SNOW REMOVAL/ICE ISSUES

The Board and Cobblestone Management have received numerous questions and concerns about the snow removal and subsequent problems caused by snow melting and then freezing on the walkways and sidewalks.  Many of the concerns come from homeowners who have homes with a northern exposure, therefore, with little melting.  Suggestions from homeowners have included increasing the dues to add a larger snow removal presence in the community, more supervision of the teams that are on-site and starting at the back end of the community when clearing the streets, driveways, and walkways.

At the pre-board meeting, the Board discussed possible solutions to these snow and ice issues and identified the following ways to help mitigate the problems.

Directions to JPL regarding snow removal:

·      North facing drives and walkways will be shoveled after 1 inch of snow.

·      The North sides of the streets will be addressed first in snow removal from walkways and driveways.

·      JPL will not plow snow onto north sidewalks.

·      After each snow removal event, the onsite supervisor will make a final drive through, using the ATV, to make sure that sidewalks and driveways have been adequately addressed.

·      Targeted problem areas will be sanded more heavily.

Establish a Team of Homeowner Volunteers (“SNOW-MEN/SNOW-WOMEN”)

·      Establishment of a homeowner volunteer group to keep buckets of sand/mag-cloride mix at their homes.

·      Each volunteer would be assigned a number of homes and would address calls from the homeowners who notice icy walkway situations.  (This is mainly for addressing ice that forms after snow melts during the day and then refreezes with colder temperatures, forming hazards on walkways.)

·      Volunteer can either sand the affected areas or provide sand to the homeowner.

·      Any major problems, such as ice damming, would be reported to Tom Dey.

To make this work, we need volunteers.  IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE, PLEASE CALL THE CLUB. 

The Finance committee and board will monitor the snow removal plans for the remainder of the year to see if any increase in dues will be needed.