Building Bridges in Delaware County, Except for Media, PA

Results matter and so does effective leadership.  Here's a story of a similar situation in Delaware county where communities have been faced with repairing a bridge.  Similar cost, similar funding, similar need, but much different outcomes between Media/UP and Folcroft/Glenolden.  Not because of money, but because Media Borough Council is influenced by five self appointed people who shamelessly used the leverage of a county park to advance there own personal agendas.

Folcroft and Glenolden of Delaware County, PA are proudly celebrating the completion of a new bridge that was done 3 months ahead of schedule, while we here in Media incurred a million dollar increase in the cost to fix our bridge at taxpayer expense and are no closer to getting it done then we were 17 years ago!

A bridge opening in Delaware County, but after 17 years, not one in Media, PA

The Grant Avenue Bridge was re-opened with a dedication by Delaware County Council Friday morning, bridging a gap between Folcroft and Glenolden boroughs since April.

Spanning the Muckinipattis Creek, the $2.6 million bridge replaces the original that was constructed in 1928 complete with a new pedestrian walkway, wider travel lanes and updated drainage facilities.

Construction of the bridge finished three months earlier than expected.

Police and fire crews were the first to cross the bridge in a symbolic connection of the municipalities.

Funds to demolish and re-build the bridge were provided from federal and state funds, providing 80 and 15 percent to the project respectively. The final five percent came from the county’s liquid tax fund.

Delaware County Facebook Page 

I particularly like the reference: "Police and fire crews were the first to cross the bridge in a symbolic connection of the municipalities."  Our Police and Fire crews weren't even given the important opportunity to speak on such a matter. In fact, Media's council lashed out and vilified adjacent municipalities for involvement in the 3rd St. bridge!

Here's what ineffective leadership and political games brought Media, PA:

• In Media, our Fire and Police departments were prevented by our Borough Council from formally speaking on the matter.
• Our RTM school district who supports a two way bridge, received a call from a member of borough council angrily protesting the school boards involvement. WHY?
• Three councilmen signed a petition for a greenway from a group that HIJACKED a community park and used it for nothing more than their own special interests.  How can one group speak on behalf of a county park, when everyone has equal right and opinion regarding it? Debbie Krull, Co-Chair of the local party even campaigned for their cause. 
• Borough Council was found to have stacked the committee to support a special interest agenda.  The Co-Chair of the CAC committee resigned and wrote a letter formally explaining such.  Borough Council never revealed the important reason of the letter to the public.
• Councilman Kent Davidson who lives 20 yrds from the proposed project, is not only accused of conflict of interest, but was found to be providing a undisclosed website through a company that he owns that supported his own political agenda and that of a the special interest group whose petition he signed. A $3.4 million dollar project and Media has this nonsense?
• Borough Council was served with a "Contempt of Court" petition for breaking existing agreement with Delaware County and BLCC.  After 45 days of the ruling, they've done noting to remediate the issue with stake holders.  It goes back to court mid-February 2013.
• Borough Council told us that the PennDot funding for this project was secure, when PennDot didn't even know this was back in court due to the petition brought against Borough Council.
• Borough Council used a misleading "Push" survey that didn't include costs associated with bridge designs or the context of consequence. A two-way bridge, was compared to a breached dam, that was compared to a greenway, etc.  Trouble is, the "two way bridge" wasn't disclosed as being funded for, while misleading people to think the other options were, they weren't, and possibly more expensive.  No one was made aware of that who took the survey.   It also didn't discuss a legal binding lawsuit that stipulated a two way bridge.  With that logic, a Ferrari would cost as much as a Hyundia and you would never get a speeding ticket!
• Lack of leadership over the last 17 years has driven the cost up by $1 million dollars to repair bridge.  It could have been repaired for $1.5 million, as opposed to the current cost of $3.4 million.....and counting.
• Mayor Bob McMahon tells people on the street his desire for a two way road, but fails to state the position at Borough Council meetings.  When purportedly asked why he didn't speak up, he states he wasn't asked. In the last three months, he has since changed his mind and supports a one-way option, after 16 years of supporting the previous setup, two-way.
• At a council meeting, one councilman angrily lashed out at the BLCC, RTM School District, Middletown Township and Upper Providence for essentially "Meddling in Media" affairs.  Shockingly, they now have the audacity to seek needed funding from Upper Providence for a new library.

Democrat, Republican, Independent; we all deserve better local, cooperative government that is HELD ACCOUNTABLE!  and represents EVERYONE FAIRLY