Friday, November 18, 2011
The old KDC property
Almost five years ago today (Nov 22nd, 2006 to be precise) I posted here about the old Kaipara Dairy Company property in Mill Road. It had just come up for sale, and I asked locals for ideas for the property's future.
Well, the property was sold to a developer, and has basically just sat there slowly disintegrating over the intervening years.
Now, it's up for sale again - at auction on December 7th. The realtor says "it must be sold". The property is valued at just over $2 million, but I suspect it is unlikely anything like that amount will be reached.
I had a very interesting wander around the property a few days ago; it's dilipidated state and colourful grafitti made it very photogenic. I had no idea there were so many separate buildings - about a dozen in in all - of such variety, from the beautifully-tiled original factory buildings to the enormous, high-stud iron shed about the size of a football field.
So what's going to happen to it this time?
There is a dedicated band of locals keen to see the site developed as, among other things, an arts centre and market. Auckland Council does have some funds for this sort of thing, but a whole lot more cash would be needed. Working with the existing buildings would be a very costly exercise.
One prospective purchaser is apparently in the film industry, interested in using the solid concrete buildings as a soundstage. Just think what a boon to the local economy it would be if we could get the movie industry here - maybe we could become the Weta of the north?
Oh, and yes, I realise it's been a fair while since I posted anything here. But then the heading at the top does say "occasional" comments...
Well, the property was sold to a developer, and has basically just sat there slowly disintegrating over the intervening years.
Now, it's up for sale again - at auction on December 7th. The realtor says "it must be sold". The property is valued at just over $2 million, but I suspect it is unlikely anything like that amount will be reached.
I had a very interesting wander around the property a few days ago; it's dilipidated state and colourful grafitti made it very photogenic. I had no idea there were so many separate buildings - about a dozen in in all - of such variety, from the beautifully-tiled original factory buildings to the enormous, high-stud iron shed about the size of a football field.
So what's going to happen to it this time?
There is a dedicated band of locals keen to see the site developed as, among other things, an arts centre and market. Auckland Council does have some funds for this sort of thing, but a whole lot more cash would be needed. Working with the existing buildings would be a very costly exercise.
One prospective purchaser is apparently in the film industry, interested in using the solid concrete buildings as a soundstage. Just think what a boon to the local economy it would be if we could get the movie industry here - maybe we could become the Weta of the north?
Oh, and yes, I realise it's been a fair while since I posted anything here. But then the heading at the top does say "occasional" comments...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Super City? We're a Super Town!
So, what's in it for Helensville when we become part of the new Auckland Super City? Not a lot, I suspect.
It's a fairly common feeling around these parts - and arguably justified - that we are already something of the 'poor cousin' within Rodney District (in a Helensville website poll in 2006, 94 percent of respondents said Helensville wasn't treated fairly compared to other Rodney communities for civic amenities and design, while in another in 2002 75% thought the area was treated either only averagely or poorly).
I don't see our treatment improving once we are lumped in with every other town all the way down to somewhere in the nether regions of South Auckland (will that become South Super-City I wonder?).
But am I worried?
No, not really, because we already live in a super little town - and while the benefits of belonging to the super city may prove to be thin on the ground, the detriments probably will too. Perhaps the best thing would be for the super city powers to largely ignore Helensville, and let us keep our historic little town pretty much the way it is.
My dream would be for the 'super council' to set up something like a new 'heritage zone', designating a town like Helensville as an area where 'big box' chain stores like The Warehouse and fast food outlets like McDonalds aren't allowed. I realise it's already too late for that, what with Placemakers, Mitre 10 et al already lining Mill Road. But maybe we can keep the town from losing any more character.
My opinion on the super city may be a minority one, however - judging by the (so far small) number of votes on the current Helensville website poll ("Will Helensville suffer when Auckland becomes a single 'Super City'?") almost 80 percent of respondents think Helensville will be worse off once the super city comes into effect.
Is that just natural pessimism? Time will tell, I guess.
It's a fairly common feeling around these parts - and arguably justified - that we are already something of the 'poor cousin' within Rodney District (in a Helensville website poll in 2006, 94 percent of respondents said Helensville wasn't treated fairly compared to other Rodney communities for civic amenities and design, while in another in 2002 75% thought the area was treated either only averagely or poorly).
I don't see our treatment improving once we are lumped in with every other town all the way down to somewhere in the nether regions of South Auckland (will that become South Super-City I wonder?).
But am I worried?
No, not really, because we already live in a super little town - and while the benefits of belonging to the super city may prove to be thin on the ground, the detriments probably will too. Perhaps the best thing would be for the super city powers to largely ignore Helensville, and let us keep our historic little town pretty much the way it is.
My dream would be for the 'super council' to set up something like a new 'heritage zone', designating a town like Helensville as an area where 'big box' chain stores like The Warehouse and fast food outlets like McDonalds aren't allowed. I realise it's already too late for that, what with Placemakers, Mitre 10 et al already lining Mill Road. But maybe we can keep the town from losing any more character.
My opinion on the super city may be a minority one, however - judging by the (so far small) number of votes on the current Helensville website poll ("Will Helensville suffer when Auckland becomes a single 'Super City'?") almost 80 percent of respondents think Helensville will be worse off once the super city comes into effect.
Is that just natural pessimism? Time will tell, I guess.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Extreme Engineering!
No, it's not a new reality show - but perhaps it should be.
Imagine it - Extreme Engineering!, where contestants representing local government organisations compete to over-engineer even the simplest of structures.
On our left, the first entrant - Rodney District Council, with its entry: "Parakai Entrance Road Signage".
Seriously folks, what were they thinking?
Parakai now has two 'lovely' (and I use the term loosely) "Welcome to Parakai - Please Slow Down" signs at its Southern entrance. In itself, that's not a bad idea. But these signs took a team of workers more than a week to put up - and the work isn't finished yet.
Because of the fall-off either side of the road, they build gigantic retaining walls butting out each side of the tarmac, filled with earth. On the footpath side, this then meant a drain had to be piped, and the footpath realigned around the retaining wall. Then, six enormous wooden poles, three per sign, were installed in the dirt-filled retaining walls. Now, each pole on its own is hefty enough to support the weight of a small fishing vessel, and stout enough to deflect a minor meteor strike. And there are three per flimsy sign!
As I say, this involved a whole team of workers, plus heavy machinery, for at least a week (not to mention, I am sure, visits by engineers, planners, architects etc, plus all the attendant office work). Then, over the past couple of days, more workers have turned up to paint the road red between the two signs. No doubt more workers will turn up soon to plant the bare earth under the signs - at least they had better, or else!
That's the one bright light in the whole affair - it would appear we are to get some gardens at last. For a long time I have bitched about our ugly red tar seal roundabout at the end of SH16, while every other area in the district gets nice planted ones - so it's nice to see our extreme signage is to be planted beneath. Nice bright flowers would be both welcome and welcoming, though we'll more likely get miniature flaxes (nicely sculptural and still attractive) or, worse, boring old coprosma (but even the ugliest plant is still vastly preferable to concrete!)
What have these signs cost the ratepayer?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those whingers who moans everytime the council spends a cent on anything other than sewerage, water supply or roads. On the contrary, I love seeing local body beautification, and money spent on 'non essential' things like parks, libraries, etc. Those are the things that make a place liveable, rather than just somewhere to exist. But when spending those rates dollars, there needs to be a justifiable reason for the expenditure, value for money and an easily perceived benefit resulting from the expense.
Were these signs really the best thing the council could spend it's cash on?
I'll be honest - the structures don't look too bad. Once gardens are growing beneath them, they should look moderately attractive. But they just seem such overkill, and really rather unnecessary. We had 50 km/h signs there before - what was wrong with those? If motorists won't slow for a 50km/h sign, are they more likely to do so for a sign supported by three mammoth kauri trunks?
And did they have to use those ugly, standard blue road signs on them? When I saw the poles going up, I had a brief hope Parakai was going to get some form of really attractive entrance way - maybe some nice Maori carving, or painted signs welcoming visitors. They could have still had the "slow down" message. I'm sure motorists aren't too stupid to misunderstand something like that, just because it's in a slightly different form to usual - in fact, they would probably be more likely to notice them if they were something special.
What we got, of course, is an adaptation of a standard design. Nothing special for Parakai, as usual. I presume these massively-supported signs are going to be a fixture around the district; I see they have gone in at one end of Waitoki already - though they make more sense there, as they didn't require all the retaining work, drain filling and path realignment - just bang in the poles and put up the signs.
So, what's the next entry for Extreme Engineering? Send in your suggestions ...
Imagine it - Extreme Engineering!, where contestants representing local government organisations compete to over-engineer even the simplest of structures.
On our left, the first entrant - Rodney District Council, with its entry: "Parakai Entrance Road Signage".
Seriously folks, what were they thinking?
Parakai now has two 'lovely' (and I use the term loosely) "Welcome to Parakai - Please Slow Down" signs at its Southern entrance. In itself, that's not a bad idea. But these signs took a team of workers more than a week to put up - and the work isn't finished yet.
Because of the fall-off either side of the road, they build gigantic retaining walls butting out each side of the tarmac, filled with earth. On the footpath side, this then meant a drain had to be piped, and the footpath realigned around the retaining wall. Then, six enormous wooden poles, three per sign, were installed in the dirt-filled retaining walls. Now, each pole on its own is hefty enough to support the weight of a small fishing vessel, and stout enough to deflect a minor meteor strike. And there are three per flimsy sign!
As I say, this involved a whole team of workers, plus heavy machinery, for at least a week (not to mention, I am sure, visits by engineers, planners, architects etc, plus all the attendant office work). Then, over the past couple of days, more workers have turned up to paint the road red between the two signs. No doubt more workers will turn up soon to plant the bare earth under the signs - at least they had better, or else!
That's the one bright light in the whole affair - it would appear we are to get some gardens at last. For a long time I have bitched about our ugly red tar seal roundabout at the end of SH16, while every other area in the district gets nice planted ones - so it's nice to see our extreme signage is to be planted beneath. Nice bright flowers would be both welcome and welcoming, though we'll more likely get miniature flaxes (nicely sculptural and still attractive) or, worse, boring old coprosma (but even the ugliest plant is still vastly preferable to concrete!)
What have these signs cost the ratepayer?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those whingers who moans everytime the council spends a cent on anything other than sewerage, water supply or roads. On the contrary, I love seeing local body beautification, and money spent on 'non essential' things like parks, libraries, etc. Those are the things that make a place liveable, rather than just somewhere to exist. But when spending those rates dollars, there needs to be a justifiable reason for the expenditure, value for money and an easily perceived benefit resulting from the expense.
Were these signs really the best thing the council could spend it's cash on?
I'll be honest - the structures don't look too bad. Once gardens are growing beneath them, they should look moderately attractive. But they just seem such overkill, and really rather unnecessary. We had 50 km/h signs there before - what was wrong with those? If motorists won't slow for a 50km/h sign, are they more likely to do so for a sign supported by three mammoth kauri trunks?
And did they have to use those ugly, standard blue road signs on them? When I saw the poles going up, I had a brief hope Parakai was going to get some form of really attractive entrance way - maybe some nice Maori carving, or painted signs welcoming visitors. They could have still had the "slow down" message. I'm sure motorists aren't too stupid to misunderstand something like that, just because it's in a slightly different form to usual - in fact, they would probably be more likely to notice them if they were something special.
What we got, of course, is an adaptation of a standard design. Nothing special for Parakai, as usual. I presume these massively-supported signs are going to be a fixture around the district; I see they have gone in at one end of Waitoki already - though they make more sense there, as they didn't require all the retaining work, drain filling and path realignment - just bang in the poles and put up the signs.
So, what's the next entry for Extreme Engineering? Send in your suggestions ...
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Helensville Christmas Parade
Well, another Christmas Parade has been and gone (Sat, Dec 6).
This annual event is a real tribute to all those involved in organising it and running it on the day - the Business Association, all the groups and organisations who create the floats and displays, and of course the public who turn up year in and year out to watch it.
This year we were blessed with beautiful weather again; I can't remember a wet parade actually, though I guess over the years there must have been one or two!
I think it's the variety that makes the parade so great. It's not just traditional floats but kids on horses, clowns, classic vehicles - even dogs! And of course recognising faces on the floats makes it all the more fun and really gives it that community feel. Once again Oikoumene Forest had, in my opinion, the stand-out float - Don, you really look like a good old-fashioned ooh-arrr pirate!
The number of schools taking part was fabulous. In fact there were so many small children taking part, from schools, the Pony Club, River Valley Kindy, Sunny Days Preschool etc that it's amazing there were enough left to be spectators! I think it's these kids who deserve the REAL thanks - they pretty much give up the chance to watch the whole parade and enjoy the rest of the festivities so that the 'show can go on'.
I do have one small word of advise for the organisers - there should be a rule somewhere that floats must get into the festive spirit. There were two or three with the bare minimum of tinsel, and one - yes, I'm naming you, Parakai Wholesale Liqour - that made absolutely no effort at all, not so much as a sprig of holly or strip of tinsel, just a huge advertising billboard. Even the little kids on the back were without so much as a Santa hat.
The Helensville Christmas parade is a family, community festivity - NOT a vehicle for blatant advertising. I heard several people in the crowd around me muttering about that particular float, so the chances are their "advertising" has backfired anyway.
You can check out some of my photos from the parade here.
This annual event is a real tribute to all those involved in organising it and running it on the day - the Business Association, all the groups and organisations who create the floats and displays, and of course the public who turn up year in and year out to watch it.
This year we were blessed with beautiful weather again; I can't remember a wet parade actually, though I guess over the years there must have been one or two!
I think it's the variety that makes the parade so great. It's not just traditional floats but kids on horses, clowns, classic vehicles - even dogs! And of course recognising faces on the floats makes it all the more fun and really gives it that community feel. Once again Oikoumene Forest had, in my opinion, the stand-out float - Don, you really look like a good old-fashioned ooh-arrr pirate!
The number of schools taking part was fabulous. In fact there were so many small children taking part, from schools, the Pony Club, River Valley Kindy, Sunny Days Preschool etc that it's amazing there were enough left to be spectators! I think it's these kids who deserve the REAL thanks - they pretty much give up the chance to watch the whole parade and enjoy the rest of the festivities so that the 'show can go on'.
I do have one small word of advise for the organisers - there should be a rule somewhere that floats must get into the festive spirit. There were two or three with the bare minimum of tinsel, and one - yes, I'm naming you, Parakai Wholesale Liqour - that made absolutely no effort at all, not so much as a sprig of holly or strip of tinsel, just a huge advertising billboard. Even the little kids on the back were without so much as a Santa hat.
The Helensville Christmas parade is a family, community festivity - NOT a vehicle for blatant advertising. I heard several people in the crowd around me muttering about that particular float, so the chances are their "advertising" has backfired anyway.
You can check out some of my photos from the parade here.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Helensville Passenger Rail Trial
Have you ridden on the new passenger rail service to Auckland yet?
Are you going to?
For the first time in 28 years, Helensville residents can take the train to work (or play) - but the skeptic in me wonders just how many actually will.
Rail is probably the most relaxing way to travel on land, but spending more than three hours of your day getting to and from work (96 minutes each way, not counting the time to get to and from the station) may be more than most people can handle.
Sure, petrol prices are awful, and bound to get worse (though fuel costs will likely push up rail fares in future, too) - but for many people it's going to be a choice between two evils - wasting money on gas, or wasting the additional time over a car trip (say 45 minutes on a good day, 75 with bad traffic).
Proponents of the new rail service point out that commuters can use the rail travel time to work, and I'm sure some will get out their laptops and make good use of their time. I suspect most, however, will read a book, leaf through the paper, snooze or just stare out the window, mesmerised by that lovely clickety-clack sound trains make. That's what I'd do!
The rail service is a trial at this stage, and it will be up to locals (and those at the other new stops, Huapai and Waukauku) to get behind it if they want it to continue.
I'm not sure starting the trial in the middle of winter was a good idea. People are going to less inclined to use a train if they have to walk to the station in the cold and dark - maybe they should have been eased into it with a summer start?
Perhaps I'm being fussy - after all, I spent several years in London trudging through snow and ice to catch the 'Tube'. Then again, I didn't have a car...
So, will the rail trial be a success? I believe there will be a hard core of people who will use it to the max, but a lot of other people will try it for a while, then slide back into their comfort zone of pedalling their car to work.
Personally, I hope the trial succeeds. Better public transport has got to be good for everyone, and anything that clears some vehicles off the road to make way for my car has got to be good! ;-)
Are you going to?
For the first time in 28 years, Helensville residents can take the train to work (or play) - but the skeptic in me wonders just how many actually will.
Rail is probably the most relaxing way to travel on land, but spending more than three hours of your day getting to and from work (96 minutes each way, not counting the time to get to and from the station) may be more than most people can handle.
Sure, petrol prices are awful, and bound to get worse (though fuel costs will likely push up rail fares in future, too) - but for many people it's going to be a choice between two evils - wasting money on gas, or wasting the additional time over a car trip (say 45 minutes on a good day, 75 with bad traffic).
Proponents of the new rail service point out that commuters can use the rail travel time to work, and I'm sure some will get out their laptops and make good use of their time. I suspect most, however, will read a book, leaf through the paper, snooze or just stare out the window, mesmerised by that lovely clickety-clack sound trains make. That's what I'd do!
The rail service is a trial at this stage, and it will be up to locals (and those at the other new stops, Huapai and Waukauku) to get behind it if they want it to continue.
I'm not sure starting the trial in the middle of winter was a good idea. People are going to less inclined to use a train if they have to walk to the station in the cold and dark - maybe they should have been eased into it with a summer start?
Perhaps I'm being fussy - after all, I spent several years in London trudging through snow and ice to catch the 'Tube'. Then again, I didn't have a car...
So, will the rail trial be a success? I believe there will be a hard core of people who will use it to the max, but a lot of other people will try it for a while, then slide back into their comfort zone of pedalling their car to work.
Personally, I hope the trial succeeds. Better public transport has got to be good for everyone, and anything that clears some vehicles off the road to make way for my car has got to be good! ;-)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Traffic signs
Yeah, I know - another long break!
So, has anyone else noticed the new speed signs by the roundabout at the Mill Rd/Parkhurst Rd/SH16 roundabout. Whose clever idea were they?
Driving from Helensville to Parakai you are in a 70km/h zone on Mill Rd. Right before the roundabout, that changes to 100km/h - great place to speed up, right? But then, the minute you get through the roundabout, it's now an 80km/h zone on Parkhurst. So, 70km/h along the straight, 100 round the roundabout, then 80 along the next straight!
Going from Parakai to Helensville is the opposite - 80km/h along Parkhurst, with a 100km sign right on the roundabout, then drop back to 70km/h entering Mill Rd.
The situation was of course different until very recently - Parkhurst Rd used to be a 100km/h zone, so the signage made sense. But with the drop to 80km/h, it seems no-one thought to rethink the signage.
Now, I'm not a complete idiot (I hope) - I realise that the 100km/h applies to SH16. So why not put the 100km/h sign at the start of SH16 instead of before the roundabout on either side? Obviously, no-one's going to go through the roundabout at 100 (I've tried: it doesn't work - just kidding) - but it seems unneccessarily confusing signage.
I guess the reason is probably some silly jurisdiction thing - the roundabout is probably the responsibility of Transit NZ (ie considered part of SH16) whereas Mill & Parkhurst Roads are probably looked after by the Council. I'm just guessing here, but that seems to be par for the course in matters like these.
Maybe a little common sense in future?
So, has anyone else noticed the new speed signs by the roundabout at the Mill Rd/Parkhurst Rd/SH16 roundabout. Whose clever idea were they?
Driving from Helensville to Parakai you are in a 70km/h zone on Mill Rd. Right before the roundabout, that changes to 100km/h - great place to speed up, right? But then, the minute you get through the roundabout, it's now an 80km/h zone on Parkhurst. So, 70km/h along the straight, 100 round the roundabout, then 80 along the next straight!
Going from Parakai to Helensville is the opposite - 80km/h along Parkhurst, with a 100km sign right on the roundabout, then drop back to 70km/h entering Mill Rd.
The situation was of course different until very recently - Parkhurst Rd used to be a 100km/h zone, so the signage made sense. But with the drop to 80km/h, it seems no-one thought to rethink the signage.
Now, I'm not a complete idiot (I hope) - I realise that the 100km/h applies to SH16. So why not put the 100km/h sign at the start of SH16 instead of before the roundabout on either side? Obviously, no-one's going to go through the roundabout at 100 (I've tried: it doesn't work - just kidding) - but it seems unneccessarily confusing signage.
I guess the reason is probably some silly jurisdiction thing - the roundabout is probably the responsibility of Transit NZ (ie considered part of SH16) whereas Mill & Parkhurst Roads are probably looked after by the Council. I'm just guessing here, but that seems to be par for the course in matters like these.
Maybe a little common sense in future?
Thursday, November 22, 2007
New Councils and Road Repairs
I'm back! Apologies for the brief (four month!) absence - who new it would be so hard finding time to put fingers to keyboard? Being self-employed, though, it's nice to know I've been so busy!
The big news in the interim - our new council.
It was nice to see that Rodney had one of the highest voter turnouts in the country, though it's still appallingly low at just 45 percent. People tend to bitch and moan about their local council year in and year out - but when it comes time to vote, more than half can't even get off their bums and have a say. Guess they get what they deserve.
Anyway, the newly elected council seems to be quite a nice mix of experience and new blood, so it will be interesting to see what happens over the next three years. Mayor Penny Webster has already put Eastern Ward councillor Wayne Walker on notice to work in a team effort; with a tenuous one-vote hold on his seat, I'm guessing he won't be rocking the boat too much!
And my prediction for the next three years? More of the same.
I really don't anticipate anything changing. The council will still be generally well-meaning as it goes about its day-to-day running of our district, but hopelessly inefficient at many things. There will still be miles of red tape whenever someone wants to get something done. And there will never be enough money to do all the things the council - and the ratepayers - want done.
If there's one generalisation about ratepayers, it's that most of them don't like paying their rates. A significant proportion also believe their council should only be spending their rate money on the basic necessities of running the town/city/district/region - the nuts and bolts stuff. I'm always amazed at the people who begrudge rate money going to the zoo or museum, or to parks or other cultural amenities.
Personally I'm all for rate money going to those sorts of things - they are the elements that make where we live "civilised".
But I do hate to see rate money simply wasted.
A case in point - road repairs. So much money gets tossed at substandard repair work it's enough to make you weep.
About six weeks ago, a large part of the bottom end of Fordyce Road was resealed. The asphalt was badly potholed, and the workers spent several days spreading, grading and rolling metal over the existing surface, then tar sealing over it. It looked like they were doing a good job, but it was really only a quick cosmetic patch-up, and already the council has been forced to patch a number of potholes that have reappeared.
Why don't they do a proper job? Yes, it'll cost more initially, but at least it will last and ultimately save money.
Perhaps they just aren't interested in what might happen during the next 3-year term ...
The big news in the interim - our new council.
It was nice to see that Rodney had one of the highest voter turnouts in the country, though it's still appallingly low at just 45 percent. People tend to bitch and moan about their local council year in and year out - but when it comes time to vote, more than half can't even get off their bums and have a say. Guess they get what they deserve.
Anyway, the newly elected council seems to be quite a nice mix of experience and new blood, so it will be interesting to see what happens over the next three years. Mayor Penny Webster has already put Eastern Ward councillor Wayne Walker on notice to work in a team effort; with a tenuous one-vote hold on his seat, I'm guessing he won't be rocking the boat too much!
And my prediction for the next three years? More of the same.
I really don't anticipate anything changing. The council will still be generally well-meaning as it goes about its day-to-day running of our district, but hopelessly inefficient at many things. There will still be miles of red tape whenever someone wants to get something done. And there will never be enough money to do all the things the council - and the ratepayers - want done.
If there's one generalisation about ratepayers, it's that most of them don't like paying their rates. A significant proportion also believe their council should only be spending their rate money on the basic necessities of running the town/city/district/region - the nuts and bolts stuff. I'm always amazed at the people who begrudge rate money going to the zoo or museum, or to parks or other cultural amenities.
Personally I'm all for rate money going to those sorts of things - they are the elements that make where we live "civilised".
But I do hate to see rate money simply wasted.
A case in point - road repairs. So much money gets tossed at substandard repair work it's enough to make you weep.
About six weeks ago, a large part of the bottom end of Fordyce Road was resealed. The asphalt was badly potholed, and the workers spent several days spreading, grading and rolling metal over the existing surface, then tar sealing over it. It looked like they were doing a good job, but it was really only a quick cosmetic patch-up, and already the council has been forced to patch a number of potholes that have reappeared.
Why don't they do a proper job? Yes, it'll cost more initially, but at least it will last and ultimately save money.
Perhaps they just aren't interested in what might happen during the next 3-year term ...
