Big Municipal Project

[NS'Creter]

As most of you know I've been chasing a very large municipal project for quite a while now. The municipality hired an outside design firm and after looking at their work on their site I got worried. They were supposed to contact me as per the instructions from the town...never did. Real worried. Anyway, I was speaking with the engineer in charge of the project about another matter and he brought up this big project. He's still as "sold" on what I do and still wants me to do the sidewalks and more. That's cool. He says that it's still moving ahead but is moving very slowly...he said to "Keep the faith.". Okey-dokey. I can do that. So I guess that maybe it's not dead in the water...it's just a wait and see situation.

[Lindy]

Glad to hear that this prospective project was not lost at sea. ;D Sounds like this guy through you a life preserved, keeping your company afloat/in the running.

If this plays out in your favor, you could probably live he life of Riley (whoever that lucky fellow was)... this fictitious ,or perhaps real, character must have strolled easily through life without hitting any roadblocks along the way (as 99.9% of the rest of us find ourselves trying to cope and dealing with on a daily basis).

Lindy

[NS'Creter]

Riley? I've heard of that guy...sounds like he had 'er made. The other side of the coin would be Murphy from the infamous Murphy's law I suppose. I've had a Murphy's Law streak for the last couple of years it seems. I'm ready to try Riley's life...who isn't?
The job, if it happens...and in the scope/size that was discussed is definately a life changer. From the research I've done it would be the largest project of this type on the planet. Next meeting with the engineer I'm gonna throw that little trivia tidbit at him. What municipal engineer wouldn't want to boast that fact? It would also generate a lot of attention toward the town I would think. I know I'll be shoutin' it from the rooftops if it happens. ;D
Maybe it's my ego, probably is...but what a legacy that would be. My future grandchildren could point at it and be proud (I hope). Maybe it's wrong of me to think that way?

[alexwright]

What exactly does it all intel more or less? My town is looking for ideas on sprucing up a local park next to the city hall and is used in all the parades and is the site for the big fireworks display where we have the San Diego based Marine Band play evry year during the 4th of July festivities. I have been meaning to get over there and talk somebodies ear off but, I keep getting sidetracked all the time. Maybe I can get over there tomorrow. I have 4 appointments tomorrow all spread out over San Diego so a busy schedule.

[alexwright]

I recently drove by a local business and someone stained all of their parking lot and all the curbs, it looks really nice and unique.

[Lindy]

Murphy, as in Murphy's Law, can definitely be a ghost like gremlin that pops in and out of our lives. He comes in like a hurricane and can be quite devastating at any given time.

Bar the doors and lock the gates to keep Murphy out.

[NS'Creter]

I hear that Lindy! Alex, the bulk of the project, as discussed, is to stain and engrave all of the downtown sidewalks. At last calculation that totalled in the vicinity of 175,000sqft . There are also little parks with gazebos and patios which they would like to have done. There is a major facelift planned for the library. Of course the project involves more than this but these are the portions which was discussed for me to do.
The doodles from the overpaid design firm have been released. Some were featured on the front page of the newspaper. I hope that the town decides against using some of the details I saw. The sketches I saw weren't good enough to be classed as second rate. For that pile of crap well into six figures has been squandered. I was unaware of the design portion going out to tender...when I first spoke with the engineer I offered to work with them and design for free...I expect that the other contractors would do the same. The engineer was clearly disappointed that they had made a commitment with the firm prior to my offer. I did leave some of my initial sketches with them and all 3 engineers loved them. They are protected as my property also.
The engineers love the stain and engrave concept. It will save well over $100,000.00 in replacement of sidewalks alone. They love my sketches and suggestions. It's taking some time, but I feel like I'm "in". I'm a little afraid to be hopeful (given that whole Murphy thing)...but I am a little bit.

[alexwright]

Wow! It sounds like there is plenty of work for some of us to go help. At least for some out in the east coast. Yeah, I have looked at our city sidewalks and they are in ugly shape. Well just ugly. Our downtown sidewalks are made of concrete tiles or stepping stone types. It would be great to stain them all in different colors. My concern would be the sealer maintenance. I don't think the city would bite into that. But it does'nt hurt to ask or bring it up. I think I will actually. Our downtown is trying to mimick downtown San Diego nightlife and we have a Center of the Arts where ballets and symphonies and concerts and plays take place. Plus every year for about 4 months on Fridays they have an oldies cars gathering on the main street and it gets lots of attendance.

[alexwright]

I also looked into the park renovation thing today and I read it wrong. Thay are looking for activities that will bring more people to the park. I read it as saying a renovation to bring more people to the park. I bet a renovation would bring more people. At this same park they recently put up a Armed Services Memorial and I talked to the lady on site that was responsible for making this happen and I told her I was a resident here in town and a business owner and Marine Corps veteran and I would like to stain the concrete and do the maintenance on it for free at my expense and she said she would bring it up in the meeting but to not hold my breath because they struggled just to bring the memorial in on donations they raised themselves and barely got approved and anything else done to it would probably take an act of Congress to get it to pass at that point. I just have to keep plugging away at this. Plus when I went to City Hall which is also connected to this park I see it is ugly as can be and could use my touch on it. The designs are already in place in how they had it all poured its just bland and has no life to it. I am also going to bring this up. I wonder if I could attend a City Council meeting and bring it up? It would be perfect because I could give my spill in front of everyone and put the idea there plus maybe at least raise their interest for their home or other projects. I went to a large organic food chain today that is building a larger store next to their existing one here in town but the floor is already spoken floor but the superinten. said another store is going to be built here in San Diego and he'll consider me on that one. These are probably 10 or 15,000 sq ft or more. And all they are doing to this one is sealing it, no color. I gave him a card and brochure. Trying to get this resort in town that I did some samples for.

[NS'Creter]

That's all we can do Alex...keep plugging away at it. When I approached people I found that they weren't exactly gettin' what I was sayin'. I started doing sketches and/or SALES depictions to bring along for those calls. It definately made a difference. I would get the "OooooooH...that's what you meant." ....I guess as simple as the concept is for us to grasp, others don't get quite as easily.
I knew that the wheels of government jobs moved slowly, but I'm a bit shocked with how slowly progress is being made here.