I entered into a contract with the City of Muskogee called a Neighborhood Restoration and Revitalization Program. The work was started in Sept. Of 2009 and is still not completed. The contractor that started the work walked off the job; the City had paid him "up front' and he was not licensed or bonded. His crew was doing substandard work and also only working 2 or 3 hrs per day.
I had a "gut" feeling about this project so started taking pictures of work being done and keeping a daily journal of who worked, hours worked and work that was done. I made several complaints to Dan Herd {a city inspector} who was to oversee this project and was treated with no respect and no reguard for my complaints. I then wrote Gary Garvin, City Engineering and planning Dept, and my meeting with him was less than accomidating and accomplished nothing.
During the time between Oct. 2009 and June I was told that there was no money to finish my house. I contacted Legal Aid in Muskogee and he basically sided with the City of Muskogee (he referred to the city attorney and asistant as "his buddy's".in June a second crew was sent in to finish onlythe basic unfinished work. 10 Feet of foundation was left open for over a year and a half, I still do not have a deck, only a set of steps that are broken and under water if it rains, no vents in the sophet, no driveway that was supposed to be concrete poured, about 2% of all of the rotten wood was replaced, all exposed wood was to becovered-it is not, rotten window sills were to be replaced-they were not.
Guttering was hauled off never to be seen again.
I have rheumatoid Arthritis and have had both hip joints completely replaced, the latest being Jan. 2012. I need these repairs because of my health issues, the back steps are simple a safety hazard.
I draw an SSI disability check which is less than sufficent to live on and cannot afford and attorney or to hire anyone to finish up the work. The last time I spoke to Dan Heerd was April 2. He returned my call on April 4 and told me a crew would be here in 2 weeks to build a "platform with steps" for my back door.
The City has a 5 year lein on my home with the contract I signed. I have close to 200 photos of the work that has been done to date, the daily journal I have kept since the 1st week if work, copies of the work to be done, the lein agreement - everything. And I am still being put off. I need someone to help me get the work done that was agreed upon in the contract, instead of the city employees changing it to suit themselves. (Dan said he traded the driveway work for someone to spray for termites instead.)
As far as I can assertain they have breached the contract by changing the terms without my consent. The money used was from a federal grant and they are launching a new renovation program very soon. The paper said they spent $2.6 million in the first project and 150 homes are to be renovated with the new program. I don't want anyone else to experience what I have been through. I can't find out the which federal program was responsible for the grant either. Please help me get this this matter resolved. Thank you.
0 comments