Letter: Public project debacles must end

This latest fiasco with the beach renourishment project is totally unacceptable and an example of how badly our cities and county manage their major projects.

Do the mayor and the Town Council realize how this will affect tourism (and revenue) on Hilton Head Island? You need to manage projects from inception to completion. Just consider the following projects:

▪  Widening S.C.170, over a year late.

▪  Bluffton Parkway flyover, four months late and counting.

▪  Beach renourishment, at least five months late.

And what responses were provided by county or city spokespeople? On S.C. 170: “Yes, we are late but we are under budget (how this could be is a mystery to me) and we have fired the contractor.” On the flyover: “You have to accept delays on large projects” (no you don’t); “the contractor’s resources were tied up on a project that just completed” (if that is the case then why in February was a statement issued that the project would start in mid-March?).

Now contrast these projects with the total replacement of the Harbour Town Clubhouse and the Shelter Cove Mall. Both large projects were completed on time with rave reviews.

There is a saying used in managing projects: Bad news does not get better with age. But you only know it’s bad if you manage the project. It seems our city/county managers have totally abdicated any management controls, and instead, are more concerned with being politically correct and reactionary.

Something has to change. I could go on but am limited to 250 words.

This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 9:28 PM with the headline "Letter: Public project debacles must end."