Streets and Drainage in Disrepair

I have posted the minutes of the Public Safety and Street Committee meeting below.
Thank you Denise for Starting the year off running. Other committees have also been meeting and I am very excited for all the Council members and the community. I will post other minutes as i receive the or check the community voice for updates.
Jeremy Shaffer , Mayor
Lynchburg, Ohio





PUBLIC SAFETY AND STREETS COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES 01/21/10

IN ATTENDANCE: DENISE VILVENS, CAROLYN HASTINGS, SANDY WEST, ROGER SHAFFER, DICK VILVENS, RICHARD VILVENS


Meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. on Thursday, January 21st. All committee members were present along with Dick Vilvens and Richard Vilvens of Vilvens and Son Excavating. Vilvens and Son Excavating has done the Village’s pavement related work for the past two years and have in depth knowledge of the current condition of streets, drainage, etc. in the village.

The committee discussed short term and long term goals, considering current infrastructure issues and funds available. The group had extensive conversation on possible goals in relationship to the village’s comprehensive plan. Possible steps in completing a PMP (Pavement Management Plan) were explained by Denise Vilvens. Using the binders provide by Denise Vilvens, the committee reviewed 2009 revenue from the Street Construction Maintenance Fund (2011), the Street Construction Levy Fund (2012) and the State Highway Fund (2021).

Dick Vilvens and Richard Vilvens identified for the committee serious street and drainage problems in the village requiring the most immediate attention. They explained options the village has in these projects, approximate costs and future preventative maintenance. Clearly, the village of Lynchburg has many drainage and pavement problems, which are continuing to deteriorate. Listed below are some of the areas of identified concern (not in any particular order):

GLENAVY – Wexford and Limerick (open ditching needed), Glenavy Drive from Schatzmann’s to Allen’s needs open drainage and catch basins, Glenavy
at Shannon Drive (pavement), Hastings Drive (ditching and final seal), Glenavy entrance drainage issues and culvert pipe problems
BROADWAY – most highly traveled street in need of pavement repair or resurfacing
SR. 134 – at water plant and laundry mat, culvert needed
WATER TOWER – corner of Pearl and Sycamore – serious water ponding and drainage issues
PEARL TO BAYLESS – many drainage issues causing street deterioration, Church of Christ on Pearl to east side of Sycamore to Broadway – drainage
WASHINGTON – curve needs culvert and street blacktopped to prevent loss of previous structural repair
TEXAS – pavement needs
WASHINGTON AND DANA ALLEY- needs stone and bushes trimmed
CLINTON SPRINGS – Swain’s & Slack needs catch basin, drainage behind Fittro’s in need of work, Sherri Richmond needs a culvert
ALLEY BEHIND THE COMMONS – pavement needs
COVERED BRIDGE B CHRISTINE BARKER – needs catch basin

This is by no means a complete list. The committee is aware of many drainage and pavement issues beyond those listed above. Another problem discussed relates to car parking on the streets and the problems this creates for water drainage. The committee is going to make an effort to focus on identifying and improving alley conditions so home owners have the option to park off of alleys rather than in front of their homes on the street.

The committee agreed that records need to be kept on water line and drainage locations and structures. Currently, there is not an accurate map of underground drainage structures. Denise Vilvens is going to contact Mark Suiter to possibly have Ohio Rural Water meet with our committee and discuss any services they can offer the village related to water line locations.

Lastly, the committee discussed Ordinance No. 2010-2 (making Washington from Broadway to Main Street a one-way-only street and Ordinance No. 2010-3 (pertaining to creating a parking schedule).

The committee will be meeting with Vilvens and Son within the next week to go out and actually look at some of the problem areas.

The next meeting is on February 18th at 7P.M.

Street Not Maintained Since the 70's?

Street Not Maintained Since the 70's?













Lin-Kar Drive is a short narrow street off of South Broadway. Over the past year it has had some small changes that will improve the quality of life for everyone. Over the last 30 years the rain water periodically ran like a river down the narrow street, and even flooded a homeowners garage on occasion. Rain water drained from the Sycamore Street access alley, up South Broadway, across Lin Kar where it finally dispersed behind the homes, as the runoff eventually made its way to the neighboring creek. Over the course of this year, a few old storm drains were rehabilitated on south Broadway, and new catch basins were installed to catch much of the rain water at the mouth of Lin Kar Drive. These changes will make travel safer as winter approaches be stream lining the water down storm drains, and preventing ice build up on both streets, Lin Kar and S. Broadway.
In addition, a Street Light Pole was moved from its location in the middle of the caldasac to the edge, which will safely light the street. The change also allowed for machinery and equipment to pave the street at a better rate, and will make maintenance of the street easier in the future.
Just recently, the street was paved with a fresh coat of blacktop. The street was previously worn so bad that much of the area was broken blacktop and gravel. Some people thought it was a gravel road that had not been finished. In fact, it was a nice peaceful block, that had been neglected over the last thirty years, that needed a little bit of boot polish.
The changes and upgrades on Lin Kar, will pave the way for future improvements on S. Broadway, and allow for easier maintenance, as well as creating a better, safer living atmosphere for everyone.

Turn The Street Lights Off in 2011 & Pay for the Glenavy Sewer Project

The Council Meeting was a very long and intense meeting. Several resolutions were passed in the beginning. I presented quite a list of important and challenging problems that must be solved in order for the Village Government to properly represent the citizens of Lynchburg and to dig out of the mess that has been inherited. I was reminded after the meeting that each of these challenges our opportunities to provide for a brighter future. Each of these items are the responsibility of the local government to look into and in fact it would be irresponsible if action is not taken immediately and the projected negative outcomes occur. These outcomes are higher utilities, higher taxes, and less services to the community. A couple council members even said shut off the street lights when the contract is up in 2011. There will be a Special Council Meeting to work on hand full of these Items next Tuesday at 6PM. The focus will be the budget, more specifically The New WWTP debt repayment and the Glenavy Subdivision Sewerage project debt repayment. Below is a copy of my presentation, which is in an outline format, however the basic idea is probably understood. I projected as clear as I can that I need the assistance of the Council Members and Community to get things done. There are many important problems that have to be addressed, most importantly the growing budget concerns. Budget Numbers for income our becoming available that are accurate, and it is very scary. We have halted a fiscal emergency for now, however it is still on the horizon if we do not make some hard choices and investigate the options so that we continue tho understand the problems and turn those into Opportunities for the future.

The outline below carried much discussion about how we got were we are. The different options available and costs associated with each. Each of the topics will have more discussion in the near future, and will be in depth.


Serious Problems that are Our Responsibility to Address immediately

Long Term Budget:
Law Enforcement (How do we pay for it!)
Streetlight(s) (How do we pay for it!)
Glenavy Sewer Project (How do we pay for it!)
WWTP Phase one & two (How do we pay for it!)
Old Wastewater System Debt (How do we pay for it!)
Park Mowing (How do we Pay for It!)
Council, Mayor, Fiscal Officer (How do we Pay for it)
Cemetery Maintenance (How do we Pay for it)

Capital Improvements on the Table:
Glenavy Water Loop (Phase Three)
Glenavy Sewer Project
WWTP Phase one
WWTP Phase two

Drainage:
How do we repair the water run off in Glenavy?
How do we repair Storm drainage backup on Pearl Street, next to Methodist Church?
How do we repair water run off on South Broadway?
Where do we start when opening up and repairing old storm drain system?

Street
What is the maintenance plan?
What is the street upgrade ( Capital Improvement) plan?
Do we have a long term streetlight replacement plan? (Solar)

Development
Infrastructure Development
Nature / Park Development
Economic Development
What do we need? (Dave Alpern Reported twice on the Needs through community Open Houses and investigating and a comprehensive plan draft,,(where are we)…)
How are we going to get it?
How are we going to clean up downtown?
How are we going to grow business, MFG, Dist, Retail? Tefabco MFG
Comprehensive Plan…..?!!!

Infrastructure:
Water Needs Assessment?
Sewerage Needs Assessment?

Grants and Appropriations - Needs
Infrastructure?
Marketing Study?
Natural Disaster Plan!
Cost Study?
Advertising Study?
Affects?

Ordinances, Resolutions, and General Legislation……
What do you want to change?
What do you want to make better?
Have you made a difference as an elected official?

Problems My Office heard since the Last Council Meeting!
Cat Problem!
Dog Problem!
Possum and raccoons!!
Alleys!!!
Green Space!!!
Heating and A/C Problem at Municipal Building!
People not taking care of Pets!!
Children running the Streets after dark!
People Soliciting Door to Door!
Trees rotting and falling!
Tree Maintenance!
Speed Limits!
Vehicles squealing wheels and loud radios!!
Stop Signs!
Obstruction of Safety Devices!
Drainage, Flooding!
Speeding Ticket!
Parking!
Maintaining Village Buildings!!!
Sewer Backup!!!
Falling down buildings!
Falling down Homes!!
Sidewalks!!
Grocery Store!!
Cemetery Maintenance, Cemetery Vandalism!
Street Lighting!
Sex Offenders not registered Correctly!
Roads Falling Apart!
Right of Way Problems!
Is Demmy Construction fixing Glenavy or the Village repairing, when? What is getting fixed?
People not mowing and maintaining property!
Utility Invoicing complaints!!
U turns, and driving on the wrong side of the street!!
Mosquitoes!!!!
RESPONSIBILITY!!!!


I can not do this on My Own, I need your help. This is a team effort. Specifically what do you want me to do within my Power as Mayor under the O.R.C., I need the help of Council because they hold the legislative power and authority to appropriate.

Important:
Identify Problems
Plan Solutions
Implement