End the parking lot roadblock

Let’s see: The library, city and school district agreed to build a parking lot for their new campus. The library said they would do it and the three would share costs and responsibilities. So far so good.

The parking lot didn’t get finished before it snowed and the contractor told the library he would finish it in the spring, and take care of any winter damage. So far so good. But if it is used, the contractor also said he didn’t want to pay for damage if some bonehead spun cookies on the unpaved gravel, and the city should keep them out or pay for the damage.

Ah, not so good anymore.

What happened to cooperation? The city doesn’t want all the responsibility. The school district just wants safe parking for employees. The library has the contract with the paving company.

We suggest everybody go back to looking at the current contract. If an idiot damages the parking lot today, who pays? Someone needs to quit trying for leverage because of the change in schedule.

If that parking lot continues to be used only for storing snow drifts and a school employee falls in the middle of Camp Polk/Locust trying to get to work, the current squabble over someone spinning a few circles and digging up gravel will look pretty silly.

Eric Dolson

Editor/publisher