Construction confusion in Whitestown
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: December 11, 2012
Several drainage pipes that were put in by The Whitestown Department of
Public Works and then taken out by Oneida County DPW has some taxpayers
talking.
Some say they're frustrated to see their money being spent on a project that, so far, appears to be wasteful.
Although these pipes have been taken out of the ground by the county at the Kurt B. Wyman Memorial Park, they're still on the property.
Sources familiar with this situation tell Eyewitness News the pipes were installed by Whitestown back in May.
According to the sources, the county says Whitestown did not go through the proper permit process and gave them several months to get the paperwork done even after the pipes were laid.
Just this past November, the pipes were taken out by the county and left near the area.
While this appears to be a county-town issue, some taxpayers say there needs to be better communication between the departments before any work is done, and undone.
"I'm sick and tired of the way that our government and elected officials are wasting our money," said Whitesboro resident, Bill Daskiewich. "It's really a lack of communication. They should be coordinating their efforts instead of working independently. They should have come to a firm agreement before it was done because by putting it in, taking it out, and putting it back in, it's going to cost the taxpayers three times the amount of money for a job that should have been done one time if they would have cooperated properly."
Eyewitness News did talk with other Whitestown residents who did not want to go on camera.
They also seemed frustrated to see their tax dollars wasted in such a way.
Sources did say that Oneida County made it clear with Whitestown representatives of the proper procedure, but says the town ignored that and put the pipes in anyway.
When Eyewitness News spoke with a representative for Whitestown about the situation, they declined to comment.
As for the county, Mr. Picente was unavailable for an interview as he is on sick leave today.
Some say they're frustrated to see their money being spent on a project that, so far, appears to be wasteful.
Although these pipes have been taken out of the ground by the county at the Kurt B. Wyman Memorial Park, they're still on the property.
Sources familiar with this situation tell Eyewitness News the pipes were installed by Whitestown back in May.
According to the sources, the county says Whitestown did not go through the proper permit process and gave them several months to get the paperwork done even after the pipes were laid.
Just this past November, the pipes were taken out by the county and left near the area.
While this appears to be a county-town issue, some taxpayers say there needs to be better communication between the departments before any work is done, and undone.
"I'm sick and tired of the way that our government and elected officials are wasting our money," said Whitesboro resident, Bill Daskiewich. "It's really a lack of communication. They should be coordinating their efforts instead of working independently. They should have come to a firm agreement before it was done because by putting it in, taking it out, and putting it back in, it's going to cost the taxpayers three times the amount of money for a job that should have been done one time if they would have cooperated properly."
Eyewitness News did talk with other Whitestown residents who did not want to go on camera.
They also seemed frustrated to see their tax dollars wasted in such a way.
Sources did say that Oneida County made it clear with Whitestown representatives of the proper procedure, but says the town ignored that and put the pipes in anyway.
When Eyewitness News spoke with a representative for Whitestown about the situation, they declined to comment.
As for the county, Mr. Picente was unavailable for an interview as he is on sick leave today.
