The difference between Jeff Buster and any other "investigator" or journalist in the region - besides Jeff being a really socially conscious, worldly, Harvard educated citizen - is that Jeff has a liftime of experience running large, complex construction projects so he actually knows what it takes to build a windmill in Lake Erie, or identify code violations on CDC properties.

Disrupt IT

Jeff, I hold a State of Ohio Electrical License. I have put it in escrow in 2007 because I just did not want to spend the cash on insurance, bonds, city registrations, and mandatory retraining refresher courses while I am care-giving for my Mother. My State Licence is #17455. I also hold a valid certification from the State of Ohio in Fire Alarms/Detection. In actuality that definitely does not meet current NFPA Code. But most of that work had to have been done close to 50 years ago or more. I can tell you most of the structures in Tremont do not meet current 2008 NFPA Code for Services and multiple services. (Yep just like Frank's house, I bet you can say this is a very similar situation) But at one point in time it was code, so unless the building has been rehabbed electrically what you have shown in the picture cannot be cited for just being out of date. That said you bring up several issues. The one that sticks out in my mind is the Service entrance from the street looks undersized to handle the load of all the taps. It looks from the picture that the service conductors from the meter sockets up to the weather head connection look way undersized. That said I would question the conductors from the meters inside to the service protection (fuse/breaker box). One big thing that sticks out I bet the whole system is not properly grounded to protect against a lightning strike or surge (can you say camera NVR, and all the computer equipment can go poof!) Now, all that said they converted several spaces into one, but I bet they currently using several meters, still is legally ok. But some was residential, now its commercial and past the late 90's a commercial site when upgraded needed to have service disconnects on the exterior of the building so the fire department could cut the power off outside. Again if this was upgraded prior to that you would not need this. It is my understanding extensive rehabbing was done upstairs for several residential apartments. I can tell you our building only had a 60 amp service for a storefront and two apartments. In 1998 a couple punks ripped the meter socket down. CEI came out Installed a new 200 amp service and upgraded the meter encasements, and all the service conductors were sized at 300 amp, and each meter feed was upgraded for 100 amp each. NFPA updates the code every three years. We we lucky in the matter because CEI had to restore service, we had to make sure it was to code in 1998. I also can tell you earlier this year the tavern across the street the Tremont Tap House added some new coolers, and a new condenser for a air conditioner to one of the existing service entrances. One day in early summer the undersized wires in the conduit that feed the meter to the weather head melted together and blew the main inside. This addition was about 50-60 amps, the wires ended up being the fuses. After just a cursory review I told Chris the owner that he needed to upgrade that specific service to 200 amp. They had contractors out doing exactly what I said needed to be done. Do I think this will happen at TWDC's offices, I doubt it, but after seeing your detailed picture I would recommend this is upgraded, because it is my professional opinion it is now significantly undersized for the current loads. To clear something up, I hold these licence's but my forte was communication, data, fiber, etc. Not electrical, I actually hate doing electrical. I have about 30 years experience in installing communications systems, and large PBX systems. But the money was made on the installation of the structured cable installations especially when the Cities requested that low voltage installers hold a Electrical licence.

I haven't had any luck finding a link, but I remember reading about a corruption investigation - probably in the PD - about a year ago....    Public funds austensibly for the interior renovation of  (was it HUD houses?) were being paid to contractors and the work was not done. 

 I recall the story was about a public minded woman who went to every address on the rehab list - to find at some addresses  there wasn't even a house...

Maybe this wasn't a Cleveland story but elsewhere.   

Here is a link to HUD's Inspector Generals report on types of fraud pulled on HUD

Perhaps a good start would be a Freedom of Information request to TWDC asking for the costs, addresses of work, and percent of completion and contractors involved and payments to those contractors.  

Here is a sample FOI -   If you do an FOI , please put a copy of your request up here on realneo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mistersugar/423324645/in/set-72157600003404925/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29008999@N05/

they say a picture is worth a thousand words - get a load of these.

Remember when Abe Bruckman's Mack Ct. property in Brooklyn Center was sold to CMHA. Did he abuse his power while working or sitting on boards of the local CDC's?

 http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/10/cmha_paid_top_dollar_for_house.html

http://tremonter.com/node/1761#comment-62472

Lmcs =

we need to do this work - the pd is defunct

Here are two links.  Please take the time to review these stories and threads. Then come to your own conclusions if their is a similarity in Cleveland.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-zoning-storygallery,0,6709336.storygallery

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/aug/06/local/chi-troutman-plea-webaug07

tHANK YOU AND WELCOME - PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO POST AND START A DISCUSSION - SHARE PHOTOS -IDEAS AND LETS HAVE SOME FUN.  IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE SAD OR SERIOUS STUFF EVEN THOUGH WE MUST TAKE CARE OF TOP PRIORTIES FIRST.   I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR THREADS.

AGAIN THANK YOU.

JERLEEN

I'm wondering how this plays out with the parking lot TWDC put out $10k for that UGP and the Flying Monkey is supposed to share - just looks like a big mud site right now - maybe Director Samuel could answer that question since he made the motion.   That is another TremontTruth

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29008999@N05/