Horrible City of Calgary Services

[interlude]

Hey guys, what are the steps (besides calling 311) to complain about horrible city of calgary services? Specifically the back lane repair program. The back lane was also not packed, just very loose dirt everywhere.

I think I get more mud on my car/truck than a day out in Waiporous. They have dug is so deep, they changed the grade to all the neighbours garages. Being an old neighborhood in Silver Springs, all the houses are at different grades. Lowering the grade is just going to cause alot of issues, as well.. they are just leaving it as dirt.

Every year when people call 311, they respond saying it will be corrected during the annual back lane repair program. Which ends up being shit work.

Pics:

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii208/wonger123/For%20Sale/EBCC605C-CD7C-47E1-A43A-0E3D5B7B4D0E_zpsihmstf45.jpg (http://s265.photobucket.com/user/wonger123/media/For%20Sale/EBCC605C-CD7C-47E1-A43A-0E3D5B7B4D0E_zpsihmstf45.jpg.html)
This photo shows a hole thats been here for 3 years!!! They NEVER fix it, instead, they leave pylons around it, and fuck up the alley more. This is the other side of our alley, the middle was paved (probably 30 years ago). But this side of the alley has proper gravel packing. The other side where I live does not.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii208/wonger123/For%20Sale/5E72D6FD-BAC4-4E9B-AC12-60F33C6D4B24_zpspa2yunpk.jpg (http://s265.photobucket.com/user/wonger123/media/For%20Sale/5E72D6FD-BAC4-4E9B-AC12-60F33C6D4B24_zpspa2yunpk.jpg.html)
Here is a photo of someone's eaves trough drainage end (whatever you call it) that was torn out during the re-grade, and was left there by the awesome city workers.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii208/wonger123/For%20Sale/5947E6AA-CF9A-434D-86C3-BB94D505A95C_zpsqhtzhkx1.jpg (http://s265.photobucket.com/user/wonger123/media/For%20Sale/5947E6AA-CF9A-434D-86C3-BB94D505A95C_zpsqhtzhkx1.jpg.html)
Its hard to tell, but they have pretty much created a dirt curb that all neighbors have to climb to get into their garage. They essentially dug it deeper by almost 6-8 inches. Not only that, its uneven, half the alley is 2 inches higher than the other side.

You can tell by the dark (moist) dirt compared to the dry stuff.

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii208/wonger123/For%20Sale/DB6A0EF3-77F0-46FE-8676-EDB2C3D26A95_zpsm0ckxgeg.jpg (http://s265.photobucket.com/user/wonger123/media/For%20Sale/DB6A0EF3-77F0-46FE-8676-EDB2C3D26A95_zpsm0ckxgeg.jpg.html)

This one shows it the best (dirt curb)

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii208/wonger123/For%20Sale/41B71FC4-9582-4938-8919-4079CC790BA1_zpsyhflecdu.jpg (http://s265.photobucket.com/user/wonger123/media/For%20Sale/41B71FC4-9582-4938-8919-4079CC790BA1_zpsyhflecdu.jpg.html)
I hope this shit is fixed by the next rain/snow fall.. its going to be muddy as fuck.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Tik-Tok]

When did they start that?

Everytime they do our alley, it takes 1-2 weeks between grading, and adding new dirt/gravel.

[kenny]

Round up the neighbors and get the alley fully paved :)

[interlude]

Originally posted by Tik-Tok
When did they start that?

Everytime they do our alley, it takes 1-2 weeks between grading, and adding new dirt/gravel.

They graded it last month, and graded it again on monday. I hope you're right, but there are NO signs posted at the alley entrance with dates.

They did this last year too, just grade a layer of dirt away, exposing loose dirt and leaving it.

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Roads/Pages/Road-Maintenance/Gravel-lane-repair.aspx

Also, the website posted that the "fix" to the alleys for Silver Spring was completed Oct 15.



Originally posted by kenny
Round up the neighbors and get the alley fully paved :)

I already started that process last year, and already received all the paperwork. My neighbor will talk to the other neighbors, since he owns 2 houses on my block and will build a garage next year. the 50% vote will work in my favor :) But it wont be until next year.

[88CRX]

Looks like my alley! I harassed 311 non-stop and they are basically useless. Nothing got fixed.

I emailed my alderman and that got the ball rolling. They ended up getting me in touch with my community liaison that basically told roads to get their shit together. 2 days later they re-graded the lane again (second time this summer as the first time fucked it up and made it even worse) and dumped a whole bunch of new gravel.

Basically the roads department is useless and lazy and doesn't give two shits.

[EK 2.0]

Originally posted by 88CRX

Basically municipal services are useless and lazy and don't give two shits.

FIXED...

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by interlude

Also, the website posted that the "fix" to the alleys for Silver Spring was completed Oct 15.

I already started that process last year, and already received all the paperwork. My neighbor will talk to the other neighbors, since he owns 2 houses on my block and will build a garage next year. the 50% vote will work in my favor :) But it wont be until next year.

That's not a good sign, lol.

I wish you luck with the alley paving. Most of my neighbors signed to have ours paved, and then the cost came out. Subsequently another petition went around to have it cancelled, and it won, by one...fucking..vote. My in-laws vote, who pretty much already knew they were moving eventually, but signed anyways. :banghead:

[suntan]

Well Christ if the city paid more money to its employees then of course they'd do better work.

[interlude]

Originally posted by suntan
Well Christ if the city paid more money to its employees then of course they'd do better work.

You must work for the city. Can you tell your buddy to come fix it? I'll even pay him extra.

As for the comment about the pay, be happy to have a job.

[suntan]

Sarcasm whoosh.

[CanmoreOrLess]

Call your alderman, it is their job. Apply heat.

[jacky4566]

Originally posted by CanmoreOrLess
Call your alderman, it is their job. Apply heat.

This. Or to go even further write a well composed letter with your photos to the Mayor and Council.

Or pave it yourself with your neighbours helping to pay.

Or just start mailing the Anthrax Virus. That solves everything.

[rage2]

Letters get nowhere. Time to tweet the mayor.

[jwslam]

Originally posted by rage2
Letters get nowhere. Time to tweet the mayor.
140 characters at a time. Include many hashtags.

[killramos]

Originally posted by kenny
Round up the neighbors and get the alley fully paved :)

I would kill for this personally but somehow i don't think i would be able to get it past the dude who parks his mini van on the lawn.

NE gotta NE!

[tenth]

Originally posted by CanmoreOrLess
Call your alderman, it is their job. Apply heat.
Yup. I have worked in municipal government before, and the issues that received the most attention by our branch were those pressed by councilors/alderman and journalists.

Just have to hope your alderman will have someone from his office actually care/follow-up.

[interlude]

UPDATE:

So my call to the city yesterday was escalated, since I asked the supervisor to call me. I didn't think they would actually call.

So today, the foreman on shift called. She said that yes, it was not done properly and will get it fixed. Coincidentally, I was working from home today and she was assessing the back lane. I went out back to meet her, and she said she will get a grader to come back and fix everything, but wont be able to lift the dirt/gravel to where it was before (which totally sucks).

They will also dump "armor", which is a small layer of 35mm gravel. Problem is that there is alot of loose dirt/clay now. So who knows how it will hold up.

My next call after will be the alderman. The issue is that the city is grading away so much of the alley, everybody has small hill to climb into the alley. My wifes car is 1.75 inches from bottoming out when pulling into the garage in her impreza (stock).


To beyond: No, I dont have pics of her.. and No, she was not hot.

[88CRX]

Originally posted by interlude

They will also dump "armor", which is a small layer of 35mm gravel. Problem is that there is alot of loose dirt/clay now. So who knows how it will hold up.

I think that's what they did to mine... its lasted great so far but there has been basically zero rain. I imagine it will be all gone (either washed away or pushed into the dirt) by spring time.

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by interlude


To beyond: No, I dont have pics of her.. and No, she was not hot.

Lol

[Maxt]

311 is just this for humans.