This post is an official message on behalf of Jacobus Borough Mayor, Greg Gruendler, updating our residents on the status of snow removal from Borough streets.
I hope this post finds everyone safe and warm during this difficult time. I ask that all residents be mindful of their neighbors and to check on those who may require assistance. The Borough office received word late Monday afternoon that Penn Waste, Inc. has suspended all trash services for the week of 1/25/16. Regular trash service will resume Tuesday, Feb. 2nd allowing residents to place double the allowed volume of trash out during this pick-up period.
I also remind our residents to please shovel out any fire hydrants that are on your property since they are there for your protection and your neighbors. If fire responders would have to dig out the hydrants during an emergency many, many minutes could be lost while performing this task jeopardizing life and property in your neighborhood. Several years ago, Goodwill Fire Co. #1 completed installing 5 ft. Borough purchased hydrant markers. These long reflective markers should be visible above the snow drifts. Please dig out 3 feet around the hydrant as well as a path to the street.
Now to the status of snow removal. Crews from the Borough's contractor, Easy-Dig Excavating, Inc., have been diligently working long shifts since Friday evening to open streets. Unfortunately at the height of the storm when snowfall reached blizzard conditions, over 1 inch per hour, the pure volume of snow, and 40 mph winds required the crews to suspend operations for a time. The crews went back to their Jacobus shop and took time to rest, grab a bite to eat and make any necessary equipment repairs.
When the crews returned to the streets, the volume of snow required the crews to move to use larger and more powerful equipment such as, heavy stationary angle blades, large articulating bucket lifts with chains on all 4 wheels, backhoes, and heavy duty dump trucks. The usual standard trucks could not break through drifts as high as 8 ft. in some neighborhoods. Using the larger specialized equipment requires more time to remove the snow. Another challenge facing the crews was that some neighborhoods were not accessible because access roads maintained by PennDOT and Springfield Twp. were blown shut with snow and drifts. The crews did open the non-Borough streets enough to access the neighborhoods, thus requiring additional time to begin the necessary work. By Sunday afternoon most streets were open to a single lane of traffic allowing access by emergency fire, ambulance, police, and private vehicles.
Monday morning, day 2 after the snow stopped, crews began their day by working to open & widen thru-streets, and then moved to dead-end streets and single-lane streets, such as Oak Lane and Cherry Lane. Much of the snow had to be lifted out of the way with a front-end loader as opposed to being plowed, which required many additional hours per street to complete this task. Anti-skid material and melting agents were applied behind the snow removal equipment.
Easy-Dig Excavating crews will continue to address problem areas over the next several days since this clean-up is far from being complete, and will require patience and cooperation from all of our residents. I am sure that the Borough Street Committee will review the procedures and priorities of our snow emergency response, and if necessary, changes will be recommended. I want to thank John Hendrix and his Easy-Dig crew for their dedicated and diligent work on behalf of all of our citizens. Under the circumstances and challenges the snow removal crews faced, I want to express my personal thank you and say, "Job well done!"
Also in closing, I wish to thank the committed volunteers of Goodwill Fire Co. who have responded with their specialized all-wheel drive equipment during this emergency event and the dedicated EMS Lions Ambulance staff for their response to medical emergencies.
Any residents with further concerns of snow removal are encouraged to contact the Borough office at 717-428-1752. After hours please leave a message and phone # if you wish to have your call returned.
Again, I wish all of our residents well as we work through this difficult and challenging event.
Greg Gruendler, Mayor
Posted January 25, 2016
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