Monticello Live

Siemens History of Complaints & Lawsuits, as Documented on the Web

July 16th, 2014 by

Following Thursday night’s City Council meeting, with some questions being answered, and many more not being answered; it seems that the internet was a popular plance for many local residents to go and search for Siemens’ (the company who is intalling our new water meters and will install an estimated 45-93 miles of underground water lines) history. Many of those who did so, forwareded their information to MLive.

Wikipedia describes Siemens in several aspects, including their contoversial history, as shown here.

Listed below are some of the other credible, documented allegation about Siemens.
Siemens in McComb, MS – Federal Court to hear Meter Lawsuit
Siemens in Jackson, MS – “Water Meters Still Worry Council Members”
Siemens Facing Pending Lawsuits in Chicago for Water System Failure
Siemens Facing Lawsuit in Sacramento
Siemens Paid $1.34 Billion in Fines – New York Times

Although these only cover a few of the wide range of products and services that Siemens offer, there is certainly enough “smoke” to be looking for “fires” to erupt.

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Log Truck Rollover at 293/277

July 15th, 2014 by

Shortly after 6:30, Monday evening, this loaded Western Star log truck was involved in a single vehicle rollover, the intersection of HWY 277 & 293.

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Crane Re-Installs Railroad Crossing Lights on 425

July 15th, 2014 by

Workers re-installed the overhead railroad crossing lighs on HWY 425, Monday evening, following the recent log truck / train collisoin where they were destroyed.

Click here to read that article on MLive.

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ELECTION DAY – 596 Early / Absent Votes in Mayor Runoff Election

July 15th, 2014 by

456 early votes were cast, and 26 absentee votes have been signed out, as this morning opens the FINAL DAY of early voting, in the special mayoral runoff between Zack Tucker and Joe Rogers.
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Siemens in McComb, MS – Federal Court to hear Meter Lawsuit

July 15th, 2014 by

McComb, Mississippi Enterprise-Journal’s headline from Oct. 21, 2011, “Federal Ccourt to hear Meter Lawsuit” still brings back bad memories from that towns dealings with Siemens.

McComb’s breach of contract lawsuit against Siemens Public Inc. was to be decided in U.S. Southern District Court after the case, initially filed in Circuit Court, was transferred.

The city’s prior board of mayor and selectmen approved a $4.5 million project with Siemens to install 6,900 automated water meters in January 2010. The meters were installed but not on time, and the city began having software problems related to water readings.

The suit sought a declaratory judgment that Siemens “materially and substantially” breached the contract, and the city owed no further debt to Siemens.

The suit alleged, Siemens missed five target dates, to provide a complete drive-by meter reading system, in addition to the target date for the fixed-base system. It also alleged that Siemens did not perform required tests and maintenance-related tasks for the meter-reading software.

“In breach of its duties, (Siemens) was reckless, negligent and careless in the discharge of its contract,” the suit reads. “The project will not in any way meet the requirements of the (city).”

The full report is available at the Enterprise-Journal.

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Siemens in Jackson, MS – “Water Meters Still Worry Council Members”

July 15th, 2014 by

The Jackson Free Press’ headline “Water Meters Still Worry Council Members” was posted on May 28, 2014

So far, there, crews for Siemens have installed 10,000 of 65,000 new digital meters.

In June 2013, the Jackson City Council entered into a energy performance contract with German engineering giant Siemens to install new water meters, upgrade the city’s billing software, replace equipment at the two water plants, and repair water and sewer lines. The $90 million price tag for the project was covered through cost savings and new revenues.

Some council members see problems achieving those savings, such as there was no money added to the contract for a project manager from the city, which could cost $2 million to $9 million.”These are questions that should have been asked on the front end,” said one official.

The Siemens deal has made council members and citizens wary since May 2012, when their mayor presented a deal for council approval. Since then, turnover at Siemens, as well as with the city, has made it difficult to get information.

“This is a massive contract. We need to come up with a practical solution while we only have 10,000 (meters) installed,” said another local official.

Read the complete story at the Jackson Free Press.

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Siemens Facing Lawsuit in Sacramento

July 15th, 2014 by

Although this manuracturing plant is a different part of the Siemens conglomerate, it points out another division of the German industrial giant as the target of a $10 million lawsuit filed in US District Court in Sacramento.

Siemens Paid $1.34 Billion in Fines – New York Times

July 15th, 2014 by

This 2008 article was carried in the New York Times, as Siemens agreed to pay $1.34 billion in fines for charges that it routinely used bribes and slush funds to secure huge public works contracts around the world.

Here is the article in the New York Times.

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Siemens Facing Pending Lawsuits in Chicago for Water System Failure

July 15th, 2014 by

The city of East Chicago hired Siemens Industry Inc. to install a membrane filtration system in their water treatment plant, located at 3455 Pennsylvania Ave.

The city contends in U.S. District Court documents that the company’s filtration system failed to meet a contractual requirement of 17.3 million gallons a day.

This information is taken from the full article posted in April, 2014 at NWI.com, powered by The Times.

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Let Us Help You Get Ready For A Summer Vacation

July 14th, 2014 by

Vacation copy

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City Council Drills Water Contractor over $60 Million Statement, Maps. & Meters

July 14th, 2014 by

Following Wednesday’s MLive article spotlighting the $60 million rumors circulating the city about the water system improvement project, the City Council quickly called a meeting for Thursday night, to discuss the issue.

Some Councilmembers were familiar with the questions; while others had no idea, until they read the MLive article.

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& the Winner of the Willie Nelson Autographed Guitar Is………

July 13th, 2014 by

Congratulations to Colin Wall of Little Rock, Monticello native, who won the Willie Nelson autographed guitar raffled by Ward Davis. Davis raised approximately $5,000 through this event and the “Music for Mayflower” event he hosted. The money is donated to Mayflower choir students of Bennie Carol Wade Dunavan, former Drew Central choir director for 25 years, who lost their homes in the April 27 tornado.

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Happy Birthday – SUNDAY

July 13th, 2014 by

Happy 19th Birthday Noah Gober

Love you bunches!

Mom & the rest of your crew!

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Something New Is Coming To Mt. Nebo South Campus

July 13th, 2014 by

sunday-school You’re Invited
Something new is coming to Mt. Nebo South Campus!
124 W. Railroad (Behind Burger King) Monticello, AR
Rev. A. L. Brown, Pastor.

Come join us for Sunday School!

Classes for Men, Women and Children
Every Sunday 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Weekly Ministry Schedule
Weekly Worship Service every Sunday at 3:00pm
Weekly Prayer Service every Tuesday at 6:30pm
Weekly Bible Study every Tuesday at 7:00pm

Everyone is invited
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is Lifting up a Standard”

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United Way Welcomes New Campaign Manager for Drew County

July 12th, 2014 by

Kristi Davis is the new United Way Campaign Manager in Drew County. An Arkansas native, Kristi graduated from University of Georgia, in ’91. She began her 17 year career with United Way in Savannah, GA as a Volunteer Coordinator.

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Happy Birthday

July 12th, 2014 by

Happy 6th Birthday, Jace Wyatt!!

We love you so much.

Love Mom, Dad & Bryson.

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90° Days – Lemonade Stand

July 12th, 2014 by

The recent 90 76 ° temperatures inspired some youngsters on South Gabbert, across from Cedar Hill Apartments, to set up a lemonade stand this week, to beat the heat.

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90° Days – Dogs left in Hot Cars

July 12th, 2014 by

Friday night, Herbert Stewart of Bastrop LA, did what many other people do, without realizing how cruel it is.

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Log Truck Rollover near 35 East

July 11th, 2014 by

Wednesday morning around 9:30, the driver of this Kenworth log truck seems to have escaped serious injury, as the loaded truck rolled over, relaxing the cab and pinning him inside.

Nearby logging equipment was used to pull the protective crash assembly away from the back of the cab, so that Monticello Fire and Rescue could use the Jaws of Life to remove the crushed cab. Read the rest of this entry »

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City Council Meeting, Tonight for “$60 Million Rumors on Water Improvements

July 10th, 2014 by

A City Council meeting has been called for tonight at 6:30, to address recent rumors that the $10 million expense paid to Siemens will only improve water service in a small portion of the city, and why another brand of meters was used, in place of the recommended brand.
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Happy Birthday

July 9th, 2014 by

Happy 17th Birthday Cody!
We are very proud of the amazing young man that you are growing to be!
Love always, Daddy, Moma and Kayla

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Happy Anniversary

July 9th, 2014 by

Steve and Katie’s 7 year anniversary.

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Tiny Thai Place – 723-9258

July 8th, 2014 by

TinyThaiPlaceCenter copy

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Happy Birthday

July 8th, 2014 by

Happy 6th Birthday Parker!!

Love

Mommy and Skylar

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Rob & Lori Jones Honored as “Drew County Farm Family of the Year”

July 7th, 2014 by

Rob & Lori Jones, of the Lacey community, along with their sons Beau and Tyler, have been named the 2014 Drew County Farm Family of the Year.

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Congratulations to the “Farm Family Year”

July 7th, 2014 by

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Happy 8th Birthday

July 7th, 2014 by

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Dog Found near Hyatt & College

July 7th, 2014 by

This black and white dog with one eye was found on the corner of College and S. Hyatt.

He is wearing a collar with no tags.

Contact at 870-370-0763.

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Rock Springs Fireworks – Video

July 5th, 2014 by

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Multiple Wrecks Reported, Friday Night

July 5th, 2014 by

This GMC Terrain was involved in one of several automobile crashes, Friday night.

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Pet Found- Great Dane

July 5th, 2014 by

Someone found a great dane in south Drew County

Call 2242648 to identify.

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Cal Ripken World Series Contract Signed for Monticello 2015

July 3rd, 2014 by

James Wagoner, Babe Ruth League Chairman of the board, along with Joe Featherston of the national Babe Ruth board, were in Monticello, Wednesday, for the official contract signing to allow the Drew County Cal Ripken league and Monticello Babe Ruth to host the Cal Ripken Major 60 World Series in August,2015.

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Parolee Arrested for Cocaine & Weed by DCSO & ASP

July 3rd, 2014 by

During the late evening hours on June 27, Drew County Deputy James Slaughter arrived to Sobriety Check Point that had been set up by Troopers of the Arkansas State Police on Old Dermott Rd.

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MISSISSIPPI WOMAN ARRESTED FOR FIREARM THEFT CHARGES

July 3rd, 2014 by

The Drew County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating a theft which occurred around June 22, 2014. It was alleged the victim had five firearms stolen from his home.

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