Beyond the news: Public Works waving the flag

Buffalo Grove’s Public Works Department is waving the flag over fire safety. Especially when it comes to fire hydrants.

           Concerns about damage to fire hydrants during snow removal led public works to continue adding metal flags to the village’s 2,700 fire hydrants, a program that started last year. Recently installed flags (shown at left) are accentuated with a highly visible reflector on top so hydrants can be easily spotted after dark. 

           While it appears that more hydrants are getting the metal flags, Assistant Public Works Director Kyle Johnson notes that  “flags have always been put on hydrants that were along high traffic and wide roads.”  He adds that flags are also on hydrants “that are near corners that have a risk of being hit or buried under the snow.  We now have moved to place them in more areas as our snow plan has shifted to include “benching”, an operation that pushes the snow pile back away from the curb into the parkway.”

            The installation of hydrant flags does more than protect the hydrants, it makes it easier for snow plow operators. “Given our wing trucks now push more snow with each pass into the parkways we want to be sure snow-plow operators always see where hydrants are.”

            The flags cost about $17 per hydrant which includes installation. The ongoing project is part of DPW’s annual budget. Now in its second year, Jim Warnstedt, also an assistant director of public works, noted in an email that DPW is “strategically installing the flags on our hydrants per our wing blade routes, but will eventually be putting flags on all hydrants pending costs.  Last winter we installed roughly 600 flags on our hydrants.”

            While the Fire Department and Public Works encourage residents to clear snow from hydrants after significant snow falls, Johnson says residents can help during other seasons as well. “Every hydrant has an auxiliary valve box (shown at left) within a few feet of it which allows the hydrant to be turned off for maintenance when required,” he says. “Sometimes these boxes are on hard surfaces (as shown), but when they are on grass some residents put topsoil and grass over the top of them.  This requires us to have to search for them and dig them up when doing maintenance.”

            Residents who think they may have a valve box on their lawn and want it located, can call Public Works at  (847) 459-2545.

 

            Editor’s note:  “Beyond the News” is a new feature of Buffalo Grove News and Information that features stories about people, places, organizations in the village. Got an idea? Email it to  BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.  Please include contact information. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cops investigate rash of vehicle burglaries / 1st business opens in The Clove / Trick or Treat hours set

Image
Buffalo Grove police are continuing their investigations into a rash of crimes involving motor vehicles. Police report four burglaries involving vehicles in addition to reports of criminal damage to a motor vehicle and stolen car. The first in a series of burglaries to motor vehicles occurred in the 1900 of north Buffalo Grove where a resident told police that an unknown offender entered her vehicle and stole various items. A second incident was reported in the 900 block of Twisted Oak where a resident said someone entered two of his vehicles and stole various items. A third incident was reported in the 1300 block of Larchmont Drive. As was the case in the previous incidents, a resident told police someone entered his vehicle and stole various items. The fourth reported case mirrored the previous three. This burglary to a motor vehicle was reported in the 1000 block of Hobson Drive. The resident said various items were stolen. Police told BGNI that no specific items were taken
Read more

"Historic Day" for village's retail growth / BG Days set / Library's network expands

Image
              Village Board President Eric Smith was like a proud father at the Aug. 21 Village Board meeting.             Calling it a “historic day” for the village, Smith presided over the meeting that included discussions about a proposal for a Lazy Dog Restaurant and Grill at the intersection of Lake-Cook and McHenry Roads, plans for a Belle Tire in the Ricky Rockets Fuel Center and approval of a Dundee Road Tax Increment Financing District (TIF).             However, the crowning touch of the evening was the presentation for development of the 16-acre infamous and blighted Rohrman properties at 915 – 945 Dundee Rd. which have been the source of ridicule by residents for years.             Unveiled plans call for a mix-used development that will include a Tesla dealership along with 30,000 to 40,000 square feet and what was described as a “197-unit luxury multi-family residential project.” While a detailed timeframe for the development was not unveiled, it is anticipated that
Read more

Shopping plaza hit by two crimes / BG Road foes get more visible / 'Go Green" event set

Image
Spoerlein Commons hit twice – Police report a pair of incidents at Spoerlein Commons shopping plaza. In one incident, police say an unknown subject or subjects entered a maintenance room and damaged the property with paint.  Police say the second incident is being investigated as a person told police that he found the rear exterior door of his business damaged, and money missing from the cash register. Retail theft -- Police are continuing their investigation into the theft of seven bottles of liquor from the Walgreens at 1701 N Buffalo Grove Rd. The value of the stolen goods was set at   $209.93 Residential theft -- A resident in the 800 block of Trace Drive told police his bike was stolen from what they called an “unsecured” storage  area. The bike was valued at less than $500. Traffic busts – Buffalo Grove Police listed three citations for traffic related incidents including two for driving with a revoked license and one DUI.   In Other Community News   Opposition
Read more