Last week, we completed an update to the median at the entrance of the Bright Meadows subdivision. The entire cost of the project, including labor and materials, was funded through the Bright Meadows SSA agreement with the Village.
For several years, I watched the landscaping in the median become increasingly overgrown. The trees had matured to the point where they would eventually damage the roadway or decline altogether. The median was also crowned too high, causing mulch to wash into the curb and gutter after installation. Simply put, it was not designed in a way that would age well or be easily maintained.
I asked our Public Works Department to start fresh: remove the existing landscaping, regrade the area, and develop a new plan with four goals in mind:
- Low maintenance
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Budget friendly to the SSA fund
- Incremental improvements that can be evaluated, planned, and budgeted for annually
After exploring several contractor options and determining the project scope was relatively manageable, it was decided that the work could be completed in-house rather than hiring an outside landscaping company.
As the project progressed, I made sure to stop by periodically and do my part by micro-managing the operation and making it as inefficient and expensive as possible. I even provided an exceptionally detailed rendering of what I expected the finished product to look like, forcing the crew to reconsider all of their work and start over. Below is my expert rendering of my expectations of the end product.
In the end, it’s not exactly what I envisioned, but they managed to get close enough. (actually knocked it out of the park)
In all seriousness, I try to stay out of the day-to-day operations of the Village. We are fortunate to have an outstanding administration and dedicated employees who keep our community running smoothly every day. Their expertise, professionalism, and commitment allow critical services to be delivered efficiently and without interruption.
A sincere thank you to our Public Works Department for their hard work designing and installing the new landscaping and entertaining a silly picture for this blog.
The new median is a significant improvement to the Bright Meadows entrance and another example of the pride our employees take in maintaining and enhancing our community.
Forward Motion 