This is partially a follow-up to the "Missed Dig Once Opportunities" update. I made an official, one sentence long, public record request to find out the average cost of street repairs, as I'll list below. I was asked to withdraw the request, which is odd, and take a phone call instead from the Public Works Department. I was told that it was better than making a written request for the cost of a repair?! Anyway, I found out on this call that the city is installing lots of new conduit for its own use. They're using 4" of conduit on many repairs. They are using 2 pieces of conduit that are 2". This is a lot of conduit with a lot of room for expansion and you've paid for it. Still, even though this can and should be used for the maximum benefit of the citizens of Bellingham, they are refusing the public access to it. Their justifications are loose at best. Here are the ballpark figures I received for the repair on Holly Street from Railroad to Cornwall Ave. Note that this is only for one side of the street, NOT the whole block. Estimated total cost at least 1.38 Million Dollars, expected to be 1.6 Million Dollars, there is an outside chance it will be 1.75 Million Dollars. Again, all numbers are approximate and I wasn't able to get them until I assured them I was just looking for ballpark figures. 1.38 - 1.75 Million breaks down into: $100 K Utility Repairs Including Hydrants $200 K for the concrete sidewalks that have to be busted up for future expansions $500 K for asphalt Remainder (Unexpected problems, Tree Well Irrigation, etc.) I of course made the arguments to them that I've made here before. The first time I was referred to an overpriced private provider by the COB employee. The second time I was told "we're not very good at it, so why do you want us to do it? The private providers are." Guess this COB employee missed the fact that the State of Washington is suing Comcast, for example or that our gigabit prices are at least double that of many other towns, if you can get it in the first place, which most people can't. Seems like they really have an odd bias towards large private providers. In the end, regardless of everyone's personal opinions, you paid for the conduit, so you should be given access to it if you want it. Conduit is a very small expense when compared with the rest of the project. Sounds like some people really need to be held accountable. I mean really, are they hording it for themselves like children horde candy?