Seasons Greetings, Well, winter sure didnt waste any time arriving this year!

This is the earliest that I remember seeing trucks driving on Chequamegon Bay in many years. Mount Ashawabay opened without having to make artificial snow, the snowmobile trails are busy and the XC ski trails are already in excellent condition. When I visit friends in other parts of the country, they often ask me, How do you survive the winters up there!? Its a great question, and one that we all end up asking ourselves at some point each winter. One of the things that I have found that helps me enjoy rather than dread winter is to find fun ways to get outside. Bundle up and get out there! Go for a walk in the woods, take out a sled and play in the snow like a kid again. Take up cross country skiing or ice fishing. Head up to Mount Ashwabay on a Saturday, hang out on the deck and just watch, you might find that the fun is contagious. When winter begins as early as it has this year, figuring our how to take some pleasure in this winter wonderland will make the next four months much more enjoyable! Any conversation about winter wouldnt be complete without talking a bit about snowplowing. Back in the days before I was elected, I didnt think much about it. If I got stuck, I found someone to help me push and assumed that it was time to invest in some new tires. Since becoming Mayor, I have found it to be a very popular topic of conversation, so now, I think about it often. As a matter of fact, Ive learned more about plowing than I ever thought I would need to know. I have come to realize that most of the conversations I have with folks about plowing arise from not understanding the plan. The public works department has devised, over years of clearing the city, a procedure that is followed each winter. This edition of Notes from the Mayors Desk is dedicated to helping you understand the plan. Lets begin with the basics of our plowing operations. We have 2 pieces of large snow removal equipment, the grader and the front end loader. For the purposes of plowing, the city is divided in half at Washington Avenue. One operator will plow the East half while the the other plows the West. We also have a tractor and a pickup truck that are used to used to clear the alleys, as well as a skidsteer with a snow blower attachment and an arsenal of shovels. From a few conversations over the past year, Ive learned that some believe plowing with our large equipment is a fairly simple task. We have dozens of armchair plow drivers, in town that will tell you so. I have learned that, in fact, its not that easy. Even an experienced operator needs to learn the intricacies of the City. Each street has its quirks, whether it be a manhole cover that sits an extra half inch above the surface, exactly where the dirt turns to pavement or a corner thats too tight to make if theres a car parked in the wrong spot. Each of these small things can cause delays or damage the equipment. The public works department has three equipment operator postions. This year, we are pleased to welcome two experienced equipment operators who have been recently hired and will be learning the specifics of plowing Washburn. On the back side of this page, you will find more detailed information about the plan, including the sequence in which the avenues and streets are plowed and specifics about when plowing begins., but even the best laid plans run into challenges during the plow season. Here are a few to keep in mind: - By DOT regulation, our plow operators can not plow for more than 12 hours in a given day. Sometimes, in larger storms, this means that the drivers must stop plowing before the streets and alleys are completely cleared and resume the following day. - As inconvenient as it may be, equipment breaks down. Our grader is nearly 30 years old and the front end loader is not much younger. These pieces of equipment are very expensive to replace, so thus far, they have not made it to the top of the capital budget priority list. Its a reality that our public works department must deal with, and they have done so remarkably well over the years. Unfortunately, equipment typically breaks when its being used and needed most. Sometimes, that is in the middle of a snowstorm. I will leave you with this final thought on plowing. Our snow plow operators want the streets cleared as badly as you do. They work long hours in adverse conditions at all hours of the day and night. When you get frustrated, remember, that snow is something we have no control over, we just get to move it around a lot once it hits the ground. Do your part to make the snow removal as easy as possible. Park your cars off street, dont push or blow your snow into the right-of-way (theres an ordinance against it) and give the drivers a friendly wave when they pass by. Remember, were all in this adventure called winter together. On a different note... Please mark your calendar for the 1st Annual State of the City, Address, 6:00pm, Monday February 17th, at StageNorth. One of my top priorities as Mayor is to help you stay informed with accurate information regarding the City of Washburn. Please join me for a fun and informative evening. The event is free and the bar will be open, but seating is limited to 140 in the theater, so call StageNorth at (715) 373-1194 to reserve your seat. The presentation will also be streaming on the internet. I will post a link to the live stream on my facebook page and the city website. As always, feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, suggestions or ideas. You can reach me by email at washburnmayor@gmail.com, by phone at 715.373.6160 x7 or by cell at 715.685.4031. If you do call, even with a complaint , please leave your name and number so I can get back to you. I would also like to encourage you to join the ongoing conversation on Facebook. I often post articles, questions and other things that I think would be of interest. To participate, simply visit facebook.com/washburnmayor or search Facebook for Scott Griffiths, Mayor of Washburn Enjoy this bountiful snowfall and may 2014 bring you an abundance of health, happiness and prosperity!

HO

Best Regards,

Scott Griffiths, Mayor

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For plowing purposes the city is divided in half at Washington Ave. One driver and large plow are designated for each route. The arrows below indicate the sequence for each route. Drivers may alter this plan as necessary under certain circumstances. GARY RD OAK RD
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so I created this map to make it easier to understand.

N 10TH AVE W

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emergency vehicles access.

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GRANDVIEW BLVD

WEST SIDE plowing sequence 1- Washington Ave. for

Up and down the avenues moving west from Washington Ave.
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STATE HWY 13

The details of the Citys plowing plan may not be obvious at first glance,

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EAST SIDE plowing sequence 1- Washington Ave. 2- Up and down the

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avenues moving east from Washington Ave.

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On School days, the West Side plow stops at 5th Ave. and plows 4th, 5th and 8th St. to clear access for the City of Washburn schools Up and down the avenues moving west from 6th to 11th Ave.
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complete West Side

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6- Outlying roadsWannebo Rd., Fur Farm etc.

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are plowed from South to North with small equipment while the large equipment plows the streets and avenues.

The Alleys...

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- If more than 3 has fallen overnight, plowing begins in the morning. - Plow drivers, by law, must stop plowing after 12 hours, so.... - If the snow is predicted to stop early, plowing begins at 4am. - If snow is predicted to continue, plowing begins at 7am. - Plowing the city takes 8-12 hours depending on conditions.

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The Timing...

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When you know snow is coming, park your car o the street and remember... In accordance with City Code of Ordinances, Sec. 6-2-7, No person shall push, sho e or in any way deposit any snow or ice onto any public streets, alley, sidewalk or public lands dedicated to public use . . . Also... we request your assistance in uncovering fire hydrants. If you have a hydrant near your home and can dig it out, please do! An uncovered hydrant could make all the difference in the event of a fire.
Barksdale

Give our plow operators a hand!

Announcing... the 1st Annual

Time to renew your dogs license!
Dog licenses must be renewed each year. On April 1st, a $5 late penalty will be added to the cost of each license.

Do you know where your water shutoff valve is?

Knowing how to turn your water off in case of a burst pipe can save you enormous headaches and $$. Dont wait until your basement is filling to find it!

State of theCity
Address

2014

Monday, February 17th 6:00pm at StageNorth

Spend an evening with Mayor Scott Griffiths to learn more about whats happening in the City of Washburn. An informed citizenry is critical for our local democracy to function properly. Get in depth explanantions of the challenges we face, and the solutions being sought. Learn about our recent accomplishments and ongoing projects. Spend an evening becoming one of the engaged, informed citizens that our community counts on!

The address will also be streaming on the web. Visit cityofwashburn.org for details