HEAVY EQUIPMENT AT WORK
“I have noticed a lot of heavy machinery activity going on at the soccer fields on Condit Road … road graders, front loaders and water trucks. They are either taking something out or putting something in on a very large scale. Can you find out what is happening out there?”
RED PHONE
The Red Phone spoke with Steve Rymer, director of recreation and community services for the City Morgan Hill, to get information on the construction of the new Outdoor Sports Center.
Redevelopment Agency funds are at work here, taking out two of the six existing natural grass soccer fields and replacing them with two synthetic fields. This is the beginning of phase one in the improvements of the 38-acre site on Condit Road which includes the construction of sidewalks and curbs to match the street improvements already in place at the nearby Aquatics Center. Other ammenities will include restrooms, lighting, bleacher seating and a concession area.
Originally estimated at $10 million for this work, Interstate Grading and Paving’s project bid was reportedly well below this figure as was awarded the contract.
If all goes according to plan, community athletic groups will start using the fields by October. The rental rates are set at $28 per hour for organizations from outside the city and $4 per hour for Morgan Hill residents.
DIRTY BIKE LANES
“Who is supposed to clean bicycle lanes on our streets and how often is this supposed to happen? Particularly, I’ve noticed that the bicycle lane on Butterfield Boulevard between Main Avenue and Caltrain parking lot is always littered with the leftover trash from the sweeping of the car lane. Another area is southbound on Hill Road between Main and Dunne avenues. I’m sure there are other bicycle lanes in the same condition, but these are some examples that I travel. Thanks.”
RED PHONE
The City of Morgan Hill contracts street sweeping work out to South Valley Disposal which swept the area once a week. According to Phil Couchee, general manager of South Valley Disposal, with the volume of traffic on Butterfield Boulevard and the surrounding open fields that do little to keep trash off the street, it’s difficult to keep up with the littering.
Ann Beale, Morgan Hill’s maintenance supervisor for parks and streets, has spoken with Couchee about this problem, and it was decided to increase the frequency of sweeping to twice a week, so let’s see if the situation improves.
NEED A SIDEWALK BY THE POST OFFICE
“I am a longtime resident if Morgan Hill and a senior citizen. I enjoy living here for the most part, but I am finding it very difficult to get to the Post Office on Monterey Road as there is no sidewalk there at all between San Pedro Avenue and the Post Office. How do we go about getting a sidewalk put in?”
RED PHONE
Caller, unfortunately, the City of Morgan Hill has no current plans for the installation of sidewalks in this area. Mori Struve, deputy director of public works and operations, advised us that sidewalks are normally installed when a private contractor develops a piece of property and designs the sidewalk according to the needs of the final owner, incorporating the size and location of needed driveways, planter areas and curbs.
However, if there are any obstructions or holes in the ground that prohibit pedestrians from safely walking along the roadside, fixing those problems would fall under his responsibility. You can reach Struve at the Department of Public Works at 776-7333, ext. 247.
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