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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01Vol. 7 Issue I Message from the Mayor: The Connection C ity of Chubbuck Newsletter City Hall 5160 Yellowstone / PO Box 5604 237-2400 January 2012 As we begin 2012 I want to again thank you for your friendship, encouragement and support. It is impossible for me to know each of you personally, but I feel the sense of community that is alive and well in the City. Each day still presents new challenges and opportunities to learn. We will begin the New Year with a change in our City Council. We have appreciated the service of Councilman Kent Kearns and wish him well as he steps down from service on the City Council. Councilman Kearns has been a very effec- tive and dedicated member of our Land Use and Development Commission and then as a City Councilman. His initial involvement on the City Council came during a difficult time for the city. Councilman Dean Wood was killed in a tragic auto accident and Kent was appointed to finish his term. He has been a valuable asset to the city during his ensuing time in office. Thanks to Kent and his wife Marie for their service to the city. We now look forward to working with Brent Marshall as he begins his tenure in office. The ending of a year and the beginning of a new year are times that most people take stock of where they are and resolve to improve. As our collective future still seems to be somewhat out of our control, I hope we can review all the good in our lives and begin the next year with a whole lot of optimism. I continue to become aware of things that are done within the city that are very beneficial but mostly go unrecognized. This kind of service means a great deal to the general well being of our city. It is our goal as your city government to enhance the desire to continue these acts of service and help you be proud of the city in which you live. Chubbuck is a great place to live and do business. We wish you all a happy and prosperous 2012. Mayor England Preventing Frozen Pipes When water freezes, it expands. That's why a can of soda explodes if it's put into a freezer to chill quickly and forgotten. When water freezes in a pipe, it expands the same way. If it expands enough, the pipe bursts, water escapes and serious damage results. Letting the Water Run Letting a faucet drip during extreme cold weather can prevent a pipe from bursting. A dripping faucet wastes some water, so only pipes vulnerable to freezing (ones that run through an unheated or unpro- tected space) should be left with the water flowing. The drip can be very slight. Even the slowest drip at normal pressure will provide pressure relief when needed. Where both hot and cold lines serve a spigot, make sure each one contributes to the drip, since both are subjected to freezing. If the dripping stops, leave the faucet's open, since a pipe may have frozen and will still need pressure relief. If You Suspect a Frozen Pipe If you open a faucet and no water comes out, don't take any chances. Call a plumber. If a water pipe bursts, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve (usually at the water meter or where the main line enters the house); leave the faucet's open until repairs are completed. Don't try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame; as this will damage the pipe and may even start a building fire. You might be able to thaw a pipe with a hand-held hair dryer. Slowly apply heat, starting close to the faucet end of the pipe, with the faucet open. Work toward the coldest section. Don't use electrical appliances while standing in water; you could get electrocuted. American Red Cross Blood Drive Sponsored by the City of Chubbuck Wednesday, January 25th 10 am to 2 pm To make an ap- pointment please call Wendy @ 237-2430 City of Chubbuck Snow Removal Policy o � Winter snows cause many prob- lems for not only the traveling public, but also those street employees trying to remove it from the street. We do our best to remove the snow as quickly and efficiently as possible, given our crews and equipment. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you and clarify some aspects of our snow removal policy. When a storm occurs or be- gins during off-duty hours, the police notify maintenance men to respond and begin removing snow. We have developed over the years, a list of trouble spots that need either first or frequent attention. The City responds to these places first. Once those lo- cations are plowed and sanded, they go on through the remainder of the city in a systematic manner, begin- ning with arterials and collectors. The first trip through the city is only an effort to open streets, per- mitting two-way traffic and access by emergency vehicles. As time per- mits, which is usually after the storm, the crews follow through the entire city and plow snow from gutter to gut- ter. Vehicles that remain on the street during this process cause prob- lems not only for themselves, but also create a safety hazard for plow op- erators and the traveling public as they try to negotiate around piles of snow left by plows going around those parked vehicles. Please re- move all vehicles from the street. Those vehicles that you find neces- sary to park in the street should also be removed at least during regular working hours. City Code also provides for severe and strict parking restrictions during what we call a "snow emer- gency". When a "snow emergency" is declared, it will be widely publi- cized. A "snow emergency" will also be automatically placed into effect at any time in which the snow depth on the street has reached an accumula- tion of three inches or more. During a "snow emergency", all vehicle park- ing on streets is prohibited between the hours of 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. The parking prohibition remains in effect until either the "snow emer- gency" is lifted, or the street is finally cleared of snow. When the city plows the en- tire street, we will attempt to deposit the snow in the gutter with as little snow as possible on the sidewalk. If you want to avoid shoveling out your driveway any more than necessary, you should wait until the city plows the street to the gutter before clearing your driveway. Remember that snow from your sidewalks and driveways should be placed on your yard and not in the street. Also, place the snow taken from the curb portion of your driveway on the right side of the driveway as you face the street. Since the snowplow travels across the driveway from left to right, placing the snow on the right will keep the plow from putting it right back into the drive. The city has a responsibility to keep the streets as safe as practi- cal for the driving public. Through our ordinances and policies, we strive to do that. We are not responsible for keeping your mail boxes and individual ZZ4 driveways open. o v We would welcome J hearing your com- ments and con- r o cerns. 0 10 Tips to Get Ahead of the Winter Freeze. Check these 10 tips off your list and get ahead of the winter freeze. 1 . Our furnace has been tested and service by a qualified professional during the last 12 months. 2. Our Chimneys and vents have been cleaned and in- spected by a qualified professional. (Not cleaning your chimney is the leading cause of chimney fires from built up creosote. This service need to be done once a year.) 3. Wood for our fireplace or wood stove is dry, seasoned wood. 4. Our fireplace screen is metal or heat -tempered glass in good condition and secure in its position in front of the fireplace. 5. We have a covered metal container to dispose cooled ashes. It is kept at least 10 feet from our home or other buildings. 6. Our children know to stay at least 3 feet away from the fireplace, wood/pellet stove, oil stove or other space heaters. 7. Our portable space heaters have an automatic shut- off. 8. Portable space heaters are plugged directly into an outlet and at least three feet from anything that can burn. 9. We have tested our smoke alarms and made sure they are working. (You need a smoke alarm on every level of the home, inside each bedroom and outside each sleeping area. For the best protection the smoke alarms should be intercon- nected so when one sounds, they all sound.) 10. We have tested our carbon monoxide alarms and made sure they are work- ing. ^� Have a Safe New Year from the Fire Department. �� Mayor Brian Blad City of Pocatello P. O. Box 4169 Pocatello, Idaho 83205-4169 • www.pocatello.us (208) 234-6163 • mayor@pocatello.us Table of Contents: We Make Success Happen City Information Curbside Recycling 2012 Recycling Schedules avor's Ne We Make Success Happen Happy New Year! It's difficult to believe 2012 is here, which means I've already served two years as your Mayor. Time has gone by so quickly. During these past two years, I've been able to meet many of you. I've also had the Opportunity to witness how our citizens get involved. It's amazing to live in a place where people take pride in their neighborhoods. When I talk to other mayors and listen to the different issues they have, I am grateful that we have such an interest in making our city a better place. Thank you for what we've been able to accomplish together. No matter what the community has needed, we've been able to make it happen. Consider City Information We try to make it easy for you to find City information. For example, our website is a great resource. It includes City Council meeting agendas, our public meeting calendar, a list of our volunteer advisory boards, 2 Curbside Recycling The Sanitation Department's 2012 recycle collection schedule has been set, and a copy is on the back of this newsletter. If you are not sure whether you are on the "A" schedule or "B" schedule, go to the Sanitation Department's page at www.pocatello.us. Under the recycling section, you can locate your street and the schedule for your Brooklyn's Playground. So many people volunteered time and/or donated money, lunches, etc. Also, the CommUniversity Committee and participants have made a huge difference in the community's relationship with Idaho State University. Our local charities also received generous donations during the holiday season. I have come to realize that no matter what it is, when asked Pocatello rises to the challenge. It's not a surprise then that the Gate City is known as the Volunteer Capital of America. We all know there is always more to do. Please continue to help neighbors who might need a helping hand this winter. It is a great way to meet a neighbor and possibly make a new friend budget information, job announcements and more! We also have a Facebook page. Our news releases, special notices, newspaper articles, etc. are posted on this page. Take time to like us on recycling pickups. You can also call the department at 234-6193. As a reminder, please do not put these items in your blue recycling cart: plastic bags, glass, Styrofoam, shredded paper, yard waste. Many other items are also not recyclable, and if you put them in the recycling cart it will contaminate the collected load, I've also been encouraged by your support to keep the U.S. Post Office facilities in Southeast Idaho open. Mayors and people in surrounding cities are also sending letters of support to keep the processing center open. I sure hope all the letters and comments make a difference, so that our postal facilities stay open. As I think of the reasons we all choose to live in Pocatello, I believe the best reason to live here is all of you! We have the best people you can find anywhere! Looking forward to the coming year, I'm excited to see what our new successes will be. Thank you again for all you do for our community. As always, I am proud to be your Mayor. Facebook! (The Police Department is also on Facebook, Twitter and Nixle.) Finally, we will also send information directly to you. Sign up for our e-mail news service at www.pocatello.us. which may lead to the entire truckload being thrown away rather than recycled. If you have a question about whether something is recyclable or not, contact the Sanitation Department, or as the saying goes, "When in doubt, throw it out!" Thank you for supporting our curbside recycling program! Mayor's Newsletter 2012 Recycling Schedules Page 2 XH? RFCYCLING SCHEDULE - B If there is a topic you'd like me to address in future newsletters or if you want to comment or ask a question, write it down, tear off this part and send your comment to me. If you wish to call or e-mail, my number and address are listed on the front page. While I cannot respond to all comments individually, I do pass them on to the appropriate departments. v15 -n1 My question/comment is Name Addres Telephone