I guess this belongs in the "Humor we don't
really need" section. Our church had been trying to get some ball fields finished for about three years now (part of the 'pleasure' of mostly using volunteer 'managers'). We also have had a very recent and better managed project (larger parking lot and a permanent utility building) that included some earth moving. The end result was a rather large mound of dirt in one part of our campus. Since I'm within walking distance, I'm around quite often. Some months ago, the contractor working on the ball fields noted that he was having to
purchase dirt to help facilitate the
possibility of getting any kind of vegetation to grow. I suggested that it might be easier on him, and a lot cheaper on the church, if he simply used "some of the dirt in that large mound over there." [Side note: We found that the earth moving contractor had originally planned on moving
our dirt off-site, at our cost, of course, and at probably a small profit for him. So much for the 'oversight' and 'due diligence' of the architect...] Today, while at the campus for a completely different reason, I saw the supervisor for the parking lot project. He asked if I had any idea who might have 'borrowed' dirt from the large pile. "Why, I think I might have a very good idea who that might be. In fact, I am the one who suggested the use and moving of said dirt." His reply gets to the heart of the 'humor.' "Well, the city won't give us an OK on the final inspection for the parking lot, lighting, building, landscaping, silt control and irrigation because the dirt pile does not look good. Those 'borrow' cuts degrade the symmetry and aesthetics of the dirt pile."
I just feel so honored to live in a town that is so concerned for my visual enjoyment. The fact that the dirt pile cannot be seen unless one drives to the back of the property seems to be stretching this concern for satisfying visual experience just a little, is irrelevant, of course, to our diligent, hard-working city employees and the superlative legal support staff.
I, of course, feel responsible for this visual distraction and have taken steps to rectify it as soon as possible. When completed, our church will have the prettiest dirt pile in the city!
