TENDERS

Sealed Tenders, clearly marked as to content will be received by the Township of East Garafraxa for the following:

• Quotation for Bridge Inspections until 4:00 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013

Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Tender documents and specifications may be obtained by contacting:

David Menary, CRS.I.
Director of Public Works
(519)941-1321 ext. 229

ROAD NEWS

✓It’s Muddy!  It’s Dusty! It’s Spring! Well it has been a long time coming, but soon ice and blowing snow will be a distant memory. Spring brings the annual spring break up of gravel roads, as the frost comes out of the ground.  Special care is needed when driving on country gravel roads as they can become soft, muddy and difficult to drive on. 

The “half load limit” on municipal roads begins March 1 and runs until May 15 every year.  Please abide by this to assist us in keeping our roads passable during spring thaw. 

Also once the snow disappears, we are left with the winter sand residue.  During an ice storm, there never seems to be enough sand, but once spring hits, there is definitely too much sand along the sides of the roads and on the pavement.  Street Sweeping is done in the Spring, usually in May, depending on the weather.

Each year, maintenance gravel is applied to specific sections of the gravel roads in our municipality.  This means that there may be a large volume of gravel truck traffic in specific areas of the municipality during the maintenance.  This is only temporary and does not mean that your road has become a haul route for gravel trucks. 

Once the maintenance gravel has been applied, dust control takes place, again, depending on the weather.

While Spring is very welcome after a long winter, it presents us with annual challenges that are an element of living in the county of Canada in the Springtime.  The spring break up is only temporary, but can be very frustrating to everyone involved.  Your care and patience is appreciated.

SAFETY TIPS

The Ontario Road Building Association has the following tips for drivers hitting the roads in snowy conditions:

1. Don't drive beside snow plows. You risk collision as snow plows sometimes shift sideways when they are plowing packed snow or drifts.
2. Move aside - Snow plows often drive along the centerline of a roadway to remove snow. If you are approaching a snow plow from the opposite direction, shift right if conditions allow to ensure there is enough space for them to pass you safely.
3. Beware of reduced visibility. Even at reduced plowing speeds, a light powdery snow forms a cloud in the wake of a snow plow that severely restricts a driver's visibility making passing extremely dangerous.
4. Do not pass between snow plows in tandem. On multi-lane roads snow plows often work in tandem, forming an echelon or "conga line". Passing or weaving between these plows is dangerous. Please stay well back of echelon plows.
5. Watch for snow plows on sunny days. Snow plows and removal equipment must be out for several hours after a storm clearing shoulders and cutting back snow banks. Please look out for plows even on clear days.

To learn more about how to stay safe when approaching or driving near a snow plow, visit www.snowplowsafety.ca

• Roadside Weed Spraying will not take place in 2013. Concerns should be forwarded to the Municipal Office township@amaranth-eastgary.ca

Starting January 1, 2013, the County of Dufferin will be responsible for County-wide solid waste services, including the Township of East Garafraxa   There will be no change in curbside waste collection schedules from January 1st to May 31st, 2013.

For further information visit the County of Dufferin Waste Management website- http://www.dufferincounty.ca/residents/waste-services

You can also refer to Dufferin County’s Take it Back! Directory for more options to get rid of unwanted items.

A new curbside waste collection schedule will be distributed by the County for June 1st to December 31st, 2013, closer to the start of the new program. 

Waste Management:

• County of Dufferin assumes responsibility for Waste Management services as of January 1, 2013
• No changes in curbside waste collection schedules from January to May 31, 2013
• 2013 Collection Schedule Click here
• For further information visit the County of Dufferin Waste Management website-
http://www.dufferincounty.ca/residents/waste-services/

DUFFERIN TRANSFER AND RECYCLING FACILITY
"The Middle Man between you and the Landfill"
NOW ACCEPTING E-WASTE AT NO CHARGE
(519) 943-0101
www.sandhilldisposal.com

Acceptable Electronics

• Computers and Accessories
• Printers, Copiers & Cartridges
• Cell Phones, Telephones & Answering Machines
• IPOD, MP3, Camera, Pagers and GPS
• Power Bars/Packs and Cables
• Stereos, Radios, Speakers
• Home Theatre Systems (VCR, DVD Player, TV's)
• Game Consoles
• All Types of cables