Resurfacing More Roads

I'll be the first to admit, most people do not get excited about road repaving unless they happen to be running late because they are stuck in the middle of a traffic jam because of road work. But repaving roads is a vital tenet of maintaining a quality community and I am pleased that Sylvania Township has finally made infrastructure maintenance a priority. One only has to look at a neighboring city to realize what happens when capital improvements are put off for too long.

In the last four years, we have resurfaced over 30 miles of township/subdivision roads. Compared to one mile of road repaved in 2003 and 2004, the 30 miles is a marked improvement. On average we need to repave about 6 miles a year in order to maintain a reasonable repaving schedule so that all roads are in good repair. Clearly, the prior board failed in this obligation when they only paved one mile in two years.

At the same time we are repaving roads, we are often repairing and replacing curbs and gutters that are crumbling and in disrepair so that the whole project is completed simultaneously. Our crews also have reconstructed numerous sidewalk ramps to appropriate handicap-grade, improving the accessibility of our community and neighborhoods while working on roads in the area.

While repaving a record number of miles, we have also strategically leveraged our road repaving dollars by working with neighboring jurisdictions and Lucas County on joint road projects and securing Ohio Public Works Commission no-interest loans and grants for repaving projects. Later this fall, we will submit a grant/loan application which we hope will provide 49% of the funding for resurfacing and drainage projects in the following areas next year: Silica Road (between Brint and Convent, a joint project with the City of Sylvania); Westacre Subdivision; Country Walk Subdivision; Country Meadow Court; and Oak Creek Subdivision. Utilizing cooperative efforts with our neighbors and supplemental funding has allowed us to do more with your tax dollars while making infrastructure maintenance a priority.

Miscellaneous Public Works Items

A few other areas where we have improved services include:

• Introduction of new brine application equipment which allows for preventative spraying of salt/brine prior to anticipated snow storms in order to prevent ice from forming on roads; this helps minimize our snow plowing and salting resources;
• Under the guidance of a Capital Plan, we have purchased new, 'green' equipment which provide more efficient operation and lower maintenance costs; we have also liquidated obsolete and unused equipment in order to reduced personal property insurance and liability expenses;
• Increased safety training in an effort to reduce workplace accident and improve the safety of residents, businesses owners, and visitors of Sylvania Township;
• Repaid $500,000 borrowed from the Road fund in order to provide additional funding to the Fire Department via the General Fund;
• Provided training opportunity for employee leading to having an Emergency Vehicle Technician on staff, one of nine techs in the State of Ohio, providing cost effective maintenance services to the Fire Department.

Watch The Roads This Winter

Be careful on the roads this winter. Information has come to me that the county has cut back on its plowing/salting of county roads this year due to the high expense of salt and a corresponding salt shortage as well as budget concerns regarding the cost of overtime. Numerous factors contributed to a salt shortage this year; the county has 25% less salt than the last 5 year average of salt use for this season's winter weather. This has resulted in a decision to decrease salt application by 50%.

Budget concerns have also prompted the county to cut in half the manpower used in salting and plowing roads during the overnight hours.

At the township, our budget allows for continued use of overtime when the weather dictates the need, but we are conserving salt resources and have reduced application rates by 1/3 in order to make sure we have enough salt to last the season.

Remember - the township maintains neighborhood/subdivision roads, while the county maintains the major thoroughfares such as McCord, Sylvania, King, Whiteford, etc.

I don't know if the Ohio Department of Taxation has changed their policy regarding salting/plowing Central Ave. and 23/475 this season. But either way, be cautious on the roads this season. They may not be as clear of ice and hazardous snow as we are used to.

Improved Traffic Safety

Three weeks ago, I criticized Lucas County for failing to address several critical issues in Sylvania Township. One of those issues was dangerous intersections in the township. In making that statement, I was referring specifically to the intersection of Mitchaw and Brint Roads, which has historical seen numerous accident a year and is highly traveled by our teen drivers to and from sporting and school events.

I am happy to say that the Lucas County Engineer announced today plans to install stop signs on Brint Road at Mitchaw, thus making that intersection a four-way stop. This will increase the safety at that intersection, reduce accidents, and benefit the residents and visitors of our community.

Improvements are expected to take place on Monday, September 24. Several methods of notification will be used in order to identify this change in traffic signals to drivers using that roadway.

I applaud the county for finally taking this step to improve the quality of life in Sylvania Township. It would be nice if we didn't need to publicly criticize the county in an attempt to bring attention to our needs. But I am willing to do just that if it is what needs to be done to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors.