Why governments are so stingy with information after the fact is rather obvious. Consider the legitimate concern that SaskPower simply did not do its due diligence on its smart meter deal with Sensus.

Despite recovering $24 million by convincing the U.S.-based company to take back the faulty devices, this deal will still wind up costing ratepayers millions in installation and removal costs.

Of course, we don't know whether SaskPower did or didn't do its diligence. It keeps putting up roadblocks to getting to the bottom of this, including a $57,000 bill sent to this newspaper - the supposed cost of four Freedom of Information requests about the selection of Sensus, exemptions for installers, malfunctions and communication with Sensus.

But such disclosure shouldn't be just an after-the-fact matter. Even more critical for governments is to be open and accountable to the citizenry before expenditures are made.

And unless it's another Spudco, in which the former NDP government promoted a project as being something it clearly never was (it was an almost-exclusively government enterprise sold to the public as a public-private partnership), then there's no good reason for the public not to have information before a project starts.

This takes us to the puzzling matter of the public-private Regina bypass project and the government's reluctance to provide the public with all the information individuals are requesting on the route chosen for this project.

In fact, concerned citizens have started a Facebook group entitled "Why Tower Road?" - a reference to the north-south road running west of CTV's Regina station - as the location for this bypass's eastern end.

Admittedly, those pushing for more information - who state their goal is make the government take a "sober second look" at the Tower Road location as they push for the bypass to end a mile further east at Gravel Pit Road - are hardly dispassionate observers.

Nester Mryglod is a co-owner in Super Seamless of Canada - a siding company that plans to relocate its operations on land it owns near the city bypass.

But that certainly doesn't negate the validity of questions he and others are raising on the "Why Tower Road?" Facebook page.

Read more here:
Mandryk: Group says government bypassing disclosure

(PRWEB) September 30, 2014

Plycem USA had plenty to celebrate last week when ground broke on the colossal, new master-planned community, Runway Playa Vista in West Los Angeles. Plycems new fiber cement brand, Allura, was the fiber cement siding choice by General Contractor, George Pondella of Rossmoyne Construction due to its superior moisture defense and value engineering. The legendary runway once gave rise to Howard Hughes aerospace empire and will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind lifestyle center in coastal Playa Vista and is due for completion next summer.

Allura has a willingness to support our endeavors with the right specifications to make projects work, said George Pondella, of Rossmoyne, Inc. Their field observation process is supportive and helpful, unlike other manufacturers, and the product arrived ready to install.

Engineered by building scientists, Allura with EasyTrim Reveals provides solutions to aesthetics, performance, finishes and cost value over other sidings. After analyzing costly metal panel systems, the architects agreed that Allura provided the best value for the Runway project. Allura offers easy install guidelines that are developed to fit common rain screen applications, which helps reduce labor on a project, bringing added value engineering into almost any application.

I was determined to prove that Allura was a better choice for cladding on the Runway Project, said Melanie Hindi, Territory Manager for Allura. The architectural firm KTGY was looking at leading competitors for the job, but I convinced them that our product was a better alternative over other brands. My research stated that Allura with EasyTrim Reveals would provide advantages and technology efficiencies by reducing installation times by more than 50% over ordinary trims on the market today.

Because Allura is a Plycem brand, it has been formulated with advanced fiber cement technology enhancing its flexural strength, long-lasting moisture defense and protection from UV rays. Backed by a 50-year warranty, Alluras advanced fiber cement products will continually adapt to any climate, stand up to salt spray and will withstand winds up to 200mph.

In order to get Runway at Playa Vista off the ground, developers Lincoln Property, Phoenix Property and Paragon Commercial Group acquired a $150 million loan that allowed for construction to begin on the $260 million Runway that will feature 420 apartments, 35,000 square feet of office space and 221,000 square feet of retail. Since Playa Vista is minutes from the Pacific Ocean, Pondella wanted Allura Fiber Cement Products for the multi-family, mixed-use and commercial properties on the exterior cladding surfaces and specialty custom work.

Distributor of Allura, Capital Lumber boasted about its exceptional advantages. Capital is excited to be the distributor of Allura fiber cement products, said Grant Pearsall, Branch Manager for Capital. It offers superior quality and the best aesthetics, plus program support.

With the anticipated stores at the Runway opening just in time for the 2014 holiday shopping season, the main tenant structures are ready for build-out and the landscaping and underground irrigation systems are underway. Allura fiber cement siding installation will begin on commercial stores at Runway, including Whole Foods Superstore and Cinemark multiplex.

For more information about Allura USA, please visit http://www.alluraUSA.com/runway

Link:
Multi-Million Dollar Runway Playa Vista Project Picks Allura for Protection

When Wendy Davis visited Odessa last month, the Democratic Partys candidate for governor made a campaign stop at a local crisis center for women.

She went on the attack, railing against her opponent. She received high praise from the centers director, forcing our newspaper to ask why the center would get involved with a gubernatorial candidate right in the middle of the race. At the time, we said we hope Midlands nonpartisan nonprofits dont put their respective facilities front and center in a political race like this, because the residents seeking their services dont do so as Democrats or Republicans.

The Odessa Hispanic Chamber of Commerces annual banquet and installation of officers was Wednesday. Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican running for governor, was the guest speaker.

According to our reporter at the event, Abbotts appearance did provide a contrast with Davis event. Abbott didnt bring up his opponent during his 17-minute speech that was filled with talking points weve heard before, and the Hispanic Chamber didnt offer a virtual endorsement of the GOP candidate.

Still, Abbotts appearance at the event fits into the gray area we hope Midlands nonpartisan organizations dont follow. During campaign season, if a high-profile candidate appears at your banquet or function, please make sure the candidate from the other major party has had an opportunity to speak.

We would prefer to see organizations not being seen as siding with one candidate or one party.

Laurel

For the family of Steve and Mai Johnson. The Samaritan Counseling Center of West Texas is honoring Steve, Mai, Kate and Ben as its pick for Midlands family of the year. We commend the group on its choice -- a family that is an example of overcoming adversity. Mai suffered a brain injury 3 1/2 years ago, and just as she works through rehab, the family sees its place as being able to not only survive but thrive. And they see their role as helping others who go through a similar situation.

Arrow

- For the editor. On Tuesday, we had a story about the renewal of the contract to manage the Horseshoe, and the headline didnt really portray what the article was about. While county commissioners are deciding on the path going forward as it pertains to the managers contract, there is no reason to believe that the current manager will be replaced. The headline indicated that was a possibility.

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Our View: Residents benefiting from nonprofits shouldnt require political affiliation

In August, Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council moved into the second year of a two-year grant for its Homebuyer Program. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) awarded the council $700,000 in assistance funding, which is still available to eligible low-income applicants.

According to Robert Schroeder, Western Egyptian's housing coordinator, program funding assists residents in Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Monroe Counties with down payment and closing costs, home repairs and homebuyer education.

The program provides assistance up to $10,000 in down payment and closing costs, which is forgiven over a five or ten year period and becomes a grant. There are no payments and no interest charges for this assistance.

The program also provides funding for repairs to the home, typically up to $24,000. The kind of rehabilitation homes may receive includes needed repairs or replacements to roofing, siding, installation, windows, doors, electrical, furnace and plumbing. Rehabilitation helps bring homes up to at least the Section 8 Housing Quality Standards.

To be eligible applicants must have a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income, must be able to qualify for a loan from a participating lender, and must occupy the property to be rehabilitated as their main residence.

Western Egyptian is a not for profit service organization which was chartered in 1965, with an 18-member board of directors, serving Jackson, Monroe, Perry, and Randolph Counties. The board consists of public officials, low- income representatives and members of major organizations and groups of the community.

Western Egyptian provides a range of services, other than its Homebuyer Program, which utilize available resources to deal with problems of low income and disadvantaged residents.

For more information call 618-965-3193 or visit weeoc.org.

Link:
Homebuyer assistance grant moves into final year

Siding Installation Work Ottawa - Lucas Contracting is Hiring!
http://lucascontracting.ca/apply Job Description: A siding installer is a tradesperson who is responsible for the installing of siding products to the exteri...

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Siding Installation Work Ottawa - Lucas Contracting is Hiring! - Video

9/25/2014 - West Side Leader

The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and ringing of the school bell at 3:15 p.m., followed by a brief program about the buildings history and information about rehabilitation of the building. City of Akron Director of Planning and Urban Development Marco Sommerville and other officials are scheduled as speakers, and the interior of the building will be open for viewing.

On Feb. 4, the City of Akron approved the designation of the building as a local Historic Landmark.

Information on renting the building for meetings and other gatherings will be available, and light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public.

According to PAGA officials, Preservation House was constructed in 1870 for $1,450 and originally served as a Portage Township School District building for students in grades one through eight. In 1930, the building became the property of the City of Akron School District.

On Oct. 24, 1932, the school district sold the schoolhouse to the Public Library Board of the City of Akron, and during the 1930s and 1940s it was used as a library, according to PAGA officials.

The building functioned as a school again in the early 1950s to accommodate overflow from Fairlawn Elementary School, PAGA officials added. From 1958 to 2008, the building was used as a meeting place for the Fairlawn Park Garden & Civic Center.

In April 2009, the City of Akron signed an agreement that gave PAGA the use of the building for its headquarters for 10 years, according to PAGA, which actively encourages and promotes the preservation, maintenance, restoration and adaptive reuse of buildings, sites and neighborhoods that are of historic or architectural significance in Akron and Summit County.

Over the past five years, PAGA officials state almost $200,000 has been raised to renovate Preservation House, with Mark Gilles, of ARRC Inc., hired to serve as a preservation/restoration architect.

The first phase of restoration work began with the exterior and included relocating the furnace to the attic in 2009; the removal of the cinder block furnace room and rebuilding the east vestibule exterior walls and siding in 2010; the installation of a brick walkway and ramp to access the east entrance of the building, a new cedar shingle roof and new front doors and windows for the east vestibule in 2011; a new cedar shingle roof with copper flashing for the main building and south vestibule in 2012, as well as re-siding the south vestibule, with the entrance door replaced by a window, landscaping the area and adding air-conditioning.

Read the original here:
PAGA to showcase Preservation House renovations

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Canadian National Railroad officials said the planned re-location of a road in Mt. Airy will improve traffic flow in the area.

Posted: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 11:45 pm

Road move will help Mt. Airy traffic By Monique Roth LObservateur L'Observateur |

MT. AIRY Canadian National Railroad officials said the planned re-location of a road in Mt. Airy will improve traffic flow in the area.

The project will include removal of the existing railroad crossing at Daffodil Street, installation of a cul-de-sac on the north side of the railroad crossing and construction of a roadway connecting Daffodil Street and Marquez Street on the south side of the railroad track.

The majority of the construction will take place on the south side of the railroad track between Daffodil and Marquez Street.

CN officials said the new road will be a re-route of a road that goes through a future, extended rail siding, a location where trains frequently stop. This project, funded by CN, eliminates the road through that rail siding.

The project began Sept. 17, and CN officials said it is expected to last about 30 days, with the existing road crossing being removed at the end of October. It will remain open until then.

Residents will have access to their homes, and road closures are not expected throughout the duration of the project; however, flagmen will be on site as a precaution. Construction crews will work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

See original here:
Road move will help Mt. Airy traffic

Building a house involves three stages. This article will describe materials for a house with a raised foundation in the form of a crawlspace over dirt or a basement with a concrete floor. Step one is excavating and building the raised foundation. Next, the homes framework must be erected from lumber and enclosed. Finally, the interior must be finished. Construction materials needed will largely determine a homes cost. Figuring out how to save on specific materials starts with listing everything that will be needed.

Foundation

The foundation of a home is built of concrete poured into narrow ditches called footings. The footings supply a firm foundation for cinder blocks to be laid to create the homes crawlspace or basement. Plastic sheeting should be placed over 75 percent of the crawlspace dirt. Leave some dirt exposure so moisture can penetrate floor joists and prevent dry rot. Pour a concrete floor for a full basement. Plastic sheeting and waterproofing material must be placed on the exterior of the basement walls. Metal flashing will be placed on top of the cinder blocks before the homes framework is built.

Exterior and framework

Lumber needed to build your home includes dozens of two by eight boards, two by sixes and two by fours. The framework must have an exterior sheathing made of either four-foot by eight-foot plywood or compressed fiberboard. Rolls of fiberglass insulation are needed for the attic, all exterior walls between framework and siding and under the floor joists. Hard foam sheets can be used in the outside walls instead. Brick or siding goes directly over hard foam insulation.

Roof and exterior

Roofing materials include tar paper and asphalt or fiberglass shingles. Some homes will require a metal roof. Vents for the kitchen and bath must go on this list. Bricks, vinyl, or masonry siding will be needed for the entire exterior. Special cut or stacked stones might be required as well.

Windows, doors, and sliding glass doors and garage doors on tracks will be on the list of a homes enclosure needs.

Interior with electric and plumbing

Drywall, sub-flooring in the form of plywood or particle board, paint, floor coverings and tile for the kitchen and bathrooms will be needed for the homes interior.

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Check list for building your own new home

By Annabel Fenwick Elliott for MailOnline

Published: 17:15 EST, 19 September 2014 | Updated: 18:20 EST, 19 September 2014

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At first glance, these abstract structures may look like futuristic furniture pieces, which they are in a sense - but not for humans.

They're custom-built shelters for outdoor, stray and feral cats, submitted by 14 U.S. architecture firms as part of a fundraiser forArchitects for Animals, a nonprofit which raises awareness for animals by building better shelters to house them.

The fun and inventive structures - which offer cats refuge, protection from the harsh outside world, and playtime - were all designed pro-bono, and then donated to FixNation, a free Los Angeles-based spray-and-neuter group.

Nifty: Because cats are able to squeeze into any shape that is the same width as their skulls, this structure gives them sneaky cover from less agile predators, according to Formation + EdgarArceneaux Architecture

Formation Association + Edgar Arceneaux architecture firm designed their shelter with a 'continuous rib system' which forms 'sanctuary spaces and safe passages for feral cats.'

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Architects for Animals design intricate outdoor dwellings for stray cats

Extensive renovations on Barringtons White House began last month, and crews are now preparing for one of the most dramatic construction phases: replacing the roof on the 19th-century mansion on Main Street.

Its going to be pretty dramatic next week, project coordinator Beth Raseman said.

Raseman said work will begin next week as crews prepare to remove the entire roof, waterproof the third floor and remove the walls, which will open the third floor and allow for the 150-seat banquet hall that is planned for the finished project. The new roof also will allow for more headroom on the third floor.

Raseman said a steel support system will be added for the roof, which will have the same dimensions and scope as the existing roof. Fire-resistant cedar siding, new windows and a new chimney will also be built.

Once work on the roof is completed and the weather turns cooler, Raseman said extensive interior renovations will begin including installation of new windows and floors, restoration of existing windows and floors, drywall installation and mechanical and plumbing work.

Since breaking ground on the project July 22, Raseman said construction crews started by removing trees and shrubs and, more recently, have been waterproofing the foundation by installing a water barrier around the house.

Raseman said work on the foundation has unearthed some interesting finds, including a 12-foot cistern.

Unfortunately, we had to fill it in because it was too close to the foundation, she said.

Raseman said other unexpected finds included a slightly charred geography book from the 1850s, newspapers from the 1950s and a variety of old door knobs.

Also as part of the foundation work, Raseman said the basement is being excavated and new drain tiles and a new floor are being installed.

View original post here:
Construction workers raise roof on Barrington White House