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..Paying for mistakes made…
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I just can’t shake this story from my concern radar. Every time I get calm about the notion that even here in NH– a state that I used to view as a last bastion of doing things "the right way"–we no longer have the ability to fix our problems any other way but to take more money from the citizenry, along comes something to get me riled up again. Such is the ongoing fiscal fiasco that is the NH DOT. Every few days another story pops up that ends up making me feel like I’ve been had– or, more appropriately, had my nose rubbed in it. The companion story to that of the toll-increases and desire to raise the gas tax to enable the DOT to maintain business as usual (wasteful, outdated methods, union mentality) is the ongoing hazardous waste dumping saga that finds them both perpetrator AND investigator.
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You might recall the story as reported in this prior post: Back in June, it was revealed that the NH DOT bridge repair crew has been illegally dumping hazardous materials on state land and jobsites since the early Eighties. Acting DOT Commissioner Charles O’Leary said then that decades-long practice was due to that department’s "culture"— calling their actions "stupid and lazy." And you shouldn’t forget that the DOT paid a "fine" to the state of NH of over 300 thousand dollars, which is a real "punishment" (not!) considering the dough comes from taxpaying citizens who had nothing to do with the crime. Friday’s Citizen (Laconia, NH) contained an update on the progress on this front, so far:
To date, O’Leary testified the department has spent $230,000 to clean and investigate the two sites, one on Range Road and one on Route 127 called the Bailey Bridge facility, with $109,000 in direct fines to the DES Hazardous Waste Cleanup fund, $34,720 on a site in Ashland where lead paint chips were removed from a bridge, and $45,000 on two other sites, one of which is in Stratford where O’Leary believes much of the waste originally thought to be in Franklin is now located.
While I’m glad they’re cleaning up their messes, the story still frosts me, nonetheless. It is yet another example, as if we needed any more, of how messed up this department of our state government really is. It also helps illuminate why, despite ever-rising numbers of toll payers and gallons of gas purchased, and the rising revenues that accompany both, it still isn’t enough (so they claim) to keep our roads and bridges safe. And make no mistake about it– our elected "leaders" WILL be coming for the gas tax next. Those who will be at the receiving end of the money trough are already priming the pumps (no pun intended) for their piece of that action. What– you don’t believe me? Then please explain the headline in yesterday’s Citizen:
Time to add hundreds of state troopers?
Unbelievable, isn’t it? Why, just 2 weeks ago, we learned that NH was hiring 200 more part time toll takers and that highway safety officers would be "redeployed" to the tolls to watch for evaders. Watching the progress from tax hikes to spending is like watching sharks in blood-infested waters. They smell it, and get worked into a frezy in the ensuing zeal to get what’s theirs. It is a real shame that there is apparently nobody anywhere within the NH government that is willing to step out and admit there is a huge problem that must be fixed– without taking the easy route through our wallets. Seems like a ready made issue for the right person build a campaign around. How about it? Anyone?