Service department gears up for spring

by Dan Holland

March 21 city council meeting

With the winter snow plowing season coming to an end, the Broadview Heights Service Department has been keeping busy unclogging sewer systems in the city, Service Director David Schroedel said during a March 21 city council meeting.

“We’ve had several sanitary backups around the city just within the last few days,” said Schroedel. “I would like to remind everyone that there are no flushable wipes. Even if it says ‘flushable’ on the box, they’re not flushable. Those cause about half of the backup issues when we have to send a crew out to unclog someone’s sanitary system.”

Schroedel said that In spring and summer – generally when it’s above 32 degrees – his department has the vacuum truck out.

“We are cleaning out both the storm sewers and sanitary sewers,” he added. “It’s an important job of the service department to keep everything flowing.”

Schroedel also mentioned that area asphalt plants would soon be opening, which will allow the department to resume its regular asphalt street patching program as opposed to performing cold-patching.

Council passed a resolution authorizing the service department to auction off a number of used vehicles and equipment no longer needed via GovDeals.com. The inventory includes two Ford pickup trucks, a golf cart, miscellaneous lawn maintenance equipment and a number of traffic signals, according to Schroedel.

Council also passed a resolution authorizing acceptance of donations from city employees for the installation of a memorial park bench to be installed near the city’s amphitheater, which will honor two deceased former service department workers.

Miscellaneous Business

Council passed a motion approving a $500 donation to go toward the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School and North Royalton High School scholarship programs. The scholarships are to be awarded to an eligible Broadview Heights resident. A $250 donation going to each school’s after-prom committee was also approved by council.

In other action, council:

• Passed a resolution authorizing a two-year agreement with Verizon for wireless products and services in the city.
• Passed a resolution authorizing an agreement with Lake Business Products for copier maintenance services in the city’s police department at a cost of $1,770.