Fast, but was it efficient?

Letter to the City of Elgin:

In my e-mail to you recently I mentioned the rumor of the replacement of the sidewalk along Big Timber Road, pointing out that only two squares between Lyle east a block to the church driveway seemed to be damaged. I was questioning the need for this expensive use of our tax money.

Et voila! Before another opinion could be rendered all of the so-called damaged squares along Big Timber Road from McLean to Randall Road had been torn up - along with a lot of curbing which looked fine - and replaced ... all on Monday. The next time I'd like to see a City of Elgin project completed quickly I'll ask a question as to need ... and again look for an immediate one day repair.

Unless I get a favorable explanation to my original e-mail I will continue to have the opinion that the above about 35 new squares in the mentioned one block were unnecessary, and will assume it was likewise for the balance of the Big Timber Road sidewalk project.

It is probably necessary to keep the city manpower paid and the public works department to justify their need, but so far it seems like a terrible waste of needed tax revenue to me.

Hugh McGowan

Elgin