, and smart-home features.

The neighborhoods offer plenty of amenities as well, such as walking trails, clubhouses, swimming pools, and dog parks. But the main attraction for many residents is a maintenance-free lifestyle. Rent includes lawn care, snow plowing, and appliance repair, all of which is generally handled by a property management company.

The Twin Cities area, as of October 2020, has one single-family rental community of 66 homes already built, and this neighborhood was completely rented out in a matter of months. Plans from the developer, Watermark Equity Group, are to build two more of these neighborhoods in the Twin Cities area, one with 58 homes and the other with 81 homes.

The built-to-rent concept might be new for the Twin Cities, but the Phoenix area has seen these types of developments since 2014. Phoenix now has 11 single-family rental neighborhoods, all by developer NexMetro. This builder features rental home communities with one-, two-, three-, and sometimes four-bedroom homes, some attached and some detached, but all with upscale features such as cathedral ceilings, private yards, quartz countertops, and hardwood floors. Plans are to expand this single-family rental model to other areas of the country.

Most people who are interested in the built-to-rent community would probably be candidates for a luxury apartment building that features all the latest amenities. The problem many people have with apartment living, however, is the shared wall aspect. Single-family rental neighborhoods provide residents with a detached home and with all the convenience features of apartment living.

1. Young professionals who relocate frequently for work. In the Twin Cities area, for example, a cluster of Fortune 500 companies fuels the trend for single-family rental neighborhoods.

2. Empty nesters. This group typically can afford to buy but chooses to rent, preferring a lifestyle that doesn't involve home maintenance.

3. Single people or people who recently divorced. Renting provides the freedom to easily relocate if need be.

4. Newly married young couples. Not sure how they want to settle down just yet, this group wants to test the lifestyle of living in a single-family home in the suburbs before committing to it.

The experiment with single-family rental neighborhoods is proving to be a success, as the model is a win for both residents and owners. What's been happening with these developments is builders/developers build the single-family rental neighborhoods, get a property manager to manage them, and then -- after all the homes are rented -- the builder typically sells the entire community to a real estate investment trust (REIT) or a huge rental operator like Invitation Homes.

Renewals are more likely. Renters tend to view these homes as long-term commitments more than renters of typical rental units usually do, partly because the homes in build-to-rent communities are built and designed the same way as typical subdivisions are, giving them a more permanent feel.

Higher rent growth. Rent raises tend to outperform those of typical rental units. NexMetro's Avilla neighborhoods in Phoenix have experienced rent increases between 6% and 11%, compared with between 1.6% and 5.4% for apartment rentals nationwide.

Pride in home and community. Because people tend to view single-family rental homes as long-term commitments, they tend to care more about the home and the neighborhood than renters in typical rental units generally do. This isn't to say that renters as a whole don't care about their rental units or the neighborhood, but people who plan to live in an area for a longer term tend to act more like homeowners who have a greater stake in their homes and community.

Expect to see more built-to-rent neighborhoods in the future. Home builders Lennar (Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN)), JMC Homes, Camillo Properties, and AHV Communities are all planning to build single-family rental neighborhoods across the nation.

But let's hope these communities are managed better than what happened post-2008 recession. The huge conglomerates that bought foreclosed homes earned a poor reputation based on neglectful maintenance practices, high rent hikes, and excessive late fees. If you like to follow trends, this is one to watch.

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Single-Family Rental Neighborhoods Are Hot in the Twin Cities Right Now - Motley Fool

Certifications

Matthew Griffith, prevention section chief with the Montreal Fire Department, said shoppers should look for patio heaters with certifications from the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). These independent certification bodies test and ensure various appliances meet specific safety standards. Griffith said a lot of inexpensive products don't have these safety certifications, which can be quite expensive for brands to obtain."There's a reason why one company can sell it at half the price," he said. Though a product with safety certifications often costs more, Griffith said it's important to prioritize safety over price.

You're buying a patio heater to keep warm when it gets cold, so heat output should be a key consideration. Most manufacturers list heat output in British thermal units (Btu) and estimate the square footage a heater can handle in ideal conditions. The higher the Btu of a heater, the more heat it will produce and the larger an area it will cover.

You can estimate the Btu you need to heat your outdoor area by multiplying the cubic footage of the space by your desired temperature increase. My patio is about 1,500 cubic feet (assuming a height of around 5 feet I'm short, so I don't need to heat the air too far above my head), and if I want to hang out outside in the fall when it's 50 degrees outside, I'll probably want to raise the temperature by at least 10 degrees. That means I'll need a heater that puts out at least 15,000 Btu. Bigger spaces or colder climates will require more Btu to heat comfortably.

If you live in a colder area or are looking to entertain guests, we recommend looking for a heater that produces 40,000 Btu or more, which is enough to heat around 2,000 square feet comfortably. Dome or pyramid-shaped heaters are typically larger and have a higher Btu output, so they can usually heat a larger area than tabletop patio heaters. These tall patio heaters are often seen at restaurants because they can keep a large number of guests comfortable at one time. Thomas Bonfiglio, CEO and founder of Triple T Hospitality, said that the high heat output is one of the reasons he chose pyramid and dome-top heaters for his New York and New Jersey restaurants. "Diners who may still not be comfortable eating inside anywhere can have a pleasant experience outside for many months," Bonfiglio said.

Propane-powered heaters typically produce more heat than electric heaters because they aren't limited by the circuit system of your home. That, of course, means there are some additional safety considerations for propane heaters, since they won't shut off automatically like an electric heater will when a circuit is overloaded. You can read more about safety considerations in the section below.

The majority of propane patio heaters are compatible with standard 15-20 pound propane tanks, but some portable versions work with smaller, 16 ounce canisters. You'll have to buy propane tanks separately from the heater, as you would for a gas-powered outdoor fireplace or grill. Fortunately, small and large propane tanks are readily available at most hardware stores; it typically costs about $20 to $25 to refill or buy a 20 pound propane tank at Home Depot.

How much gas your patio heater uses depends on its heat output, what setting you're using, and the surrounding air temperature (the colder it is, the more gas you'll use to heat the area). Amerigas says that you can expect to generate 22,000 Btu per hour for each pound of propane. So if you have a 40,000 Btu patio heater, it'll burn through about 2 pounds of propane every hour you're operating it on its highest setting. Patio heaters guzzle a lot of propane, so I always like to keep an extra tank on hand, since I have multiple outdoor gas-powered appliances like a grill and an outdoor fireplace.

Electric heaters are usually cheaper and safer to operate because they produce less heat. They also don't require regular trips to the hardware store for fuel refills. But the heat isn't very powerful or far-reaching if you're looking to keep a crowd warm.

If aesthetics are important to you, keep in mind that electric and propane heaters give off different types of light. Gas-powered patio heaters create actual flames, which produce a natural, fireplace-like glow. Bonfiglio said he settled on gas models for his restaurant because of their ability to evenly diffuse heat without adding unnecessary bright light.

Bonfiglio also chose patio heaters with controls that are high up and out of reach to customers, which keeps diners safe and the atmosphere consistent. If your household has children, pets, or fidgety adults who like to play with controls, you might also consider a patio heater with out-of-reach controls to prevent any accidents. Most tall, freestanding patio heaters naturally have controls that are high up. My AmazonBasics patio heater has controls so high that I need to stand on my tippy toes to reach them.

On the flip side, if you don't have any wayward hands in your home, you might find it a pain to break out the step ladder every time you want to turn on your patio heater. Some models come with remote controls for easier operation, or you may opt for a tabletop unit.

Experts told us you can store most propane heaters outside all year round. Just add a cover to prevent unnecessary wear and tear during rainstorms and cold winter months. We recommend choosing a model with wheels if you're opting for a standalone unit like a dome-top or pyramid heater, so that it's easy to wheel out of the way when not in use. If storing a portable patio heater indoors, remove the propane attachment before doing so.

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How to buy the best patio heater - Business Insider - Business Insider

The retaining wall on Lake Front Boulevard will be completed by Memorial Day 2021 according to a contract in discussion between Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas and contractor St. George Enterprises.

The Lake Front Boulevard situation, we are moving forward with that, I have made contact with the contractor, Rosas said during Tuesdays Dunkirk Common Council meeting. We have a new contract, we just added a couple of things to the other contract that was approved, basically two issues that were spoken about in executive session. The contractor is agreeing to have the project 100% complete by Memorial Day of 2021. The payment plan will be that were working with FEMA, the contractor has agreed to work with us with the FEMA payment plan.

The contract, which is still in negotiation, is expected to be signed soon and the supplies and materials will be ordered and the crew should be working on the project next week.

First Ward Councilman Don Williams questioned what might happen if the contractor is unable to finish the repair by the agreed upon date.

We considered all the options. There was a lot of behind the scenes communication, Rosas responded. To get to the point where were at now, there was a lot of work done, the process with FEMA and getting that plan approved was a long process.

Rosas added that the city could have decided to re-bid the project out after conferring various department heads, but ultimately what was decided that what was best for the city was to try to work with this St. George Enterprises.

In an effort to get them to agree we have been very lenient with the contract language, Rosas said. If he didnt agree then our options would be that there is no timeline in the contract or we bid it and find another contractor, if we did that wed jeopardize paying more for this project and wed also jeopardize the timeline with FEMA.

Another project that was also mentioned was the LED Replacement program the city was working on. A letter read during the public portion of the project from Cassandra Pinkoski questioned what buildings have been done currently, what buildings are slated the be completed, if street lighting is still a part of the project and what are the savings to date?

Rosas said LED updates were provided throughout the year but due to COVID, the $1 million in funding earmarked by the state and approved by the Financial Restructuring Board was withheld.

We have not received those funds, Rosas said. I have stopped the project until such time that we receive those funds. The good news is that I directed our Fiscal Affairs officer to contact Albany every week and this week the funding process is going to be moving forward, so we expect to receive funds soon. Ive been in contact with the contractor and he is ready to start as soon as we can start moving the process forward.

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Retaining wall to begin construction, LED plan on hold - Evening Observer

InYourArea Community

The nearby Castle Inn Footbridge remains closed to ensure the safety of the public, following damage it sustained during Storm Dennis.

Image:Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Submitted by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has started work to repair and rebuild sections of the retaining wall at A4054 Cardiff Road in Treforest following damage caused by Storm Dennis and the current traffic lights will be removed when complete next month.

Sections of the wall, along the River Taff near Castle Inn Footbridge, were damaged by the unprecedented weather in February 2020.

The repairs are scheduled across two phases of work the first of these started on Monday, October 19. The council has appointed Kaymac Marine & Civil Engineering Ltd as the contractor to carry out this work, which will last up to two weeks, subject to good weather.

The second phase of work will see the collapsed section of wall rebuilt by contractor Hammond Civil Engineering Ltd. This is expected to start in early November and last around three weeks.

Once complete, the temporary traffic lights will be removed and Cardiff Road will be re-opened for two-way traffic. Work across both phases will adhere to the latest social distancing guidance.

Please note, the nearby Castle Inn Footbridge remains closed to ensure the safety of the public, following the significant damage it sustained during Storm Dennis. The council will provide an update to residents in the near future.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transportation, said:

Important schemes to repair damaged structures have progressed in recent months including retaining wall repairs at Ynysybwl Road and Blaen-y-Cwm Road, while work has recently been completed at Station Street in Treherbert.

Preparations are also ongoing at Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd to repair the Marks and Spencer Bridge over the coming months, while specialist surveys at Castell Ifor Bridge in Treforest and the White Bridge in Pontypriddare are under review.

The council is committed to repairing or replacing both of these damaged bridges and will provide an update to residents in due course.

Cllr Morgan said:

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Retaining wall repairs at A4054 Cardiff Road in Treforest - In Your Area

Ann Arbor, Mich. | $1.99 MillionA house custom-built in 1979, with five bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms, on a 0.77-acre lot

Designed by Don Paul Young, a local architect, this home is part of the Hillwood Preserve, a wooded subdivision dating to the 1930s that was created by a pair of sisters who were landscape designers, on their family property. The house sits near the prairie part of the University of Michigans Nichols Arboretum, with winter views of the Huron River. One can cut through the arboretum to reach the university campus and downtown, less than a mile west, or travel a more roundabout route by road. Built for an orthopedic surgeon, the house was expanded in 2000 by a later owner.

Size: 5,249 square feet

Price per square foot: $379

Indoors: Recent updates include new exterior siding that promises to last for decades, many new windows (some of them huge) and fresh oak flooring in the living room, dining room and main study (there are three studies altogether). A substantial part of the lower level was also remodeled, and hardscaping was added outdoors.

The entrance leads into a foyer with an attached powder room (variegated ceramic tile covers the floors of both). To the left of the front door is a dining room with a 16-foot-high wall of glass and a wet bar. It flows into a living room, for an area that totals 38 feet in length and up to 25 feet in width and includes a wood-burning fireplace.

On the other side of the fireplace wall is an office with a built-in desk, wraparound upper and lower cabinets and windows on three sides, with arboretum views. On the opposite side of the living room and up a few steps is an open, tiled breakfast area and, beyond that, a kitchen with an L-shaped center island topped in granite, a Wolf range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a pantry. This room walks out to a 24-by-19-foot screened porch, which opens to an ipe-wood patio. Next to the kitchen is a laundry room that includes a wine refrigerator and a built-in desk and cabinetry.

A hallway past the rear staircase leads into guest quarters. Here are a bedroom with arboretum views, a bathroom with a walk-in glass-and-stone-tile shower and an office with two built-in desks and three walls of cabinets. An elevator in this wing takes you to any floor.

The front staircase ascends to a hall lofted above the dining room. The first door belongs to the master suite, which includes a carpeted bedroom with a walk-in closet behind frosted-glass doors (a dresser and shoe cubby are lodged inside) and a private balcony overlooking the arboretum. The master bathroom is sheathed in dark and light gray stone and includes a wraparound vanity with a pair of metal vessel sinks and a separate tub and shower.

This level contains three additional bedroom suites (one with a Juliet balcony), as well as a library that opens to an indoor-outdoor oak-floored exercise room above the screened porch.

The lower level has more than 2,400 square feet of finished space not counted in the homes official square footage. This encompasses a large family room with sunlight streaming through glass doors and multiple exposures (it walks out to a patio), an office with a fireplace, a full bathroom and two workshops. There are also storage and utility rooms, as well as access to a three-car garage.

Outdoor space: In addition to the porches, decks and balconies is a large paved patio hugged by a new retaining wall; it has a fire pit. The surrounding landscape is, not surprisingly, tree-filled.

Taxes: $30,646 (based on a tax assessment of $611,179), plus an annual $100 homeowner fee

Contact: Jean Wedemeyer, Reinhart Realtors, 734-604-2523; jeanwedemeyer.reinhartrealtors.com

This two-story 1936 complex is in the Bayshore neighborhood, two blocks west of Indian Creek and the nearby cluster of Mid-Beach hotels, including the Miami Beach Edition and the Faena. Within a mile to the south are Collins Park, with its cultural attractions; the Miami Beach Convention Center, where the Art Basel Miami Beach fair is typically held; and the Lincoln Road shopping district. Currently, three of the four units are rented, with leases that extend six months at the most. The rents range from $2,900 to $3,200 a month, depending on the season. Short-term rentals are not permitted.

Size: 4,478 square feet

Price per square foot: $446

Indoors: Two units are downstairs, and two upstairs; all four have identical layouts of about 1,200 square feet. They are being sold furnished, and in two units, the furniture is new.

The lower units have direct access from within a gated courtyard; between their doors is the entrance to the upper units. In each apartment, the entry door opens to a living room with wood floors and a decorative fireplace mantel. A stepped archway leads into a wood-floored dining room, and a similar archway introduces the kitchen. The kitchen surfaces and colors vary from unit to unit. In unit No. 1, which is currently vacant, the counters are white marble, the flooring is gray linoleum and the appliances are stainless steel.

The units occupy the four corners of the building, so one bedroom in each has windows that wrap around two walls. The bedrooms also have wood floors and en suite bathrooms with showers. (Again, surface materials and colors vary.) Unit No. 1 has its own washer and dryer. The other three share free laundry facilities in the complex.

Outdoor space: The seller did some landscaping of the shared garden, which includes a seating area and a grill. The building does not have parking, but occupants can apply for city permits that cost $60 a year and that allow them to park on the street, in front.

Taxes: $36,000 (estimated)

Contact: Patricia Agudelo, Coldwell Banker Realty, 347-623-7163; coldwellbanker.com

This property in the town of Shawangunk, west of the Hudson River, is the country seat of Cristy Lee McGeehan, an interior designer with a penchant for patterned wallpaper, and her husband, Colan McGeehan, the chief investment officer of Publicis Health Media. The couple are enthusiastic entertainers; to accommodate a regular parade of friends and family as well as corporate retreats, they recently built a log house from reclaimed barn wood near the Greek Revival farmhouse. The furnishings for both homes can be negotiated with the sale.

The houses are about 75 miles north of Manhattan and about 16 miles southwest of New Paltz, in southern Ulster County. Local attractions include mountain preserves, vineyards, orchards and rail trails.

Size: 5,400 square feet (combined)

Price per square foot: $375

Indoors: The yellow clapboard-sided farmhouse, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, includes a traditional double parlor with wide, antique floorboards and rooms separated by pocket doors. Wallpaper in complementary patterns with a lot of black gives a modern Victorian frisson to the rooms. Rustic wood of different shades also makes an appearance on a wall of the sunny front parlor. A brick fireplace with a black-painted mantel is in the rear parlor.

A formal dining room is papered in a mix of more subtle patterns and colors. The homey kitchen has a vaulted beadboard ceiling with exposed brick above the wall cabinets; stainless steel and concrete countertops; and a window seat.

Downstairs, in the original kitchen, with its fireplace designed for cooking, the owners created an exuberant space they describe as a speakeasy and use for karaoke. On the second floor, Ms. McGeehan hand-glued hundreds of scalloped bits of paper to the slanted wall of the master bedroom. Two additional bedrooms also have angled ceilings that follow the rooflines, and the bathroom is a medley of raw brick, white-on-white brocade-patterned paper, hexagonal floor tile and rough concrete for the vanity. There is a vintage tub and a walk-in shower.

In the log house, Ms. McGeehan amped up the eclecticism, using botanical- and animal-themed papers to contrast with the pervasive wood-and-mortar striping. In the downstairs powder room, the animals are dressed in Victorian garb and set within ornate picture frames. In the upstairs bedrooms (each of which has a private bathroom), they portray hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and garlands. There is also a main-floor master suite whose bathroom paper is festooned with silhouetted boats and rosy Chinese lanterns. (You will also find a vanity converted from an American Colonial-style desk, brass sconces sprouting crystals and a very contemporary glass-walled shower.)

Outdoor space: A hot tub, a bandstand, a firepit and several seating areas add to the entertainment value. Alpacas, among other animals, have recently enjoyed the paddock.

Taxes: $14,472

Contact: J.C. Keeler, Heather Croner Real Estate, Sothebys International Realty, 917-603-1946; sothebysrealty.com

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Here's What $2 Million Buys You in Michigan, Florida and New York - The New York Times

WILLCOX, Ariz. A semi tractor-trailer driver died after the truck drove through the City of Willcox Visitors Center Monday.

The driver's identity has not been released by authorities.

According to the City of Willcox, an investigation revealed that the vehicle was going westbound on I-10 near milepost 341 when it suddenly left the roadway to the right, which led to the vehicle driving through a fence and the visitor center.

Witnesses say the vehicle did not apply brakes as it approached the center.

"After traveling - mile the vehicle struck a retaining wall on the north side of the Visitor Center property and continued to travel southbound. The vehicle struck the north side of the building and maintained enough velocity that it traveled through the entire building and exited through the south side of the building," the city said about the crash.

The vehicle then reportedly dropped off its loading drop, causing it to "jackknife" in the Arizona Department of Public Safety's parking lot, narrowly avoiding officers inside the building.

I would like to thank all personnel involved in this incident. Although tragic, this incident again shows how well first responders in rural Arizona come together to accomplish tasks. Thank you to all personnel who had a hand in this. Your dedication to preserving life brings great credit upon yourselves, your agencies and the State of Arizona, Chief Hadfield, Director of the Willcox Department of Public Safety stated.

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Tractor-trailer crashes through Willcox Visitor Center, driver killed - KGUN

NOTICE TO BIDDERS BY THE RIVANNA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY BID FOR THE MCAWRRF ENGINEERING BUILDING ADDITION - RFB NO. 376 Sealed Bids will be received by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, hereinafter called the OWNER, in the Administration Building at the Moores Creek Advanced Water Resource Recovery Facility, 695 Moores Creek Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22902 until 4:00 p.m., local prevailing time on November 20, 2020 and then at said office be publicly opened and read aloud (virtually at the sole discretion of RWSA) for the following: GENERAL CONSTRUCTION: Includes all site preparation work needed for the Addition to the Engineering Building Facility. Site preparation includes site grading; retaining wall construction; asphalt pavement; building foundation work; and water, sewer and electrical utility installation. The foregoing description shall not be construed as a complete description of all work required. Contract Documents may be examined at the following locations: Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, 695 Moores Creek Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22902; Hazen and Sawyer, 4011 West Chase Blvd., Suite 500, Raleigh, NC 27607. Digital copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained through the office of Hazen and Sawyer located at 4011 WestChase Boulevard, Suite 500, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607, at no cost. Inquiries should be directed to Mr. Bret Edwards, P.E. at (919) 755-8588. An optional virtual pre-bid conference will be held on November 4, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to review the scope of work and clarify any aspect of the work that may be in question. Attendance at the virtual pre-bid conference is not mandatory. To obtain a link to the virtual pre-bid conference, contact Scott Schiller, P.E., Engineering Manager at the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority at (434) 977-2970 x206 or sschiller@rivanna.org, or Bret Edwards, P.E. at Hazen at (919) 755-8588 or bedwards@hazenandsawyer.com. A more detailed Notice to Bidders can be seen at http://www.rivanna.org.

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS BY THE RIVANNA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY BID FOR THE MCAWRRF ENGINEERING BUILDING ADDITION - RFB NO. - The Daily Progress

District 47 - West TN NorthernCARROLL 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.

CARROLL COUNTY, SR 22: The resurfacing on SR 22 from the end of the curb and gutter in Clarksburg to Bennetts Lane will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

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-20 (US-412): The resurfacing on SR 20 from US 51 (SR 3) to the Crockett County line will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

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 2): Grading, drainage, construction of eight bridges on future I-69 from south of US 51 (SR 3) to south of US 45W (SR 5) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project.

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.

WEAKLEY COUNTY, SR-22 (US 45E): The repair of the ramp bridge on US 45E (SR 22) over SR 431 will cause the ramp to be closed. A detour to SR 431 is provided.

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.

CROCKETT COUNTY, SR-20:

Wednesday, October 21 through Friday, October 23, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: There will be possible temporary lane closure northbound US 412 (SR 20) near SR 88 overpass for excavation, to build a new cross over.

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, 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, 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

Thursday, October 22 and Friday, October 23, 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 24, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 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.

Monday, October 26 through Wednesday, October 28, 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, 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.: 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. (BACKUP DATE: Sunday, November 1, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.)

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.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-186: The resurfacing on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18), including bridge expansion joint repair and thin epoxy overlay.

Friday, October 23, 7:00 p.m. through Monday, October 26, 6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures both north and southbound on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18) for bridge work.

Sunday, October 25 through Friday, October 30, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures north and southbound for resurfacing on US 45BP (SR 186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18).

LOOK AHEAD

Friday, October 30, 7:00, through Monday, November 2, 6:00 a.m.: Intermittent lane closures both north and southbound on US 45BP (SR186) from Channing Way (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18) 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 (LM 4.40) to Passmore Lane Overpass (LM 8.18).

MCNAIRY COUNTY, SR-57: The resurfacing with hot in place recycling on SR 57 from the Ramer City Limits (LM 12.00) to the Hardin County Line (LM 24.67), including bridge expansion joint repair will cause intermittent lane closures daily.

TDOT District 48 MAINTENANCE:

Wednesday, October 21 through Wednesday, October 28, 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.

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

Wednesday, October 21 through Tuesday, October 27, 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, 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.

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

Thursday, October 22 through Wednesday, October 28, 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-23: Bridge Testing on SR-23 (Union Ave) at Flicker StTuesday, October 27, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR-23 (Union Avenue) near Flicker St MM 2.2 to perform ACM testing on the bridges.

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 22 through Wednesday, October 28, 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.

Monday, October 26 through Tuesday, October 27: 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 22 through Wednesday, October 28, 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 21 through Tuesday, October 27, 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), SR 15 (Shelby County), I-40 (Fayette and Shelby Counties), I-269 (Shelby and Fayette 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 22 through Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be daytime lane closures at various locations on SR-3, MM 10.0MM 24.0 (Lauderdale County), SR-195, MM 3.0-MM3.4 (Fayette County), SR-205, MM 2.3MM 2.5 (Shelby 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 21 through Tuesday, October 27, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at the I-55 southbound EXIT 5A Off ramp to eastbound Brooks Rd, I-55 southbound EXIT 7 On ramp from SR-14, I-55 northbound EXIT 12C Off ramp to Metal Museum Drive, I-240 eastbound EXIT 30 On ramp from Union Avenue, 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, October 28 through Tuesday, November 3, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at 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-55 northbound EXIT 12C Off ramp to Metal Museum Drive, I-240 eastbound EXIT 30 On ramp from Union Avenue, I-240 eastbound EXIT 23B On ramp from southbound Airways Blvd, and I-240 westbound EXIT 17 On ramp from Mt. Moriah. Weather Permitting.

TDOT District 49 Emergency Reference Marker Installation

Sunday, October 25 through Tuesday, October 27, 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: Memphis Cook Convention CenterMonday, October 7, 2019, 6:00 a.m. through Wednesday, October 28, 2020: On October 7, 2019 the exit ramp from I-40 eastbound (Exit 1, Front Street) was fully closed for upgrades to the Memphis Cook Convention Center. The ramp split to Riverside Dr. will remain open. Traffic will be controlled by signage and traffic barrels. Drivers should exercise caution when approaching and traveling through work zones.

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

LOOK AHEAD:Monday, November 2 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.

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

Sunday, October 25, 5:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: ALL lanes will be closed in the NB direction on the I-55 NB on the AR-TN Bridge over the Mississippi River to perform bridge deck repairs.

Detour will be posted.

LOOK AHEAD:

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

Detour will be posted.

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.

See the rest here:
West Tennessee Weekly Construction October 21-28, 2020 - tn.gov

At just 25 years old, Camila Chindoy is seen by many in her community as a possible future governor of the Inga Indigenous reserve of Yunguillo in the Colombian Amazon. If elected, she would also become one of the youngest Indigenous matriarchs in the country.

But Chindoy is a simple woman who doesnt like to talk about the opportunity of occupying the most powerful political position in her community. Shed be in charge of the lives of 1,600 people who reside in Yunguillo. Many of the community leaders, and those who have closely followed her environmental and social work, are convinced that its only a matter of time before this happens.

They point mainly to Chindoys work as a facilitator of the team in charge of implementing the first territorial environmental management plan (POAT) of their community, which started nearly five years ago. Chindoy got involved at the beginning of 2019.

The POAT runs more than a hundred pages, prepared by everyone in this reserve 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Mocoa, the capital of the department of Putumayo in southwestern Colombia. The POAT lists the rules for sustainable growth for the community, whose residents are aware as never before of the enormous responsibility they have in protecting the Amazon. Their location in the Amazon foothills, where the thick jungle merges with the Andes mountain range, is a particularly important pressure point in the regions ecosystem.

After the painstaking three-decade struggle to expand the reserve, in 2015 the area was increased from 4,320 hectares to 26,716 hectares (10,675 acres to 66,017 acres).

Today, as a facilitator, Chindoy has worked hard to meet the POAT objectives, including promoting the protection of the Amazons biodiversity and advocating for the responsible administration of natural resources.

And Chindoys election as the leader of the implementation team occurred at a moment when the community had been hit by one of the worst natural disasters in Putumayos history: the Mocoa mudslide, which occurred in the early hours of April 1, 2017, and left 336 people dead and 70 missing.

That night, an overflow of the Mocoa, Mulato and Sangoyaco rivers destroyed several neighborhoods in Mocoa. Though not as deadly as earlier natural disasters a 1985 volcanic eruption triggered landslides that killed more than 20,000 in the town of Armero in Tolima department, and an earthquake in 1999 killed more than 1,900 in Armenia, in Quindo department the incident was an eye-opener. It raised alarms about the vulnerability of human settlements near rivers, and the need to protect these natural ecosystems from the impacts of overpopulation, illegal mining, and the clearing of forests for new settlements and livestock grazing.

For Chindoy, the social and environmental consequences of that event were the trigger that launched her as one of the most important Indigenous leaders in Putumayo.

Bisney Camila Chindoy Mutumbajoy was born in 1994 in the Yunguillo Indigenous Reserve, which is home to 400 families and falls under the jurisdiction of the four nearby municipal councils of Yunguillo, Osococha, Tandarido and San Carlos.

Daughter of Simn Chindoy, a farmer, and Mara Elvira Mutumbajoy, a school teacher and the first female governor of her community, Chindoy grew up in the reserve with four brothers and three sisters. When she was in the 10th grade, she traveled to Mocoa to finish high school at the Po XII school, the largest in the city.

In 2011, she began studying environmental engineering at the Putumayo Technological Institute. In her seventh semester there, she became pregnant with her daughter, Valery Sofa. In June 2017, she graduated with a project that consisted of the development of a solid-waste management system for Yunguillo, marking the first step in her environmental work with her community.

Just months later, the Mocoa mudslide struck. Chindoy remembers how that day she and her daughter were at her house they shared with Chindoys sisters Paola and Ingrid. As the disaster unfolded, they were reunited with other relatives, including her brother Daniel.

When it all started, my biggest concern was my daughter, who was 2 years old, Chindoy says in a recent phone interview. Water ran down the streets like a river as people tried to escape. I will never forget the loud noise of the water.

Then, as they huddled on a high floor in the dark with dying cellphones, a neighbor came and told them that the San Miguel neighborhood, where her brother Daniel lived, had disappeared under the mud.

Paola and Ingrid went out to look for him in the dark, Chindoy recalls.

When the sisters arrived in San Miguel, they found Daniels apartment gone, and in its place was a pile of rubble. They went to the Mocoa hospital, but didnt find him among the crowd of injured people. At around 9 in the morning they found him about 300 meters, or three blocks, from his house, where he had been dragged by the mudslide. Although badly injured, Daniel was miraculously alive.

The pain that many families suffered is unimaginable and will be felt for a lifetime. Although no one in my family died, many acquaintances did, while others lost everything they had, Chindoy says.

Many had to seek psychological help after the avalanche. Now, every time it rains, we fear the worst.

Chindoy and her family received some aid from the government, such as food and money to pay the rent. But it wasnt much, and we had to get on with our lives and keep working, she says.

Prior to 2017, there had been an alarm about a possible mudslide. And while people had prepared for the worst, it didnt come to pass, which may have explained many peoples complacency when disaster did strike, Chindoy says.

People were confident and that is why many stayed at home when the rivers did overflow, she says. This realization made her understand the urgency of starting to work with her community on prevention and awareness of disasters, using an approach that accounts for the relationship between people and the environment.

A few days after the mudslide, Chindoy began working with the Mocoa mayors office, assisting affected families, providing aid to Indigenous communities, and collaborating in prior consultation processes. By law, Indigenous peoples in Colombia must be consulted by the national government about projects or works proposed in their territories, in order to protect their integrity and traditions.

She says she wasnt aware initially of the latest organizational and community activities of the reserve, having been away during her years of study. But she became increasingly involved in them while supporting the risk management and disaster attention unit in Mocoa.

In December 2017, Chindoy left for Yunguillo. An election would be held later that month to choose a new Indigenous authority for the reserve, who would serve for 2018. The winner was William Chindoy (he is not related to Camila), whose responsibilities included implementing the POAT, the road map to establish the distribution and use of the territory of the reserve following the 2015 expansion.

The challenge now was to put our Pacha Mama to good use, Camila Chindoy says, referring to the deity revered by Indigenous peoples across much of the Andes.

Camila doesnt seem physically strong, but every time she speaks her whole character comes out, says Mara Fernanda Franco, a Putumayo-based member of the Amazon Conservation Team, a nonprofit that works with Indigenous communities. In one of the first meetings she went to with Governor William Chindoy, very few knew her, but she got up and, there, in front of everyone, mostly men, she told her story, Franco says. She said that she had left the reserve to study at the university and prepare, and that she was now returning to help. She asked to be recognized for that effort and be given a job to contribute to her people.

In 2019, the reserve chose a new governor, Juan Carlos Mutumbajoy, who proposed to Chindoy that she work on the POAT. She accepted and was hired on the POAT facilitation team, made up of the leaders of each of the four councils representing the reserve. From that position, Chindoy was to lead the groups activities.

The POAT contemplated the reformulation of the economic activities of the reserve, such as cattle ranching, which, although it generates income for families, also contributes to the imbalance of ecosystems from deforestation and the deterioration of water basins, Chindoy says. We had to understand how to conserve and live in harmony with all the wealth that the Lord has given us. Chindoy, as many Indigenous people in Colombia, shares her communitys traditional beliefs with Catholic faith.

She says that when they were working on the POAT, they remembered that when the mudslide occurred, one of the rivers that overflowed split into two, one part of which passed through an area that had been deforested and destroyed all the houses that had been built there. But the other part passed through a small forest reserve that functioned as a retaining wall, preventing the tragedy from being greater.

That made us reflect on the need to protect river basins, because, just as we have our places where we do our daily activities, rivers also have their home where they must travel freely, Chindoy says. If we go in there they will recover their house, thats why what happened, because the ravine had nowhere else to move its course, but was enclosed within the four walls.

These days, Chindoy approaches conservation of the natural world in terms of partnership.

Nature itself is wise to reflect and realizes that, even though it has provided us with a service, we have always been selfish and think only of ourselves. The avalanche made us ponder how we humans cannot control nature, and we have to adapt to it, not it to us, she adds.

Under Chindoys leadership, the facilitating team also conducted censuses of fauna populations, water resources, and ritual and conservation areas. Among their results, they delivered a complete fish inventory prepared with the help of scientists from universities in the capital, Bogot.

Chindoy also participated in the construction of a checkpoint on the road that leads from Mocoa to Yunguillo, to supervise who enters or leaves the territory. It is mostly foreigners and tourists interested in meeting the taitas, or shamans, and learning about the ayahuasca ritual.

In this way, the team sought to protect the Indigenous people and their rituals, and thus guarantee the security of this community that has been buffeted by violence for decades first by the FARC guerrillas and, more recently, by armed groups involved in drug trafficking and deforestation to grow coca and mine illegally.

In its final pages, the POAT establishes simple rules on how economic practices should be transformed in such a way that they protect natural resources, and dictates the total area that should be dedicated to conservation.

Chindoy sees responsibility for carrying out the POAT as resting with every community member.

Now we are in the implementation stage and, for this year, we will start work in the brooks, which are affected by bad practices in agriculture and livestock, because we know that water is one of the most vulnerable resources in the world, Chindoy says.

One of the episodes for which Chindoys work gained widespread recognition in her community came in October 2018, when she supported authorities in efforts to denounce and demand justice for the murder by unknown assailants of three young men from the council of Osococha.

She took the initiative to organize a commission with traditional authorities of the Yunguillo reserve, which traveled to Bogot to demand justice from national authorities such as the Attorney Generals Office, the Ombudsmans Office, the National Protection Unit, and the Ministry of the Interior. They managed to obtain security guarantees for community members leading social processes and for the community leadership due to come into office in 2019, including then-governor Mutumbajoy.

When we arrived in Bogot we realized that the prosecutors office had no reports of what had happened. That caused us outrage, because it is a sign of the abandonment of Indigenous communities, and a proof that we are only visible to the government during times of political campaign and elections. Its very painful for us, Chindoy says.

On one occasion during that period, she says, she was walking along a road with her mother when they were intimidated and threatened by a group of men. These situations led us to wonder if we should continue with the processes, because we were afraid that something would happen to us, Chindoy says, adding that, in the end, they decided that the best thing for their safety was to leave the cases in the hands of the authorities.

For all this, many within Yunguillo believe that Chindoy can follow in her mothers footsteps and become governor of the reserve. If successful, she would become one of the youngest Indigenous leaders in her department and in Colombia. Nidia Becerra, who was governor during three consecutive periods, from 2014 to 2016, was first elected when she was just 26 years old.

Even though it might seem strange that a community can have such young leaders, age does not play an important role for the Inga people when choosing a governor. Instead, it is more taken into consideration the fact of belonging to a family taitas, political leaders or educators, which is Camilas case, whose mother is a school teacher and Principal. Not to mention that she was the first female governor of the reserve.

The main qualities that anyone who wants to lead the community are the will and desire to work, because the governors do not earn any salary, says Richard Macas, the current governor of Yunguillo. I think Camila can become the governor because she has shown the will and because all that professional knowledge she has can be channeled for the success of the community.

In this reservation, elections for governor take place during the last months of the year. The candidates for this position are postulated by the community and the elders, and there are two ways in which a candidate can be elected: by an unanimous decision or via elections. Who gets elected will rule for the next year, starting in January.

Former governor Juan Carlos Mutumbajoy says there are several challenges that whoever assumes this position must face.

The biggest is that one must leave his family aside and give himself 100% to the community. One is the father, the judge and the administrator. So the commitment is very great and one has to find solutions and manage resources for the development of the community he says.

Mara Elvira Mutumbajoy, Chindoys mother, says her daughters commitment to her people has been such that she has rejected job offers with important companies to stay and work for the community in the reserve.

She is a humble, simple and responsible woman, and she has been very tolerant, since she has never had problems with the community, Mara Elvira says. She has carried out the processes that she has proposed, always thinking of the benefit of all. She has us in her heart and values the cultural identity linked to her territory very much.

Her arrival at the governorship would be important because although traditionally Indigenous communities have had matriarchal systems, in recent years we have seen how machismo has increased, mainly since the evangelization processes began by religious congregations and as a copy of the Western societies, she adds. I think it is very important to rescue those ancestral values in which women, as the ancestors say, directed most of our decisions.

In recent months, Chindoy has continued to work on the application of the POAT road map and raising awareness about the importance of caring for nature and taking care of the Amazon, including addressing global issues such as climate change.

We cannot be oblivious to what happens in the rest of the world, because it affects us in many ways, for example by altering our sowing and harvest calendars, Chindoy says. Before, the grandparents had identified the dry and rainy seasons, but now that has changed and we do not know when they will occur, and this is because of the global issue of climate change.

We, as Indigenous people, have a mission to protect resources, Chindoy adds. In the future, the conflicts will be over water, one of our most important resources here in the Amazon so we will continue working to take care of it.

Banner image: Camila Chindoy (r) during one of the final meetings for the validation and socialization of the TEMP document. Photo courtesy of the Amazon Conservation Team.

Read more:
Camila Chindoy, the Indigenous daughter poised to lead her Amazon community - Mongabay.com