What it means to be cited on Contractor Report for violations

If your company is cited here for violations....

• You could be sued, with penalties of $37,500 per violation per day.  Reports on this blog led to a citizen's suit against Speedway Sand and Gravel.  More
• The detailed photo documentation we provide is there for all to see, including the courts.
• Potential clients will find out.  If a client simply googles your company name, and we have covered you, our story will appear on page two of Google results.  This is how some new readers find our blog.
• You will be inspected soon.  But no problem--the City is on your side.  They are being sued by citizens also.  Agencies like DNR are too overworked to inspect unless there is a complaint (from this blog).
• Our reports provide the basis for stories in the press.  We don't actively seek press coverage, because that promotes posturing and hot air.  We'd prefer honest discussion and a search by all for a solution to the problem.  One news story.  Another.
• The Alder for your area will find out.  We usually notify Alders when there's a violation in their district.   Several Alders read this blog often, and one is a "follower."
• If you have a public relations firm, they will send you a big bill for following the negative publicity on our site.  The PR firm of one large contractor spent hours crawling over our site (17 return visits).  In the end, their advice will probably be: "Obey the law if you want to keep your green image."
• City Engineering sent a letter to one contractor warning them they could be "decertified" after we discussed the company with City officials.
• We are watching for falsified self-inspection reports.  One contractor reported the stormwater inlet filters had been inspected and cleaned, when the photos from a day or so later showed weeds growing in the same clogged inlet.  Falsified reports are fraud.
• City officials have visited this blog at least 59 times (to date).
• DNR officials have visited this blog.
• People from 23 US states and 17 countries have visited this blog.  Your deeds are known across the world.
• We average about 10 hits a day.  Sometimes up to a hundred.  Not large, but it's a local blog, and the readers are your clients, boss, inspectors, peers, and investors.  A few readers have spent hours on the blog.
• Major violations get coverage in two blogs--this and Save Our Stream  (intended for citizens).  We may also notify a large list of people by email, and post factual unfavorable reviews of your company on other websites.
• After a storm, we receive a flurry of hits.  Presumably, companies are checking to see if anyone noticed their shortcuts.  Likewise, inspectors may be looking for leads.
• In the case of companies with repeated violations, we may attempt to influence the bidding outcome for future contracts. This may be hard with the City, but it's a distinct possibility for a private project like the Edgewater reconstruction.
• If you repeat violations, we will follow you from job to job.  Example
• A "green image" is becoming essential for every business.  We love to poke holes in green baloney.

We do notice, respect, and reward companies who do good work

We made positive comments about Krupp Construction, Miron Construction, and several firms working at the Target site.  If you take prompt remedial action and have few future violations, we will remove or reduce negative comments on this blog.