Friday, February 20, 2009

Track the Pork.

There's a site that I found that allows one to track the pork projects requested in the "shovel ready" projects in your own backyard. Additionally, it allows for viewer feedback for each project. The site explains:
StimulusWatch.org was built to to help the new administration keep its pledge and to hold public officials to account. We do this by allowing you, citizens around the country with local knowledge about the proposed projects in your city, to find, discuss and rate those projects.
For instance, the page of projects requested for St. Cloud can be found here.

The total cost of all the projects submitted by St. Cloud is $41,687,000

Description City State Jobs Cost Program Type Vote Ratio
10th Avenue North Area Neighborhood Rehabilitation St. Cloud MN 23 $1,800,000 CDBG -13
10th Avenue North Area Neighborhood Rehabilitation - Phase 2 St. Cloud MN 40 $3,750,000 CDBG -7
22nd Avenue North Neighborhood Rehabilitation St. Cloud MN 45 $4,500,000 CDBG -8
54th and 38th Avenue Interceptor St. Cloud MN 3 $190,000 Water -3
Boiler and Roof Replacement - Wastewater Treatment Facility St. Cloud MN 23 $1,860,000 Energy -1
Breckenridge and Cooper Avenue Trail Connection to Lake Wobegon Trail St. Cloud MN 10 $800,000 CDBG -43
Collection System SCADA Programming & Installation St. Cloud MN 4 $300,000 Water -3
East Lake Boulevard Project St. Cloud MN 6 $500,000 CDBG -5
Emergency Standby Generator for Central Maintenance Facility St. Cloud MN 2 $115,000 Energy -7
Energy efficient window upgrade to City Hall Building with Atrium St. Cloud MN 2 $130,000 Energy -7
Geo-Thermo Heat System for Central Maintenance Facility St. Cloud MN 5 $400,000 Energy 1
HVAC Control for City Hall Building St. Cloud MN 2 $70,000 Energy -5
Inset pavement lighting at St. Cloud Regional Airport St. Cloud MN 19 $1,500,000 Airport 7
Intersection of 25th Ave N (Route 132) and 3rd St N (Route 135) - Full signal system replacement St. Cloud MN 3 $215,000 Streets/Roads -3
Intersection of 7th Ave S (Route 110) and 1st St S (Route 118) - Full signal system replacement St. Cloud MN 3 $215,000 Streets/Roads -3
Intersection of 9th Ave S (Route 145) and 16th St S (Route 129) - Signal system upgrade including system controller, video detection and pedestrian countdown timers St. Cloud MN 2 $100,000 Streets/Roads -3
Jet Bridge for St. Cloud Regional Airport Terminal Building St. Cloud MN 8 $600,000 Airport 3
Lincoln Avenue Rehabilitation/Lining Project St. Cloud MN 3 $246,000 Water -2
Lower Pan Interceptor Lining Project St. Cloud MN 25 $2,000,000 Water -3
Main Forcemain Inspection St. Cloud MN 3 $150,000 Water -3
Metro Interceptor Rehabilitation Project St. Cloud MN 19 $1,500,000 Water -5
Northway Liftstation Rehabilitation St. Cloud MN 16 $1,300,000 Water -2
Skate Plaza Improvement St. Cloud MN 9 $750,000 CDBG -110
State Aid Route 123 (Washington Memorial Drive) - 11th St S to CSAH 75 - Full reconstruction of roadway St. Cloud MN 4 $320,000 Streets/Roads -4
State Aid Route 132 (25th Ave) - 1st St N to 3rd St N - Partial depth mill and overlay St. Cloud MN 2 $100,000 Streets/Roads -2
State Aid Route 145 (9th Ave) - 8th St N to 15th St N - full depth mill and reconstruction of asphalt surface St. Cloud MN 8 $650,000 Streets/Roads -3
Street name upgrade program St. Cloud MN 2 $150,000 Streets/Roads -72
University Drive Boulevard Beautification Project St. Cloud MN 2 $150,000 CDBG -22
Upper Pan Interceptor Lining Project St. Cloud MN 11 $840,000 Water -5
UV-Disinfection and Emergency Generator Project - Wastewater Treatment Facility St. Cloud MN 108 $8,661,000 Energy -3
Vacuum Pump Liftstation Replacements (5) St. Cloud MN 25 $2,000,000 Water 0
Water Treatment Facility Rehabilitation and Improvement Project St. Cloud MN 70 $5,825,000 Water 2

Much like I found last night at the Magical Mystery "Listening" tour, it is my contention that your feedback at the site will mean little or next to nothing. But at any rate, it's good to be informed.