Category Archives: Streets & Services

Sidewalk Repair Program

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Hopefully this will be the year the Village of Greenhills can begin repairing sidewalks. We will be using a technique called “concrete cutting” to remove trip hazards.  Sidewalks throughout town have already been marked for repair.  This is typically an expense of the adjacent property owner; however, the Village intends to pay for these repairs this time around.

Due to the impact of the corona virus on our finances, the Village will need to do these repairs in phases.  When we are able to get started, the first phase will include trip hazards on Avenell, Ashby, Andover, Cromwell, Drummond, DeWitt, Damon, Dayspring, Deerhill, and Chalmers.

We will make a final determination on a start date probably in September – once we are able to review our finances through the month of August.

Winton Road Update

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Construction work on Winton Road is progressing well!  Work on the southbound side of Winton Road is almost complete!  The intermediate course of asphalt has been temporarily marked for two-way traffic, and the traffic pattern change has occurred.  PLEASE RESPECT THE NO LEFT TURN SIGNS!  Traffic backs up significantly when a driver chooses to disregard the NO LEFT turn sign and sits at the intersection holding up everyone else.

We expect work to move along pretty quickly on the northbound side.  A top layer of asphalt will do down on the north and south bound lanes at the conclusion of the project.

You may have noticed a new 9-foot wide raised median strip being constructed in the center of Winton Road.  It will be planted with trees to give this section of Winton Road a distinctive look.  The addition of the median was a recommendation of the Village’s Comprehensive Plan, the goal being to create a sense that you have arrived in the heart of Greenhills.

There has been some debate on the width of the road.  FYI: when completed, both the north and south bound lanes will be one and a half feet wider than the previous road, for an overall added width of 3 feet.

Code Enforcement – Garbage & Refuse Collection

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A periodic review of our garbage “dos and don’ts” is always worthwhile.  Such review can be a refresher for long-term residents and a primer for new residents!

Section 939 of the Greenhills Codified Ordinances regarding garbage and refuse can be viewed here.  The Code addresses such things as the types of containers that may be used, the times for setting out containers and for removing containers from the right-of-way; how the containers should be stored; and enforcement mechanisms.  The Village webpage section on trash and recycling can be viewed here.

I think we would all agree that visible garbage is a negative for any property and for the community as a whole!  The vast majority of our residents comply with the Code, but there are those who just don’t seem to notice or care about their garbage.

Village staff are always driving through the Village, but we always appreciate residents who notify us about violations.  To the extent possible, Village staff attempts to reach property owners by phone to inform them of violations.  When that is not possible or not successful, the Village enforces the relevant Code sections in the following ways:

1)         by leaving a written notice at or mailing a written notice to the property owner advising as to the permitted hours for setting out garbage and that any future violations may result in a charge for collection and/or criminal citation.

– OR –

2)         the Village can order the immediate collection of the garbage and then send the property owner written notice of the additional fee incurred for the pick-up and notifying the owner that the garbage was set out in violation and that the cost of the additional pick up shall be paid within 14 days of the notice.  If payment is not made, the Village will in have the cost added to the tax duplicate and collected as a tax lien.       The Village uses this tactic for evictions, excessive amounts of garbage, etc. We act quickly in these situations because it is unsightly and unfair for surrounding residents to have to look at a garbage pile for any amount of time.

Here are some other garbage-related requirements to keep in mind:

Containers should be of a non-rusting material with tight-fitting lids.  Plastic bags may be used for set out, but not for storage during the week.

Containers not be set out until 3 pm the day before collection and must be removed from the streets within 24 hours of collection.

No garbage may be set out in open containers.

Containers must be stored throughout the week either next to the rear wall of a dwelling or garage, or in a confined area screened from view of passersby. Trash handling areas are allowed to be located in front yards if screened with fences or walls, provided that the fence or wall does not extend more than 6 feet from the front of the house and not taller than 4.5 feet in height.  Decorative bushes are also a nice way to screen containers.   disposing of mattresses, sofas, chairs, or other such items – Rumpke requires they be wrapped or placed in plastic bags before they will be picked up.  For your convenience, the Municipal Office stocks the necessary plastic bags in a variety of sizes for $6 each.

If you have large and/or heavy items for pickup, Rumpke would appreciate a head’s up.  Give them a call at 851-0122, ext. 3732, to allow them to be prepared for a large pickup.  While our current contract with Rumpke allows for unlimited household waste, large and bulky items aren’t considered household waste and the collection of such items may be limited by Rumpke.

Tree Prunings & Removals Will Start Soon

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Work will begin soon on tree pruning and removals along the planting strips.  We had quite a list for removals and, unfortunately, limited funding does not allow for all of them to be addressed in this round.  An arborist has identified the priority removals, and we will do more next year.  We usually receive quite a few calls from residents when plantings and removals are going on.  But we are at the limit in both categories for this year. Of course, you can always feel free to report a problem tree – we reserve some funds for emergency situations – or request a new tree.

If a tree is removed in front of your home and not replanted immediately, don’t worry!  Your location is maintained as a future planting location on our data base. From time to time residents request certain trees.  We try to accommodate these requests, but musts be able to adhere to a plan.  We also have a list of approved street trees.  This list is generated by specialist throughout the State of Ohio who know how to match tree types with tree planting sites.

 

It’s Pothole Season

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If you drive I am sure you have noticed that as winter progresses, road surfaces seem to break into potholes!  There is a reason for that: The freezing temperatures cause asphalt to contract. Then, as the road surfaces thaw it can lead to cracks.  As cracks get bigger, water finds its way into those cracks and makes the pavement even more susceptible to freezing and cracking, eventually leading to chunks of the road surface breaking out more and more with each passing car.

There are a couple of different types of patches our Service Department uses to “fix” potholes.   One is called “cold patch” that actually comes in bags and must be heated as it is put down in a hole.   It is important that the hole is dry, which can sometimes take days!  This type of patch does not last long, but sometimes it is the only choice available.

The other method is known as “hot patch.”  There are only a couple of sources of hot patch in the winter around here – so to use this method, the Service Department takes one of the trucks to the closest location (so the hot patch stays hot) and gets a load of hot asphalt.  This method works the best but requires the entire Service staff to work on patching until the entire load of hot patch is used up.

The Service Department is constantly keeping a running list of potholes to be filled. Just last week, Service filled potholes throughout the Village and in public parking lots.

Crack-sealing is a tool that can help to prevent surface cracks from taking in water.  Crack-sealing is exactly that – cracks are sealed with a tar-like substance. It may not be very attractive on the road or in a parking lot, but it really prolongs the life of the pavement.  This summer we will be crack-sealing Junefield, Carini, and Hadley.

There are a number of streets that will be repaved this summer.  The Village will be having Foxworth and Jewel repaved.  Then, as the water main project wraps up we will be working with the pavement restoration bid obtained by Water Works to share the cost of repaving Japonica, Ireland, and Illona. In the way of explanation – the new water main will run down the center of one traffic lane, so Water Works will pay to have that lane repaved.  To complete the street paving, the Village will have the other lane repaved.