Our entire region is preparing for the very real possibility that there will be severe shortages of rock salt for use on roads during this winter season. There are numerous reasons for this and I have included an informative article by the Ohio Municipal League, which helps explain this situation.

In this letter, I would like to inform you about Orange Village’s plans to manage this situation and what approaches we are implementing to ensure that our roads will continue to be properly maintained as this winter’s snow continues.

Fortunately, Orange Village elected to participate with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for bidding and contracting for our rock salt, as we have done in previous years. We also received a relatively reasonable cost of $39.57 per delivered ton. However, the contract does not guarantee we will actually receive all the salt we order.

Effective immediately, Orange Village will be instituting changes to its salting and snow plowing practices. These “SENSIBLE SALTING PRACTICES” were recently adopted by the Cuyahoga County Service Directors Association and the Cuyahoga County Mayors & City Managers Association for use throughout the region. The guidelines from this resolution will be implemented in Orange Village, as outlined below:

• Limited salting during the late evening/early morning hours. During periods of snowfall between the hours of approximately 11:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m, the effectiveness of salting is minimal due to low traffic volumes. The goal of the service department during this timeframe will be to provide “passable roadways,” defined as roadways that are “free from drifts, snow ridges and as much ice and snow pack as is practical; roadways which can be traveled safely at reasonable speeds.” Intersections, hills, curves and bridges will be salted on main roads during these hours. Plowing and salting of main roads beginning at 4:00 a.m. will provide adequate time to prepare the roads for the rush hour.

• Limited salting during heaving snow events. During periods of 1” of snow or more per hour, main roads will be plowed as frequently as possible, but will only be salted at intersections and stop signs, hills, curves and bridges. “Spot salting,” defined as “intermittent spreading of salt at 150 ft. intervals,” will also be utilized when practicable.

• Limited salting on secondary roads. Secondary roads will be plowed as often as possible, but will only be salted within 200 feet from each intersection and stop signs, hills, curves and bridges. Spot salting will be used on secondary roads when practical.

• Proper training of employees and communication of this policy. Snow removal crews have been properly advised of these sensible salting practices and are instructed to follow the guidelines set forth herein.

• Investigation of alternative products. We will continue to investigate the benefits of this policy and explore the use of alternative products such as brine, aggregates and other enhanced deicers.

There have been many discussions and some attempts over the years to reduce the quantity of salt usage on our roads in order to protect our environment. We are forced to implement many of those strategies now. While we are concerned about all the environmental impacts of salt usage and any possibility for containing costs, our primary goal has been, and always will be, the safety of our residents and the motoring public.

If there are any further questions about this, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at Village Hall or Service Director, Bruce White at 440-498-4403, and we will assist you in any way possible.

Yours truly,

Kathy U Mulcahy
Mayor

Snow Plowing

Please make sure your snow plow contractor is registered with Orange Village.
Before hiring a contractor, see the fraud alert posted by the Police Department.

SNOW REMOVAL REGULATIONS

Orange Village has passed regulations for snow removal from driveways and sidewalks. These laws are to keep debris and snow off the roadways and too ensure safe passage for motorists and pedestrians.

725.02 PLACING SNOW OR DEBRIS NEAR FIRE HYDRANTS.

No person shall transport, snow plow or otherwise place snow, ice or other debris within seven feet of a fire hydrant to conceal or limit access to such hydrant. (Ord. 1986-18. Passed 2-12-86)

521.06 DUTY TO KEEP SIDEWALKS IN REPAIR AND CLEAN

No owner or occupant of abutting lands shall fail to keep the sidewalks, curbs or gutters in repair and free from snow, ice or any nuisance. (ORC 723.011)

Do not push snow across street. You may be placing the snow in someone else's yard. What falls on to a drive or sidewalk stays with that yard. When you push across a street you assume liability should a problem arise from your actions.

Do not push snow to street end of drive and block visibility of on coming traffic or a sidewalk. Do not push snow against mailboxes. This may cause an accident and possible damage to the mailbox either directly or indirectly. Also when the street plows come by they may push snow back into the end of the driveway.

Do find a place where you can push the snow at the other end of the drive or part way down the drive.

If you have any questions about this matter contact Orange Village. Thank you for your cooperation.

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Happy Holidays

The Orange Village Fire Department wants you to have a happy and safe holiday season. Please see:

• Holiday Fire Safety Tips

• Safety and Care Instructions regarding Christmas Lights.

National Institute of Standards and Technology
Christmas Tree Fire Video

Christmas Tree Pickup

Used Christmas trees will be collected on the first three
Mondays of January, 2009

January 5th, 12th, 19th

Holiday Recycling

During the upcoming Holiday season there is a great opportunity to improve our recycling efforts. Click here for tips to help us increase our recycling during this season.

Three (3) types of materials that are often overlooked during this time are boxes, bags and packing materials inside gifts and other retail purchases. Most of these packaging materials are recyclable. In particular, all cardboard is recyclable from shipping boxes and other boxes that often contain gifts (e.g., clothing, toys, appliances, etc.). Please be sure to break-down and flatten all cardboard boxes, or it will not be recycled. Often the plastic bags inside gifts can be recycled, if they contain a recycling label (i.e., triangle with number 1-7). Although Styrofoam is NOT recyclable (e.g., peanuts and packing materials), many packaging materials that look like Styrofoam are actually plastics. Check the material for a recycling label. If there is a label, it can be recycled. With these tips in mind, we should increase our recycling even more during this season, thereby lowering our community's disposal costs and improving the planet.

Safety Reminder

Please help the Police and Fire Departments by making sure your ADDRESS is CLEARLY POSTED on your mail box and or the front of your home. This saves precious time in an emergency!

Keep your home safe with proper lighting:

Inside - Leave a light on. Using a timer that turns on and off the lights is recommended.

See the newsletter for more tips.

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Sign up for the Village e-mail list.
You won't want to miss meetings, special services, entertainment and community events that are planned for the upcoming months. Receive news and reminders via e-mail. Encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up as well!

Please add news@orangevillage.com to your address book to ensure receipt of email news.

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Sept 20th Free Paper Shredding Services Served 55 Residents

By recycling 1.7 tons of paper we saved: