Venture Out Picture Gallery-Page 11

VENTURE OUT SEWERAGE REHABILITATION PROJECT

July 7, 2003 to August 31, 2003

Road Work

On Monday July 7, 2003 the VO sewerage repair project began with heavy equipment moving into place along side the waste treatment plant.
Our ever alert Reporter in Paradise, Ken Retallick, kmrvo2@juno.com , is covering the story with text and pictures. His coverage will appear on this page as work progresses.

Click here for a work progress map and schedule. Click on your RETURN or BACK button to return to this page.

The latest project schedule is as follows:

July 1 thru 7th - Mobilization of equipment and supplies

July 28 thru 31 -Lot - 357
Aug 1 thru 31 - Lots 358 - 422
Sept 1 thru 10 =Lots 423-433 Lots 627- 640
Sep t 11 thru 18 Lots 338-356 Lots -641-659
Sept 19 thru 26 Lots 305 - 314 Lots 329 - 337
Sept 27 thru Oct. 5 Lots 315 - 318 Lots 319-328
Oct.6 thru 11 Lots 280 - 304
Main Lift Station Oct 13 thru 31
Testing Nov. 1 thru 15
Restoration Nov.16 thru 31 Dec 1 thru 15

Monday, July 7, 2003

On Monday the contractors started work by the entrance to the sewer plant. After placing the tank (immediately above) they had the bad luck to hit the primary electric line and pulling it out of the ground. It necessitated having the Electric Company come in on Tuesday and install a new line.
While this was being done the contractors went back to Miami and have done no more this week. It is expected that they will return to work on next Monday, July 14.

Monday, July 14, 2003

Work resumes on Monday July 14 on the west side of the road looking south from the sewer plant.

Tuesday July 15, 2003

Work continues and they have dug up to bath house No. 1 and have dug the laterals into the lots on the West side of the street up to the bath house.

I talked to the man in charge of the project and he said they would clear thing off on the West side of the street and tomorrow they would work on the East side of the street. They are having problems of tearing into such things as telephone lines. They do not have accurate maps of the location of these services which have been installed at various times.

The hope is that as they get further along they can speed things up and may be back on the schedule we were given.

Thursday July 17, 2003

Work continued as usual Wednesday. Shortly after 7 AM this morning, Thursday, they tore down the wall to the right of the steps to bathhouse 2 and moved the big backhoe up between Lot 640 and the bathhouse. They then cleared the bushes and other vegetation in the way in order to get a clear path to the Lift Station in the small building back of the bathhouse.

This afternoon they dug a hole almost 12 feet deep and placed a large container, which they call a manhole, into place. Sorry I don't have a picture of that.

Work has also continued down by bathhouse No 1. It is tough to keep up with them unless you would stay out there all day.

Friday July 18, 2003

They have closed up for the week. The picture above shows the tank(which they call a man hole) which was placed in a hole about 12 feet deep and the tank was 10 or 11 feet tall. It had been filled in around it when I took the picture. It is in the middle of the street in front of bathhouse 2. It is connected to the lift station which is back of the bathhouse. I will have no more reports until next week.

Monday July 21, 2003

My electric has been off since about 1:15 PM and just came on about 5:30. Several of us closest to bathhouse 2 were the ones affected.

At the present time, 5:45 the temperature in Key West is 92.

Work has gone ahead on the sewer work but I saw nothing different to take a picture of. As long as they keep the work going we should be glad.

They have things between bathhouse 1 and bathhouse 2 pretty well torn up. At least they are keeping things open for traffic with very little delay. More tomorrow.

>

Tuesday July 22, 2003

I just got back in my house because I did not have electricity since about 10 AM this morning. They have had to replace all of the wires under the street and a few of us here close to the corner get our electricity from those lines. They say we will have power tonite but they have more work to do tomorrow.
I could not do any work on the computer and spent most of the time in the guard shack where there was AC. Also there was very little to see in their work today so we will just skip the day.

Wednesday July 23, 2003

I only took one picture today and decided it was so similar to one I had sent before that I am not including it.
Work continued especially around Bathhouse No. 2 Further up toward the sewer plant there are several places where the connection to the units have been completed.
It is rather rough going to drive down through there, but most people can get out if they wish. Day by day you can see differences but too hard to capture in pictures.

Thursday July 24, 2003

Again I have no pictures. At 4:30 PM all they had at the intersection of Malibu Round About and Eagle Nest Drive in front of Bathhouse 2, was a jumble of trenches. After I ate I went out and they were all filled in and fairly smooth.
Most of the connections into private parties have been either connected or ready to be. Tomorrow Block 4 will be blocked off for the setting of a new unit on Lot 363.

Friday July 25, 2003
10:45 a.m.

This morning has been a busy morning here on Block 4.
They have had our block closed while they installed a new unit on Lot 363. They also are working on finishing the sewer hookups on the lots between Bathhouse ! and 2.
I believe they will start on Block 4 next week. I think I will be the first to be connected. They will have to install the main sewer line down past me before they can do that.
I want to thank all of the people who have been checking our reports daily.

Friday July 25, 2003
6:00 p.m.

Work has stopped for the week and reports will start again on Monday July 28.
The park now is filling up with Lobster people and they are having a hard time finding a place to put their boat trailers.

Monday July 28, 2003

Today started out with a big thunderstorm, lots of thunder and lightening. It cleared up and then we had more rain this afternoon. Not as much as this morning but enough to slow things down.
No new pictures because the work they were doing was installing more manholes. You had a picture of that. They were also finishing connecting a few units where they were working last week.
The park is packed with renters and everything is packed with boat trailers.
I think every place for rent has been filled. Lots of kids riding bikes, scooters and such. The rain sort of took care of that.
Hope to have more info tomorrow.

Tuesday July 29, 2003

The most excitement today is watching all of the boats lining up and down in the Marina to fill up with gas, so they can leave early tomorrow to get those lobsters.
On the road work they cut the blacktop on a long length of Block 4 in preparation for clearing the black top off where they are going to dig. The Big Boss thought they would get to our block tomorrow, but I just road down toward Block 3 and it looked to me that they will never get here tomorrow.
It has been in the upper 80'S all day and have had several showers. Of course they are having to keep the roads open because of all of the trucks of the renters. In a way you should be glad you are not here. More tomorrow. For your interest there have been 129 people checked this site since 10:15 this morning and . It is now 5:45 PM.
Note:
There have been 3,053 visits to this page since July 20th when we first started counting hits (visits) to this Report. Is our Reporter in Paradise, Ken Retallick, popular or what?

Wednesday July 30, 2003

I will have to admit that I am really at a loss as to what to tell you. I thought they were almost through on Eagle Nest Drive up to Bathhouse 2,but they dug a lot of it up again today. At just before 7 PM I drove down and they working on part o Block 3. So I am not going to estimate what they will be doing tomorrow. This was a busy day here in the park. The lobsterers were out early this morning and many were back in around 10 AM. They reported good success and said the size of the lobsters was of good size They have another day of lobstering and then things may slow down some.

Thursday July 31, 2003

Today has been a nightmare for everybody having to get in and out of Block 4. When I got up this morning and sat down to eat, I heard a lot of noise and when I checked they were taking the blacktop off of the strip which they have done on the road. These lines are over where the sewer runs.
Then they started digging and as of 6:30 PM I have a large backhoe and large metal bin parked in the street in front of my driveway. At least they have kept it open enough for people to get by. I was able to get out with my car to go to Rotary in Key West.
Then to add to all of this we had a pretty good period of rain.
They also placed another large manhole in front of bathhouse 2. With all of the trucks and cars in here for the Mini Lobster days things went along surprisingly good. Now that the Lobster Mini Days are over we may soon have some peace again. We will keep our fingers crossed.

Friday August 1, 2003

They moved the backhoe away from my driveway this morning but have now put it back for the weekend. They put the cap on one of the manholes by bathhouse 2. They have covered all of the cuts where they were connecting unit to the sewer and have put things away until they return on Monday.
I will have no reports for the next two days.
By checking the Fast Counter at the end of the report you can see that there is very much interest in what is happening here in the park.

Monday August 4, 2003

It just so happened that most of the work today was right in my front yard.
They did a lot of digging and then this evening they pulled the old manhole out of the ground and worked for a almost an hour leveling the base for the new one and then placed it in and worked to get the height just right and also that it was level
My plumber started work on my sewer hook up. He has my skirting off and has surveyed as to what he has to do.
The contractors cut through my drive way so they can dig on my property since the park put me on the property line when I first came here in 1972. I don't think I am the only one with the same problem.
I have become convinced that those of you who are not here are going to miss a lot of the inconvenience of have to work with them doing your work. It is now 6:30 p.m. and they are still working out in the road by me.
Will see what happens tomorrow. Maybe they won't have to drive over my curb and into my yard to get through the street. I only saw a short time when the road was closed to traffic.

Tuesday August 5, 2003

This is not Ken. This is Warren. Our Reporter in Paradise just called on his cell phone. The reason for the cell phone was his telephone line was cut today. Not only that but in the process they took out his electricity and his water. That's a heck of a way to start a week isn't it.
Anyway, he is OK and hopefully will be back on the air tomorrow.

Wednesday August 6, 2003

Hooray, I have everything back and running as of a few minutes ago. I have electric, water, sewer, telephone, and cable TV.
They have most of the work right in front of my place done and are working on down the block. As I have said before you cannot realize just what a mess everything is in. Along with that we had storm go through in the middle of the morning. Lightening and thunder and plenty of rain. This of course has made a muddy mess out of everything and then it being the first day of the regular lobster season things have been in an uproar.
I have spent most of the day chasing down electrician, TV men so I haven't been checking on what is going on as much as I should. Will try to do better tomorrow.

Thursdau August 7, 2003

Most of the work today has been done in our block 4. They have dug and prepared to make sewer connections on Lots 415 to Lot 421. They Probably will start digging on Lot 359 and work on however many they can do. They have also been digging down the center of the road and getting ready to put in another manhole.
The speed at which they can go depends somewhat whether they cut any thing in the process. They are trying to get this straight section done before they start on the lot around the circle. They also have been still trying to get the road as smooth as they can from bathhouse to the sewer plant.
By the way, work was slowed down on the middle of the road because they ran into the main electrical line. They had no way of knowing it was there. Just one of the many interruptions.
I am sure they will try tomorrow to leave things as open as possible over the weekend.

Friday August 8, 2003

The park is quiet tonight as the workers closed down about 3:30 and stored everything except the big backhoe up in the overflow lot. They even brought in a sprinkler today and used it on the street and then used a sweeper. They were going to put the top on the manhole across from me but after setting up their transits, they put them away and did nothing.
On Monday they should start digging on 359 and then on down the street. All roads in the park are open to traffic, although they are not like an avenue though. There are some rough spots.
More on Monday.

Monday August 11, 2003

I started this message about 2 hours ago and the electricity went off and just came back a few minutes ago.
Some place down the line they cut something and the Electric Co. had to come out and work to get it going again. You folks should try to stay in an old trailer that is not insulated very good and the temperature at 90. I had to get out and rode around the park in my car so as to have AC. Then finally it clouded up and it wasn't too bad outside because there was some what of a breeze.
They did a lot today and they were working on putting in another manhole in front of 372, Jimmie and Millie Mc Lemores driveway. They then worked on the street and got it so it is fair shape for travel.
I hope the electric doesn't go out again. More tomorrow. 7:10 PM

Tuesday August 12, 2003

My report will be short today because I spent all afternoon in the Doctor's office having an echo cardiogram .
They did get the top on the manhole in front of 421 and continued work on the middle of the road. They got down to about Lots 375 and 376. They also worked on the manhole in front of 372.
I also saw the Electric Co. and also the Telephone Co.. in to repair places that had been damaged.

Wednesday August 13, 2003

Work has progressed and they are working on the area at the end of this block. They were installing another man hole in front of 383. they were digging around toward lot 380.
The worst thing is that they handed out a sheet saying that the power would be off tomorrow from 8 AM until 3 PM. In talking to the boss I find that they do not know just when or for how long the power will be out. This to repair damage that they did in the street around 361 and 362. Many people are making plans to go where there is AC. Some may go to the owners lounge.`I hope this will be the last trouble with the electric.
Keep us in mind and wish us the best.

Thursday August 14, 2003

It is now 5:50 PM here in Venture Out and the fact that we had a blackout on Block 4 today, it was nothing to what I have just been seen reported on the TV.
People in the block did various things while the electric was off. Many went to other places in the park where there was electric. I, for one went to Key West early and then attended my Rotary meeting.
As for the work on the sewers they continued digging the center of the road and are coming up around 369. They were also cutting into the various units getting ready to connect them to the sewer system. It is hard to keep up with the work but I hope that you can see that they are moving along with the work and it looks like they will finish Block 4 by the end of August which was the schedule we were given.
I imagine there are some of you who have been effected by the trouble in the northeast. Hang in there.

Friday August 15, 2003

Even though I was gone most of the day having Stress Tests when I got home I toured the work area and also talked to Kevin.
I found that work had continued without any shut down of any kind. They have cut in to many more lots ready for the plumbers to connect the lots to the new sewer. This being Friday they had ceased work put equipment away and stored the big backhoe in front of 390. Many places are being plumbed and connected to the sewer.
Have a nice weekend and I will back with news on Monday. First before I forget, Kevin and Jennifer in the Office have come up with anew web site which they will send out on Fridays. The address to use is as follows: www.home.earthlink.net/~ventureout Try it and see if you can get it. I can't get it but they showed me up at the office that it would work. If you have trouble let me know at kmrvo2@juno.com

Monday August 18, 2003

First before I forget, Kevin and Jennifer in the Office have come up with a new web site which they will update on Fridays. Click here to go to the site. Come back to this page by clicking the back arrow on the tool bar toward the top of the screen. Try it and see if you can get it. I can't get it but they showed me up at the office that it would work. If you have trouble let me know at kmrvo2@juno.com
Work has progressed today down at the end of Block 4. More holes have been dug in the streets and more cuts into various units. Some are completed and in service. Some manholes have to be topped off and covered over.
Many bumps in the road right now where they have cut into the various units. We will be glad when they are through. Then they will work on up toward the gate and make more rough roads. We are surviving so that is all we can expect.

Tuesday August 19, 2003

Bad news for block 4 again , the electric will be off again tomorrow. They passed out a flier saying 8 till 12 but Carlos told me that it should have said 8 till 3. He also said that he should finish work on this block in about a week.
There is something that bothers me, some people who are not here don't seem to have made arrangement for the work to connect to the new sewers. If you haven't made the necessary plans you should do something.
They placed the last manhole down by 380 today. We had a rain during the day so things are pretty sloppy.
I hope all of you got the web site of the park after the directions given yesterday. Jennifer was gone last weekend but she is back and I hope they have another one this week.
More tomorrow

Wednesday August 20, 2003

Ken is having a little computer trouble tonight so he passed the following information on to me for posting. He is having Just In Time come in tomorrow to get him back on the air. Warren
It seems they have finished, or almost finished, the road work in Block Four. They have proceeded to cut the paving in preparation for digging up the main road south of Block Four.
Ken tells me that although he has had power all day the folks east of him had their power cut off. Also, it has been raining all day so it's quite a untidy. (My word not Ken's)
More from our Reporter in Paradise tomorrow.

Thursday August 21, 2003

Ken is still experiencing computer troubles. The following is my take on his phoned report to me.
Most of block four work is completed. They expect to wrap it up tomorrow. The cuts are continuing in the blacktop on the main road south of block four toward the gate and they expect to begin removing the blacktop on Monday.

Friday August 22, 2003

First I want to thank Warren Beaumont for filling in for me the last couple of days while my computer was down. I am now back in business and will make my daily report.
I just came back from Summerland and drove around Block 4. There were only a couple of places where they had flashing lights. They have closed down for the week and they leveled the road off as much as they could and sprinkled it and ran over with a rotary brush. The street from bathhouse 2 up to the gate has been cut ready to start taking up the pavement. I am pretty sure that they will start that on Monday.
They are really running a little ahead of schedule because they allowed the whole month of August for Block 4.
Have a good weekend and I will send more info on Monday.

Monday August 25, 2003

(Sorry for the delay caused by my problem receiving e-mail yesterday. Warren)
I thought maybe we had passed the worst here on Block 4, but they sent out a notice that the electric would be off from 8 AM til 11 AM tomorrow. I must be on a different connection because the last time I had electric when others further down the block did not. I hope that is true tomorrow.
They started tearing the blacktop on the street from bathhouse two toward the gate. They had to stop for some reason so they didn't get very far. I notice that they have a hose connection from one manhole to the next one toward the sewer plant. Maybe they can finish up Block 4 tomorrow and get going on the work they started this morning.
We are all surviving the work and with as little inconvenience as possible. More on Tuesday

Tuesday August 26, 2003

After getting the water line repaired which they cut over by bathhouse 2 and cleaning up the manhole which filled with water and dirt, they worked until after 9:30 last night before quitting.
Today they are trying to finish up the loose ends on Block 4 and have started on digging up toward the Gate. The electric company and Bell South have been in here most of the day making final connections. Most of the units have been connected or are being done.
We are in hopes that they will finish up and move on away from us. They said it would take the month of August to take care of this block and they were right on with their estimate.
More tomorrow.

Wednesday August 27, 2003

There has been some connection work on Block 4, but most of the work has been on the part of Eagles Nest Drive between Bath house 2 and the gate.
At the present time they are working trying to get a manhole installed about half way up toward the gate. If I heard right it must go about 15 feet in the ground. That takes a pretty good sized hole in the ground.
At least the traffic on Block 4 has been negligible today.
It doesn't sound like they have done much today but they have moved a lot of dirt from the center of the street.
More tomorrow.

Thursday August 28, 2003

Last night we had two or three strong thunderstorms and plenty of rain. It was still raining some this morning at 7 AM, but the contractors were here and working in the rain. They have dug the road up almost to the manhole before the gate. They are cutting into the various units along the way.
To get through to the gate you sometimes have to wait a little while for them to move their equipment so as to let you through. We haven't had any serious outages for a while. Traffic is all on one side of the road so you may have to wait and let someone come through.
You who are not here can't imagine what we have had to put up with. We have dust when it is dry and mud when it rains. Today it is mud. Just imagine what it is going to be like when they get in front of the gate and start around by the Rec Hall.
Again I just say that we will survive.
They will close down early tomorrow and will not start again until Tuesday.
More tomorrow.

Friday August 29, 2003

The crew working on the sewer project had leveled all the streets as best as they could and have signed out until Tuesday.
I would like to extend my thanks to the Foreman of the crew, Mr. Carlos Alvarez, who I feel that under circumstance he has done an excellent job.
They are almost up to the gate with the main ditch and have dug in for the hookups on many lots.
Block 4 is for the most part complete. The streets have had the blacktop cut so they can remove it for the backhoe to dig the large trench necessary in the middle of the street They are already several days ahead of the schedule they started with.
Wishing all who are not here a happy Labor Day, and pray that the storm out in the Atlantic stays away from Venture Out.
Until Tuesday

Sunday August 31, 2003

I just couldn't help giving an update as to the conditions here in Venture Out.
We have periods of sunshine and then in a few minutes it would blow up and rain hard for a while and then sunshine again. The worst part is that the rain filled up all of the ditches and then the cars went through and splashed the water out and with it the dirt and gravel which they had used to level with. It has made for a rough ride over the streets. They predict rain every day next week so I can see we will not see much improvement in the near future.
I just thought you should know what it is like in Venture Out. The best part is that they expect the hurricane to turn and go farther north and away from us. Hope they are right.
More on Tuesday