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Thursday, January 19, 1978
University Daily Kansan
Development office alters rules as a result of suit against city
The Lawrence Community Development Department has instigated procedure changes to prevent any wrongdoing in processing applications and awarding contracts, Lymn Goodell, CD director, said Tuesday.
The procedure changes came in the wake of recent allegations that a former CD department employee, Donald Marsh, was involved in a fraud before awarding CD renovation contracts.
A lawsuit brought against Marsh and the city of Lawrence by Topea contractor LaVern Caskey charges that Marsh offered him $4,000 for a computer he would heck back $200 on each contract.
The CD department hires private contractors to make home improvements for
approved homeowners as part of a housing rehabilitation program. The CD department processes grants or low interest loans from the federal government for the improvements. Money is awarded after approval by the city commission.
The Caskey lawsuit, filed Dec. 16 in Douglas County District Court, asks for more than $10,000 each for actual and punitive damages. Answers filed Jan. 9 by the city and Caskey deny all charges made in the Caskey suit and ask for its dismissal.
Caskey charges in the lawsuit that the city tried to drive him out of business by falsely saying he wasn't a qualified contractor and thus denying him CD department contracts.
Firm faces possible loss
The city also faces a claim for $5,000 filed by the landlord. The Topokia contracting firm. The owner of the property.
Staff Writer
By CAROL HUNTER
A denial of a 57-day extension for the Kansas River bridges project Monday by the Douglas County Commission could mean a $420-a-day loss for the Anderson Construction Co., Topeka, if it fails to finish the project on time.
The bridge project involves building a new bridge at Vermont Street and tearing down and replacing the Massachusetts Street bridge.
Eldon Davis, engineer for Anderson and supervisor for the project, said yesterday the Vermont Bridge was half common with Massachusetts Street bridge is yet to be built.
The contract between Anderson and the commission gave Anderson 500 working days to finish the job. According to Peter Whitenight, chairman of the commission, more than 300 of the 500 allotted days have past.
That means Anderson has 50 percent of
him do and only 40 percent of his
allotted time.
DAVIS WOULD not comment whether the company was behind in its work.
However, he did say a steel shipment delay had slowed work.
"Late delivery did make a considerable amount of difference on construction of the building."
But Whitenight said the delay should not have made any difference because the weather was bad and work was stopped several times.
"Even if the steel had been delivered," he said, "they couldn't have been hanging it."
Whitentigh have two reasons why the extension was denied. First, he said, the penalty of $40 a day after $50 workdays paid of the project contract signed by Anderson.
"We had to consider what effect it would have on the contract if we modified it in any way," he said. "The counsel advised that the contract might be null and void."
SECOND, WHITENIGHT
John Frazier, of Finney and Turnipseed, consultant firm to the commissioners, had a letter to the merchant for 57 days had午夜 let the merit.
"He said there would be so few days involved,
it would be worth the change,
I wouldn't said.
Although work began slightly over a year ago, no completion date for the project can be set because the contract calls for a certain number of working days.
Both the city and Marsh deny New Look's charges, Goodell, CD director since last May, said he thought the charges were groundless. He had he said big many of the new procedures before any allegations of wrongdoing had surfaced.
firm charge that $770 to get painting contracts
paint them
One contractor said that during a period last spring when Lawrence had no CD director, Marsh processed applications, downloaded files, and wrote the checks without supervision.
Another new procedure provides that the homeowner must sign a form saying the work is satisfactory and complete before a file is closed.
"First of all, we started such things as going through a real applications procedure so that I would sign an application only after running the entire file." he said.
Renovation work will be given a final inspection by a department member, preferably not the one supervising the file, be said.
"We have also instituted a procedure whereby we give them (homeowners) a copy of the complaint procedure and a complaint form form when we start the work," he said. "I don't want anyone not to know they have the right to complain."
Rob Green, chairman of the Concerned Students for Higher Education Committee, said his committee had designed the petition to oppose the library and interested in the night of the library.
A Student Senate petition urging legislators to back a request for state funding for improvement has attracted 2,067 signatures after a week of circulation.
Govern. Robert F. Bennett has proposed a $6.2-million allocation for the renovation of Watson Library, which will come before the total budget request for the University.
The renovation plan includes removal of interior walls, proper heating and air conditioning to protect library materials, adequate restrooms, a second elevator and possibly another staircase and fire prevention measures.
Signatures were collected during enrollment and copies of the petition are distributed by members of coalitions representing Senate Presents elections, to be held Feb. 15-16.
Library petition drawing support
GREEN SAID HE hoped to be able to send photocopies of more than 3,000 signatures to legislative offices before the issue goes to the floor of the legislature.
Green said no member of a coalition was required to help circulate the petition and that any person interested in gathering signatures could do so.
funding for the libraries could be circulated if enough interest was shown.
"The vital need for library funding is a
consensus issue that affects everyone," he said.
It is also possible, Green said, that a petition for community support of state
Pettitions are available in the Senate office for persons who are interested in signing.
Padre Island, Spring Break
Date: March 11 - March 19
Cost: $13500
Trip includes: Round trip bus transportation with beer and pop on the bus
Accommodations at the Sandcastle Motel with kitchenettes, one day trip to
Mexico, T-Shirts. Contact SUA for more information.
Sign-up deadline: Feb. 3, 1978
This weekend at . . .
Q Watson's
Thursday Friday Saturday 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.
... Fine live music
Next week...Power Glide
... And Great New Prices ...
the folks at J. Watson's have lowered prices so you can have a great time for less than it would cost at any other nightspot in Lawrence!
Pitchers $1.70 Admission $1.50 ROUTE COUNTRY FAIR TALENT Performance Arrangements by 9th & Iowa in the Hillcrest Shopping Center
Bowling Leagues SPRING 1978 All leagues begin week of January 23 End week of May 1.
STARTS
Tuesday Nite ALL STAR (160 plus ava.) 6:30
Tuesday Nite ALL STAR
Wednesday Nite GREEK 6:30 CAMPUS OPEN 8:30
Thursday Nite GUYS & DOLLS 6:30
Thursday Nite GUYS & DOLLS 8:30 GUYS & DOLLS 8:30
Friday Nite TGIF 4:00
Team Composition ALL LEAGUES:
4 per team.
Entry Fee: $5.00 per person.
Our prices can't be beat!
Join the millions of League Bowlers.
Form your own team or we will make up teams for those who register individually.
SIGN UP AT THE JAY BOWL NOW!!
or call 864-3545 for information.
Sell it through Kansan want ads. Call the classified department at 864-4358