ST8503-CS 870813 GINN, INC. CONSULTING ENGINEERS
August 13, 1987
TO: Bethel School Road Homeowners
RE: Bethel School Road Improvements
Dear Homeowner:
May we take this opportunity to inform you of the impending
construction and its potential effect upon you as a homeowner and
citizen of Coppell.
The mere fact that a project allocated in the 1984 bond program
has taken this long to become a reality would indicate the degree
of sincerity the City of Coppell has in its willingness to work
in cooperation with its citizens for the betterment of all the
community. Through citizen input, opinion surveys and attendance
at Council meetings, it was determined that a 27' wide street was
what the citizens wanted. The design was completed in August
1986, on schedule; but, due to the required relocation of the gas
main, winter time weather construction constraints, etc., the
project was not bid until April 28, 1987. After negotiations
with the low bidder, the Council approved the awarding of the
contract on June 23, 1987. The gas relocation was not completed
until July 1987. Preparation and execution of contracts has
brought us to this date. The contractor has been given a notice
to proceed on or before September 1, 1987, with a completion date
of June 26, 1988. Just to get to this point in the fulfillment
of the project has taken almost three years. We feel certain you
are aware of the time factors and construction operations of two
previous neighborhood projects (Heartz and Moore). Although
seemingly endless at the time, through patience and perseverance,
these projects became reality and both the City and residents
benefited. We request your continued patience and cooperation
during the construction phase of this project.
YOU WILL BE INCONVENIENCED, AT TIMES, DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THIS PROJECT. TO SAY OTHERWISE WOULD BE DISHONEST. HOPEFULLY,
THESE TIMES WILL BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM.
We request that prior to calling the City of Coppell or Ginn,
Inc., ask yourself: is it an emergency, a potential life-
threatening situation, a hazard to public safety, or is it just
an annoyance? If is is indeed an emergency, contact the police
or fire department immediately, using the 911 emergency system.
17103 Preston Road · Suite 100 · LB 118 · Dallas, Texas 75248 · Phone 214/248-4900
If it appears to be a public hazard created by the contractors'
operations, please call us. We will endeavor to correct the
situation as soon as possible. If it is something that is
irritating you, becoming bothersome, or even a pet peeve, please
take this into consideration and determine if, in fact, it is
something you wish to address. If you feel the situation
warrants it, please compose your thoughts, ideas, complaints,
comments (good and bad), etc. in writing and forward to us. This
will allow us an opportunity to review the situation and provide
an answer. We will listen and respond to any reasonable request
as quickly as practicable. We will do so in as professional a
manner as possible so as not to let emotions have control over
common sense.
In April of this year, we sent a letter to all property owners,
outlining a number of items, giving you a general knowledge of
the things that would be happening in the neighborhood. At this
time, we would like to restate some of the more noteworthy
comments from that letter, since construction will begin shortly.
1. The homeowners will be responsible for having their
sprinkler systems relocated out of the public right-of-way.
This should be accomplished as soon as practicable. The
procedure for the homeowner is generally as follows:
A. Identify existence of sprinkler system.
B. Remove or relocate portions in conflict with proposed
construction.
C. Allow Ginn, Inc. opportunity to verify work.
D Pay for removal or relocation.
E. Provide substantiating evidence that work was completed.
F. Send original invoice for work to Ginn, Inc.
G. Ginn will submit to City along with recommendations.
H. City will provide reimbursement upon Council approval.
A more detailed explanation of the above outlined procedure
should clarify the situation. It may be in the best
interest of all homeowners to have the work done in two
phases. One, remove or relocate the parts of the system to
the property line within two weeks of notification. Two,
after construction is complete, plan to relocate the
portions required to complete the work.
It is anticipated that the majority of the sprinkler heads,
laterals and possibly some mains will be disturbed or
destroyed during construction. The Contractors have been
notified to exercise caution when digging around where
sprinklers are known to be located. Inadvertently, some
will be destroyed. The Contractors have been advised to
notify each homeowner of impending construction in their
area. They will request that each homeowner with a
sprinkler system have his system run through a complete
cycle to determine, beforehand, the conditions and/or
existence of sprinkler heads, laterals, valves, etc.
The homeowner shall have the opportunity to remove or
relocate any portion of the sprinkler system which will be
in conflict with the proposed construction. The homeowner
shall have a period of two weeks from time of notification
to have his own contractor who installed his system, or
someone of his choice, to relocate those portions in
conflict. The City of Coppell will provide an allowance of
not more than $250.00 total per household for the removal or
relocation work, to be reimbursed to the homeowner, after
approval by the City of Coppell.
Homeowners shall provide substantiating evidence that the
work was removed or relocated, with a complete breakdown of
costs, to the consulting engineers, Ginn, Inc., 17103
Preston Road, Dallas, TX 75248, for approval. After review
and approval, Ginn, Inc. will submit the documentation to
the City recommending denial or approval. The City will
reimburse the homeowner for actual costs, not to exceed
$250.00, within 30 days of approval. Any costs beyond the
allotted $250.00 maximum will be borne by the homeowner.
If the homeowner fails to remove the portions of the system
in conflict within the time allocated, the Contractor will
remove the heads, laterals, etc., to the right-of-way line
and provide a cap at that point in the system. At the
completion of the project, the homeowner may then extend,
repair, or relocate his sprinkler system within 2 months of
final acceptance date by City of Coppell of the Bethel
School Road project and still be allowed to receive a
reimbursable allowance of $250.00 maximum for approved work.
Any work done beyond this two month period, above the
$250.00 maximum allowance, or not fully substantiated, will
be the responsibility of the homeowner.
2. Sidewalks will be provided along the north side of Bethel
School Road only. They will be located 5' from the proposed
curb and approximately 7' from the property line.
3. Some drives will have to be removed and replaced, beyond the
limits of the right-of-way (on your property), to accomplish
a smooth transition from widened street to drive access.
The maximum slope on the majority of the drives should not
exceed 8%.
4. During construction of storm drainage facilities, liming
operations, or concrete pouring operations, there will be
times that you may not have access to your garage via the
driveway.
5. All areas disturbed by construction operations, not
receiving concrete (or some other type treatment), will be
grassed or sodded.
6. Trees which will have to be removed due to the construction
will be identified at the beginning of the construction. No
provisions have been made at this time, under this contract,
to replace the ones lost. Only trees within the City right-
of-way will be removed.
7. We have limited the construction times to be between 8:00
a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday; between 9:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, if it is necessary and approved
by the Engineer; and no work on Sunday. We will attempt to
adhere to this schedule as closely as possible.
8. The present "drainage ditch" situation will be replaced by
an underground storm drainage system, with inlets and
piping. The "ditches" will be backfilled, as required, and
sloped form the property to the top of curb on the proposed
pavement.
9. Any landscaping presently located within the City right-of-
way is subject to be removed or possibly destroyed during
construction operations. If you would like to remove or
relocate existing landscaping, i.e., trees, shrubs,
planters, etc., please do so prior to beginning of
construction. The City cannot be responsible for damage to
landscaping located in the right-of-way.
10. All drives within the right-of-way, whether existing
concrete, asphalt, brick, gravel or exposed aggregate, will
be constructed as concrete drives as part of the
improvements.
11. During the construction of the drainage system, the road may
have to be closed at different locations for minor periods
of time. Proper notification will be provided.
12. During construction of the north half of the road, the south
half will be made one-way. After the north side is
completed, traffic will be moved to the new pavement and
continue one-way. Proper signage and notification will be
provided.
13. Your mailboxes will have to be relocated, as a temporary
measure, during construction, and again at the completion of
the project to its final location. The contractor has been
requested to work with you on the temporary location. Your
choice of where you place your mailbox, in its final
destination, should probably wait until the road, sidewalk
and grassing is near completion.
14. A similar situation may occur with garbage pick-up. You may
have to deposit your garbage on the opposite side of the
road during construction or, if possible, on the side street
to your house.
In conclusion, it is our preference to continue to work with the
citizens toward the successful completion of the project for the
mutual benefit of all concerned.
Please address all correspondence to Gabe Favre, Ginn, Inc.,
17103 Preston Road, Suite 100, LB-118, Dallas, TX 75248, or
contact him at 248-4900.
Sincerely,
H Wayne Ginn, P E.
City Engineer
GF/HWG/j c
Enclosure
cc: Mayor & Council
Alan Ratliff, City Manager
BSCH/OH