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Cracks In The Dam Require More Than Just A Bit Of Gum

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By STEVE OTTO

sotto@tampatrib.com

Published: October 24, 2008

There's a TV commercial that's been going around for a while. I'm not sure how effective it is because I can't remember what they are trying to sell, but then that's not unusual these days.

This one shows two people in hard hats on a walkway going across a huge dam. They spot a small leak in the dam and the guy takes a wad of gum out of his mouth, repairs the leak and they walk off smiling as the repair lasts about five seconds and water begins to gush.

The commercial reminded me of a story this week when the board of Tampa Bay Water voted unanimously to sue the three companies constructing the $146 million reservoir over cracks that keep showing up.

The reservoir is the largest such facility in the state and is supposed to eventually hold 15 billion gallons of water. Although it is called the C.W. "Bill" Young Regional Reservoir after one of our longtime politicians, you are the ones who paid for it and continue to do so.

If you just read that one lawsuit story you would think that this is exactly what is supposed to happen. The contractors who built this thing messed up and now they need to pay for their mistakes.

Routine Leaks?

What is troubling is that the reservoir has been dealing with cracks and leaks since December 2006. At the time, Tampa Bay Water people told News Channel 8 and Tampa Tribune reporters that everything was normal and that the cracks were "routine."

"The cracks were anticipated," said one of the reservoir's designers. "There are no issues with the structural integrity."

One person who didn't buy that story was state Sen. Ronda Storms of Brandon, who demanded the state inspect the reservoir.

Now, two years later, everything is not routine and everyone is pointing fingers.

Tampa Bay Water, of course, is the agency that kept saying there was nothing wrong with the new desalination plant, despite years of delays and millions of dollars fixing nonproblems.

The questions for us go back to not just Tampa Bay Water, but to the six governmental bodies that are a part of the inter-local agreement responsible for the agency. Where were these people two years ago?

Catfight Coming?

In a seemingly unrelated story, a catfight almost broke out at this week's meeting of the Hillsborough County School Board. Generally, school board meetings are tedious events, mostly filled with board members congratulating themselves for heaven knows what.

Lately this board, which has apparently given up trying to improve a district with more leaks than that reservoir, has taken to sniping at each other.

At the Tuesday night meeting, board member April Griffin got into it with board chairman Jennifer Faliero, who tried to shut Griffin down and went so far as to alert a security officer, suggesting she might have Griffin tossed out of the room.

I talked to Griffin after the meeting and she said it wasn't her intent to get into a "catfight."

I figure they might as well. It would be more fun to watch than their endless attempts to pass themselves off as a board that actually functions.

There is a relationship in the two stories above. You get to vote on school board members as well as county commissioners, even if only a few are up in the coming election. Don't just focus on presidential politics. These are races that make a difference in our lives.

Keyword, Otto Graphs, to read and comment on Steve Otto's blog.

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