Merced Sun-Star Tip List: City pre-empts Tip List's call to cleanliness by scheduling eyesore for some fixing up

Nothing like a 15-foot-tall blank canvas to pique the interest of Merced's taggers.

At one of the city's abandoned ... er ... I mean ... temporarily vacated home developments, the builder has left a half-built wall that seems to attract spray paint cans like the Raiders attract tailgaters.

I've received many calls about the graffiti problem in this area, but it wasn't until I saw it with my own eyes Saturday that I realized how bad it had gotten. While on a 21-mile bike ride, my first with the Merced Bike Coalition, we snaked through Merced's backcountry (the vast open land that is Bellevue Ranch). I enjoyed the autumn scenery along Bear Creek (it would be nicer with less trash, but that's a column for another day), and I enjoyed the roll through Applegate Park.

But one stretch of the ride was far less scenic.

The would-be home of Highland Park, which has halted development, is apparently the home of a nest of taggers that have littered the massive wall with their "art."

It turns out that the tipsters and I aren't the only ones who have taken notice.

The city is already in negotiations with Pacific Pride of Modesto, the company in control of the property. City of Merced spokesman Mike Conway says the city wants the company to fix the problem and prevent it in the future.

"We want them to include landscaping and water so that you have something growing on it," said Conway. "No fresh canvas for all of those vandals to attack."

Conway says money for the project would come from bonds the builder holds as insurance on the now-defunct project.

Conway expects there'll be a settlement by the end of the month or early December.

Hopefully soon, those "vandals" will have to find a new canvas.

And here's some more good news. A few months back I wrote about the damaged entry into the Merced County Library. I'm happy to say that the small crater once used to ward off drivers is now fixed, thanks to a joint project between the city of Merced and the county.

After being alerted to the problem, the Merced County Public Works department, along with their counterparts at the city, remedied the situation quickly.

"The gutter was extended to eliminate the high spot in the flow line, so water should drain to the nearby catch basin," said county spokeswoman Katie Albertson. "With improved access, we hope that local residents will take advantage of the county library and the many services that it offers."

Conway seconded Albertson's notion. Isn't it great what a little teamwork can accomplish?

WHAT'S WRONG: Graffiti problem at a housing development

WHO'S BEING INVOLVED: Pacific Pride of Modesto

WHAT'S BEING DONE: Company is in negotiations with city of Merced to get improvements done using bond money.

Tip off the tip list!

If you see something broken or in need of repair in your neighborhood, call the Sun-Star Tip List reporter, Tom Price, with your tips at (209) 385-2459 or e-mail tprice@mercedsun-star.com.