Hello residents,
With Fall here, my thoughts are on the impending Winter and snow. Salt prices are more in line this year going from $139/ton last year to $64/ton this year. It's still much higher than two years ago at $44/ton. With the budget cuts throughout the area, you should expect the usage of salt and plowing not to be as they were two years ago. With cuts in local governments and manpower, many roads will not be what you are use to. Allow more time to reach your destination safely. Ela Township Highway Department will still manage its manpower and resources the same as last year. Ela Township Highway Department will continue to maintain the highest quality possible to its road district residence. We will continue to use the product called "SuperMix", which is a combination of salt brine, beet juice and chloride. The use of liquid with the salt has reduced the road salt by 20% over the last few years.
This year we installed new cross culverts in Indian Meadows Subdivision in hopes of paving this subdivision in 2010, a year ahead of schedule. This is dependent upon the amount of revenue we receive in the next fiscal year. Our road crew did this work ourselves and had an estimated savings of $50,000. Note: We are still waiting for a subcontractor to do major patching in preparation for next year's possible paving.
Work was completed in Forest Lake Subdivision for an under drain at Valley and South as well as storm sewer from Valley to Garland on Highland. Paving in Forest Lake has been completed for this portion. Next year, we will complete the asphalt for the subdivision. Projects were completed in Hillside Estates as well as Redwing Court.
Redwing Court.
Reminders:
LEAVES AROUND YOUR CULVERTS AND CATCH BASINS:
If you see leaves around your culverts or catch basins, take a minute to rake them away. The few minutes you take to do this may stop your yard from flooding.
RESIDENCE THAT BURN:
Do not burn anything in the ditch ways or on the road. The new storm pipes are PVC (plastic), which will melt. Burning in the ditch way also creates erosion after the grass is burned. The soil then washes downstream and fills other ditches, lakes and ponds.
YOUR MAILBOX:
Please check your mailbox and post to be sure they are secure. Snow and slush damage do not warrant replacement of box or post by us. They must be secured enough to take flying snow from the plow. If you have an expensive mailbox, you may want to replace it with an inexpensive one for the winter. If we hit the box with the plow, we will only replace it with a standard mailbox and wooden post.
SNOWPLOWING: Please do not interfere with snow trucks by parking on the streets, following too closely, passing unsafely or blocking intersections. Do not follow closely as we make frequent stops and turns. If you can't see our mirror, we can't see you! If a plow stops please use caution when passing as we may be turning in any direction or backing up. We all want a safe trip to our destination.
Have a great Fall and Winter.
Bill Kruckenberg
Ela Township HighwayCommissioner
