Prompted by parent concerns about the unsafe conditions encountered by children who walk to school during the winter months, Oxford Township is seeking bids for snow removal on its four safety paths leading to local schools.
On Nov. 10 the board of trustees voted 4-2 to request bids for snow removal on its Lakeville Rd. path (between Grampian Rd. and the village limits) leading to Lakeville Elementary; N. Oxford Rd. path (between the village limits and Ray Rd. ) leading to the high school; Pontiac St. path (between the W. Drahner Rd. and the village limits) leading to Oxford Elementary; and W. Drahner Rd. path (between Newman and Sanders roads) leading to Clear Lake Elementary.
The safety paths total about three miles.
According to Treasurer Joe Ferrari, the bid specifications require the competing snow removal services to be bonded and insured; use a sweeper/broom-type removal system or shovel by hand; and provide a ‘per push? quote, meaning a flat rate charge for each time the paths are cleared.
Ferrari said the township is ‘going to look at clearing the snow Monday through Friday when it reaches two inches or more.?
Historically, the township has never cleared the snow from its safety paths and is under no legal obligation to do so, according to officials. However, if the township does begin providing snow removal, it will be obligated to continue, according to the township attorney.
‘Once you start the maintenance issue, it’s going to have to be an on-going program,? Ferrari said.
Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Director Ron Davis submitted a quote of $58 per hour (or $6,500 per season) for his department to clear the paths.
‘I think our department would be much more dependable than a private contractor,? he said. ‘We’re going to take pride in the work.?
Trustee Pat Fitchena said the $58 quote ‘seems exorbitant.?
Davis replied his quote includes the salary and benefits cost of the employee doing the snow removal, gasoline and the time it takes to load and unload the machine and drive to the various safety path locations.
The director said his department is looking to purchase a $39,000 Bobcat skid-steer, a versatile piece of equipment capable of snow removal.
Davis said he’s not asking the township to ‘absorb? the entire cost of the vehicle, only ‘help offset? the cost incurred if the purchase included a broom attachment for sweeping snow and heated cab to keep the operator warm during the winter months.
‘I’d be the last one to gouge you guys because in essence it’s going to gouge me in the long run,? Davis told officials.
Because the township is not mandated to remove the snow from its paths, Fitchena said the job should be put out to bid.
‘I think we owe it to the taxpayers to get the best, reasonable price we can,? she said.
The trustee said she believes the school district should be kicking in some money for this.
‘I think the school should be stepping up to the plate and working with the township to provide an avenue for the children to get to school,? Fitchena said. ‘If they weren’t going there, we probably wouldn’t have to do this.?
Trustee Jerry Dywasuk noted that it was the school district that made the decision to not bus certain students in order to save money. He said school officials should have done a study to see how much it would cost to keep the safety paths clear for student use.
‘I don’t know if it’s something we (the township) should be spending our money on,? Dywasuk said. ‘I just think we’re opening a can of worms here.?
Fitchena said the township might be able to find a someone willing to volunteer their time to clear the paths.
‘We’ve had many things done in this township by volunteers,? she said. ‘I’m sure if we tapped Greg Christopher (developer of the Lake Villa Manufactured Home Park), he would step up to the plate and do this for the township for nothing. He’s doing it now anyway on his own safety path (in front of Lake Villa). I believe he would step forward and do it for the township. He has been a very, very good developer.?
Regardless of who ends up clearing the snow, Davis advised the township to have it removed via a broom system, not plowed or blown. A plow could damage the path, a snow blower could throw debris onto the road or adjacent properties.