OT--Small town, big government -cement sidewalks

I've been getting beat up by the town boys. We poured a sidewalk over the top of the old one for about 40 ft on a 100 ft sidewalk. They have no problem with elevation, we meet specks on both ends (30 ft each end)for wheelchairs.

We also rather than buy gravel under the part we broke out, we just took over run from the cement company (free) for about 4"-6" of fill, then we made the top pour all in one pour.

The city claims it is not allowed to have anything poured over the top, even to the effect we have to tear out all concrete and compact gravel up to grade---instead of using the free concrete.

They make no mention of ---ANY REINFORCMENT of any kind.

I have offered to have them drive around town and find ---ANY flaw with my projects, or ANY--yes that is ANY cracks in ANY SIDEWALK that I have poured since 1971. We use rebar and compaction / good drainage. They are pitted from salt, but not a crack you can see. Yet the law says I must tear it out and compact gravel under the slab. And the way it reads I can not pour 4" today, and top coat with a additional 4".

They claim they can make me tear it out, been doing this for years, and now the new man points out the laws. I did see it in writting myself.

As much as we can tell the law was changed years ago by the help of a contractor needing work, and a slop house friend of a few city elected officials.

I can't even imagine them beating this dead a$$ issue. I can't think of any law I do abide by in this town of 700. I have seen almost every cops wife naked, and lived here since 77, so we are all friends. My opinion is very well resected in the fire department, and EMS, or for that matter alot of other city business. They often ask for my opinion. I'm very good friends with all but one elected official. Never had any hard times with him either, other than this round of not saking him before I poured. I knew of the code prior to pouring, and got permission from three members--one on one before I poured. Three are the majority, so did not give it a second thought.

There are numerous sidewalks poured in the last thirty years that do not so much as make handicap standards.

The new guy has been on the job since Jan 1, and is taking a job in another town this week. But I still have a case of red A$$ that such laws are on the books.

All cement truck drivers are asking --EVERY contractor if they see any comon sence in this law. Not a single one since they started asking in April first.

So any explination as to why the law could be on the books. By the way the city worker is my friend, just that he was trying to do his job, and I blew him off. He simply asked why it's on the books, and being it is, why no reinforcment.

Again I don't think they have a snowballs chance in ---. I also told them if they can find one contractor that knows his head from his ---that agrees, I will tear it out. They also know I'm not real stable, and if I go I would take them all with me!!!!!

The 4 ft sidewalk has 5 = 1/2" rebar lengthways, plus they are short rods every 2 ft o'c. All rebar are placed with chairs. I should mention that the bottom pour of 4-6" to bring it up to grade has no rebar--all bar are in the top 4".

My issue is (I guess) is how to force a change to the city boys, that figure there must be a reason, or otherwise it would not be on the books.

So it's a law right?

Folow it or risk the consequence.

I fail to see the big issue.

I build houses for a living. There are tons of things in building codes that I don't agree with. You have to follow them until they are changed. If you want to change it, great, go for it. But until then, you have to follow it.

When I had electric business, inspectors always win, they are king. Bow down and be done with it.

i'd tell them to do it themselves. [i:ade3a2fac0][color=darkred:ade3a2fac0][/color:ade3a2fac0][/i:ade3a2fac0]

Easiest way to get things changed is to run for town board. It's not hard to get elected if you have an issue that needs changing.

A town near me made state news last year because the mayor retired and nobody could be bothered to run for the office. Finally, somebody said "Alright fine, I'll be the frickin Mayor" and he was elected in a landslide.

Follow the specification , then there is no recourse.What is on the books should not be your concern.

" You can't fight city hall..."
One of the oldest political sayings on the books.
"government worker"- an oxymoron
" We're here to help you" - most often heard lie in DC

The codes are what they are, like it or not, and you knew it from the start yet still did the job contrary to code anyway. If you had a binding contract to do it the right way you have no recourse but to do it right until such time as you can get the code changed. If you had no contract then my suggestion would be to remove your work and either redo it to code or tell them to find someone else to do it. As for changing the codes, I imagine most states have specific building codes for public projects such as sidewalks, roads, etc, especially when such a project would have to be handicap accessible under federal law. If that is the case your town may be catching heat from the state or feds because of substandard work and may be under threat of losing funds if the projects aren't done properly. The only way to know for sure would to be to get involved in the town politics, see for yourself, and get the change made from the inside.

I always thought that building codes were the "minimum" standard that you had to build to. If the code is minimum and you can show that your way is better than minimum, why should you have to re-do any of your work?

slim

Do you have a contract with the property owner you are doing the work for?

You might offer to tear out the work offending the city zoning laws and allow the owner to hire someone else to do the job according to city zoning standards.

That would tell the world that you do not approve of and won't do sub-standard work.

If the property owner realizes he will be getting sidewalk of less quality he may decide to see what he can get accomplished with the city zoning issue.

Small town politics can be wierd. And, unfortunately, too often it simply depends on who you are.

After Nebraska passed a concealed carry law, signs stating, "Legal Concealed Weapons Prohibited". sprang up on every road leading into my hometown.

I asked the County Sheriff, "Does that mean that during the hunting season, I can't even drive through town with an unloaded shotgun in the trunk of my car?"

He just grinned and said, "There are always exceptions." In other words, the signs were just there as backup in case they decided to take someone down.

Could maybe ask for a 'variance' to be put on record at next board meeting- note prior permission given verbally and just have it recorded. A 12 pack of board members favorite beer may help- the prior verbal permission could be considered beginning of variance, later rejection could be considered misconduct on part of people giving permission and make them liable for damages- simple recording of 'variance' lets everbody off blame hook and it is just a clerical catchup to tidy up the situation. Loopholes in laws and legal procedures can sometimes help you. RN

Thanks for all the help. I guess if they try I would shoot rather than bow down to BS. The home owner is my friend, and his only expence was the concrete and rebar, I used my forms and equipment. He is a swell guy, and probably torments city hall more than anyone I know. Probably another factor I did not mention. Our town does not have a building inspector, We are such a small town we all have to take turns being the town drunk.

Personaly I don't think they have the cahonas to try it, and if they do---well you know living here this long--well what I'm a thinkin is---I probably have something on every town father.. You know enough to make their life pretty miserable if it came out of the wood work. Lets for the time being call it amunition that probably won't be fired.

Like I stated I had a majority in my favor, and that alone is a mans word. Don't think there is a one that would jump ship and claim we did not agree it was stupid.

I think the real problem is I should have asked all them so they could all feel important, and not left out of the decision making.

In all fairness, I would not want their jobs--always someone like me bucking the system.

I'm a village idiot, and enjoy life. There is NOTHING I would not say to the cops, or town fathers for that matter. With the exception of one that I just don't mingle with.

I have locked two of the cops out of their squad car, and made them beg me to let them back in. A few weeks ago one deputy that --well lets say he doesn't have any gray hair. Yea well I made a u turn on main street in front of him so he said that it is against the law. I called him a dumb a$$ and told him to give me his gun so I could shoot him in the groin area. Well he refused to even let me hold his guns so I put the car in reverse and undid my u-turn, He just laughed, and said that should make it ok. He was a real jerk caus he wouldn't let me borrow the squad car and do power U-turns either. In all honesty he has helped me numerous times at car accidents, and other ordeals, so in all fairness he is a good egg.

We all have to get along, I made the stament the other eve that we have only 350 homes in our small town. Now we usualy average 70-75 calls (EMS) a year. We of course tend the rural area also--but after thirty years, I have helped a pretty good percent of the folks out. And we are batting 101% when it comes to the comunity being thankfull. So therefore no one gets in our faces, or maybe we just don't understand that they are.

By the way my girlfriend seems to be putting on weight. I kinda notice my wifes clothing is getting tighter on her.

Hey I will keep you posted if anything pops up. I will guarentee that if they arrest me---I will be driving the cop car to take me to jail.

Thanks again everyone.

I find it ironic that you are complaining about the politics in your town while at the same time coming up with every way you can think of an example you can give to keep them corrupt and disfunctional.

Perhaps a larger man would admit he erred and go about thie the correct way.

Perhaps you are not him.