Dear Editor,The City of Tonkawa, namely, the Public Works Department, is treading on very thin ice. The water distribution system is being upgraded and in turn has presented a myriad of liabilities for the City, risk to residents (KIDS !!!!) and animals. Open trenches align Main Street, left open, wide open without cover. Orange “Snow Fence” or yellow “Caution” tape is tied to stakes on the edges. The equipment being used to excavate the site has a long-reaching “Boom” that miraculously has NOT struck a motorist or pedestrian. The “Flagman” does NOT carry a flag, has a safety vest and has his back to traffic, and does NOT direct or conduct traffic safety. At a minimum, the City should conduct DAILY if not HOURLY , random site visits. Any trenches or excavations left uncovered should have a panel of “chain-link” fence material, framed to fit the various hole sizes. Spanned across the hole to allow the curious to peer in and not fall in, or to be trapped under a sheet of plywood, and possibly drown. THEN have the “snow fence” placed around the perimeter of the site.New shiny, black pipes are strewn about the Main Street yards and lots, with ends wide open, allowing infiltration of insects, small animals and possibly a random, small, curious unattended toddler....just taping a “rag cap” on each end would eliminate this risk.Bright red and shiny fire hydrants have been installed adjacent to existing fire hydrants. There is no indication which one is active, what the available “gallons-per-minute” rating (color code), and some of the City fire hydrants have to be dug out in order for the caps to be screwed off !!!! Does the City even test or exercise these hydrant? I see them blowing mud and air out of some of them when they were repairing a section of the distribution system, but without using a “diffuser” while flushing these systems, rivers of rock, mud, debris and trash flow down the street, into driveways, intersections....and a sweeper is NEVER called to restore the road conditions...It’s like watching a $#@!ing train wreck; in slooooooow motion.This project WILL most likely result in an injury, or worse unless there is public outcry, outreach or just somebody wanting to get the word out: “Your kids are not safe, and the City doesn’t care” Bryan Reid*** WALTERS CONTINUAL LIES LEAD TO MULTIPLE BOMB THREATS With the true ...
