Blizzard Feb. 1-2 , 2011 - Cleanup Continues

Work will continue clearing A-B garage roofs and dormers of excess snow, and snow removal equipment will be on site beginning today, to remove excess snow from piles, clear fire hydrants, etc.

Management has advised that it was decided that laying additional snow melt yesterday was considered unnecessary.

This photo, taken at dusk on Briarcliffe, shows the condition of that street, and also one of the many piles of snow along it.  The tall piles of snow makes visibility uncertain.

Conditions are to remain below 31F until February 12, per the weather service. This is good news, as a sudden melt of snow would have serious consequences. Of course, all of that snow will melt at some time, and we have no control over how rapidly that will occur. So work now will also shift to include preparation for the day that temperatures do rise above 40F.

Management has assured me that our crews will be clearing sewer openings, etc. to provide a path for water to flow, when that melting does begin. Such clearing may not occur until excess quantities of snow are removed.

Wheaton and nearby communities continue to dig out. A friend who lives in a town home in a nearby community reported that her street and parking areas were finally cleared of snow yesterday at 10:00am. She had no been able to go anywhere until that time. She'll be returning to work today, Friday February 4.  This too occurred in Wheaton, where digging out cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets began on Thursday morning. It is unclear if the city's 300+ cul-de-sacs were completed yesterday. Wheaton faced the same problem we all did, because deep drifts made pushing snow impossible.

The only reason BLMH had cleared streets on Wednesday morning was the diligence and efforts of our snow removal company, who I understand worked continuously through the night to assure that the snow remained at manageable levels. Should you doubt this, I saw drifts, sometimes reaching 6 ft. and those would have also been in our streets.

To provide a personal note concerning the problems faced by others, I will relate that my office building, which did not get plowing until Wednesday morning, had parking lot drifts of 5 ft in height with a length of 130 ft. This made snow removal on the driveway along the side of the building and providing rear parking lot access, impossible to push. The front of the building and it's lot was cleared on Wednesday morning. However, we began digging out the side and rear yesterday, and will complete that process today.

Here's the current (as of 7:00am today) Wheaton press release:

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Update on Road Conditions and Snow Removal Efforts

WHEATON, Ill. – The City’s primary and secondary road systems have been cleared of snow. Many of the street surfaces remain snow-packed, and the City urges you to use caution when driving on the roadways.

Last evening, the Public Works Department began addressing the City’s 300+ cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets. The effort on these streets consists of attempting to make an access route down the cul-de-sacs and dead-ends for residents living on these streets. The City’s snow plow equipment has not been effective in this snow removal effort, which has required the Public Works Department to utilize its four front-end loaders and two backhoes to create access on the cul-de-sacs and dead-ends.

In the City’s Central Business District, street access is available but parking is limited due to the snow stacking that has occurred in the parking areas. This evening, the Public Works Department will begin a snow removal operation within the Central Business District, starting in the core of the district and working outward. The City anticipates this effort will require several days to complete due to the volume of the snow. During the next several days, therefore, the City encourages residents traveling into the Central Business District to park their vehicles within the parking garage.

Over the next several days, the Public Works Department will also begin a snow removal operation at various intersections within the community where the radius of the intersection has been reduced due to the volume of snow.

### End of Press release

Comments, Corrections, Omissions, References

Note 1. I hope to get back to "normal" today. Work at the office was sporadic yesterday, and a volleyball game scheduled at Wheaton College, which my spouse and I were to attend, was cancelled. 
Note 2. I understand at least one resident were irritated by the fact that management was not in their offices, bright and early on Wednesday morning, to discuss our personal wants, needs and desires. Our emergency telephone service was functional throughout the storm, and I am unaware of any true emergencies for residents, that were the responsibility of the association. 

Blizzard Feb. 1-2 , 2011 - Cleanup

Information added February 3 at 4:00pm
Work is proceeding with snowblowers to touch up certain entrances and widen some driveways. Work is also proceeding with rakes, to remove snow from roofs and the B-unit dormer windows. This work will continue and may not be completed until Monday, I have been told by our maintenance company.

While that snow might be of concern to some residents, temperatures are predicted to peak at 30F on Sunday. So there is little concern about melting. .

As usual, I pass all of this information and more to the various board members, and to management, via email.

I have observed at least one vehicle parked on Lakecliffe that has not been cleared of snow, and in one case, is causing a possible hazard to other drivers. Our snow removal service has cleared snow from near the vehicle, but obviously, for liability reasons, the owner is responsible for clearing the remaining snow. I would hope this happens soon. Here's a photo, that "block" is actually a car!

I have been informed that some owners have been contracting to have some snow removed at their discretion. I want to remind all owners that it is my understanding that they are personally responsible for any and all payments for those services.  Any damage to the property, as a consequence of this activity, is also the owner's responsibility.

I again encourage all owners and residents to be patient. All driveways and streets were sufficiently cleared by this morning. Yesterday, Wheaton issued a bulletin which stated the entire city was using 17 plows and an additional "12 other pieces of removal equipment." We had a substantial amount of equipment here, which exceeds, on a per capita basis, the equipment serving the city streets.

On Wednesday, the city of Wheaton posted a notice on their website, declaring the following:
Due to severe winter weather, the City of Wheaton asks you to stay home except in the case of emergencies.

Today, this notice was posted on the City of Wheaton website:
The City’s primary and secondary road systems have been cleared of snow. Many of the street surfaces remain snow-packed, and the City urges you to use caution when driving on the roadways.

Obviously, our communities' streets are in better condition than that, and are not "snow packed."

 I have been in several parts of Wheaton and traversed Glen Ellyn. Travel is difficult, and at times, main routes in downtown streets are closed to traffic as plows continue to clear snow. Snow is being removed to widen the streets and again permit parking.

I am of the opinion that our crews are doing a fine job, and we are in excellent condition. If you are unhappy with the current weather, I remind all of us that weather control is not the responsibility of the association. This situation was declared a snow emergency at about 3:00pm on Tuesday. Our snow removal crews cleared streets throughout the night and so our streets were "passable" on Wednesday morning. I was able to dig out on Harrow Court and drive my vehicle through the complex at about 10:30am! Driveways took a bit longer, but all streets and driveways were cleared by Thursday morning. Not bad, not bad at all!

On Wednesday morning, I took various photos, including the situation with the dormer windows, and emailed FUPM and our maintenance company, and asked if this should be a cause for concern. This was not an emergency situation, and it's useful to remind owners that our crews had to dig out before they could deal with our personal problems.

During my walks and drive-throughs on the property yesterday, the only member of our board whom I saw walking the property was our Landscaping Director. The vast majority of owners remained indoors, or shoveled their vehicles. That was very prudent.


This post updated at 2:30pm
The snow removal service did a good job, and did complete all driveways before morning. It took a lot of work well through the night to accomplish that.

It's a bright clear day, but don't be fooled by the appearance out your window. It's frigid and cleanup continues throughout the area.

Our streets are lined with tall piles of snow, so exercise extreme care while driving here and in the city. The cleanup continues, and is not over.

Today, maintenance crews will be using snow blowers to remove snow from building entrances that were not completed yesterday. I drove the entire grounds this morning, and every driveway was cleared, with the exception of one automobile which had not yet been moved from the owners drive. That prevented the snow removal.  Most entrances were sufficiently cleared, but a few were narrow. Those will be tackled today, and if not completed, thereafter.

Crews will salt the streets today, but expect a hard freeze tonight, and slippery streets.

Maintenance will begin clearing snow from the roofs, and from the B-Unit dormer windows. Large trucks will be on the property for the next few days to remove some of the excess snow, and front-end loaders may be on site to re-distribute snow to reduce the height of some of the piles.

The street photos were taken this morning before leaving for my office. I suggest residents postpone errands for a day or so, if possible, and stay off the streets. The cities of Wheaton and Glen Ellyn continue snow removal efforts, there are people walking in the streets, including on Roosevelt Road, and some street lights are not functioning properly.

Comments, Corrections, Omissions, References

Note 1.   The information contained in this post was obtained in conversations with management, other board members, and our maintenance company. 

Note 2. Here's the latest City of Wheaton press release, concerning the snow removal efforts on city streets. I believe this was posted yesterday evening:

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Update on City Snow Removal Efforts

WHEATON, Ill. – The City of Wheaton has 17 plows and 12 other pieces of removal equipment in operation throughout the city clearing snow. However, whiteout conditions during the night have hindered cleanup efforts.


Main roads are the top priority for snow removal crews. Currently all primary roads are open. However, the City advises that it is still hazardous to travel. Crews are making a pass over secondary streets in order to open one lane, but with the volume of snow and continuous drifting snow, crews will require extra time to fully open these streets.


The City would like to advise residents to keep children off of streets, ponds and retention areas. In addition, contractors should not plow snow into streets.


Emergency vehicles currently have access to all locations throughout the city. In you are experiencing an emergency, call 9-1-1. 

# End of Press Release

Note 3. I'm currently at my office, where cleanup continues. We have drifts around the building that are up to 5 ft. in height. The plows could not complete yesterday. However, I do have access to my office via the front door. It will be a few days before this is all cleaned up. Here's a few photos of the side entrance. I haven't seen the rear of the building yet! These photos were taken between 12:00 noon and 2:00pm.

What a great aerobic workout!

[Comment added Sunday February 6. My personal snow removal crews returned to my office on Saturday morning, after dealing with many more urgent customers, and getting some rest. They did complete the office cleanup efforts at 12:00 noon on Saturday, just in time for the next snowfall!]

After shoveling, we were able to get to the side entrance. 

How deep was that snow? Here's a shovel included, to give some perspective. 

Blizzard Feb. 1-2 , 2011 - Update

Here's a status update for residents. See the comments for the latest City of Wheaton Press Releases.

Updated Feb 2, 7:15pm.
After talking to several residents, who have called my published phone number, to voice their concerns about snow removal, let me emphasize that the goal is to make the property drivable for all, by tomorrow morning. Those of you who took our president's statement that "streets and driveways will be passable today" as a literal one, will be disappointed, unless you are completed before midnight.

I have been advised that some residents are calling the snow plowing service directly to get moved up the queue and plowed "now." As a board member, let me remind you that the the various contractors do not work for you "personally" and they work for the entire association. If you call a contractor, you are requesting work to be done at your personal expense, which means you expect to be billed and will honor any such billing. If that is not correct, then I suggest that you avoid making such calls, and be patient.

I suggest we all get a good night's sleep, and plan on getting up at the normal time tomorrow morning, so we can return to our place of work. I expect that you will be able to drive away tomorrow morning. However, you may need to shovel some of the snow that's against your garage door. The "bobcats" cannot not make a clean sweep of your entire driveway.  If you are one of the fortunate ones, and you have a neighbor who has a snow shovel and isn't intimidated by it, you might find some of that touch up completed for you. On the other hand, the snow removal crews may be able to get the majority of the snow removed and such touch up work completed by morning. In fairness to them, as a board member, I do empower them to make the necessary decisions, and that may mean, stopping when fatigue or other issues impede their work.

There will be additional snow removal tomorrow, and large trucks and other vehicles on the property. I encourage all residents to exercise caution when driving on the property, and slow down. That 20 MPH limit will probably be excessive under tomorrows conditions.

Updated Feb 2, 6:30pm.
I walked the property at dusk and met up with our Landscaping Director, who was also walking and inspecting. The "bobcats" are working several sections of property. A few owners have called and asked why their driveways have not yet been plowed. I've returned all phone calls; one owner did not pick up and I assume they are "out".

Snow removal crews will continue to work, and I have been advised by our board president that the goal is to  have "all streets and driveways passable by the end of today (wednesday)."

However, that will require continued work into the wee hours.

A notice has been sent via email to some owners. If you have not received one, it is probably because the association either does not have your email address, or you haven't given permission to use it for these types of purposes. This is to be clarified on the next census form, I have been told.

The following notice may be posted. The email was issued by our CD and here is the content:

  "Hello Neighbors,

Due to the winter storm, Veolia will be picking up garbage on SATURDAY, Feb 5.
Please put your garbage and recycling containers on the curb Friday after 6 p.m.

Also, please tell your building neighbors about the Saturday pickup
as we may not get a notice posted in the buildings until late tomorrow."

Keep warm!

Sharon

Updated Feb 2, 4:30pm. 
Because of the snow situation, Glen Ellyn School districts 41 and 89 have declared the schools will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday February 3.

Wheaton School district 200, and district 89 have also announced that schools will remain closed tomorrow, Wednesday February 3.

Feb 2, 12:30pm. 
Main Streets of BLMH were plowed throughout the night, and this morning. The cleaning of driveways has begun, and will continue today, and into tomorrow morning. According to our snow removal service, there will be additional equipment brought in to remove the large quantities of snow on the property.

Removal of excess snow from roofs about 6-8 feet from the edges and gutters, will begin in a day or so. This was arranged with maintenance in anticipation of large quantities of snow on the roofs, and issues and concerns of what will happen when that snow does begin to melt.

These photos were taken commencing at 7:45am this morning.

Digging out at 9:00am:

To dig out my car, I had to shovel a path to the street. This was as the storm was ending:

Digging out the car, "before" photos:

The Subaru, dug out - I always wondered what it would look like as a fastback! [I was parked on one of our cul-de-sacs. You can see that this was reasonably cleared, and driveable. This photo was taken at 10:16am on Wednesday, February 2nd] :

Main Streets being plowed [again!], next comes the driveways and cleanup:

Here's a photo at 10:40am on February 2nd. This was taken during a visual inspection of the property, and to observe the status of snow removal efforts. I took great care not to interfere in any manner with the crews on site, who were working diligently throughout the property.. Our snow removal crews, with additional support from the maintenance department, had to contend with drifts such as these:

Comments, Corrections, Omissions, References

Note 1. I added a few photos and dates and times after original posts. I am using this, and supplemental emails, to gage the effectiveness of our snow removal efforts, and the time at which certain milestones were met. 


Note 2. Here's the City of Wheaton press release issued 9:09am February 2nd:

PRESS RELEASE

City of Wheaton

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

City Asks Residents to Stay Off Roads

WHEATON, Ill. – Due to severe winter weather, the City of Wheaton asks you to stay home except in the case of emergencies. While emergency vehicles continue to respond to emergency calls, the Fire Department reports that private vehicles continue to get stuck in the snow.

In addition, Wheaton’s City Hall is closed for business Wednesday, Feb. 2, but is expected to reopen on Thursday, Feb. 3.

The City asks you to use caution when clearing driveways and walkways and to pace yourself for your health and safety. 

#### End of Press Release