News and Articles

Many U.S. state and local governments struggle with issues regarding use of salt following snow and ice storms. Salting streets does make it safer and easier for drivers. However, salting has many downsides. For those of us living near freshwater sources that provide water for drinking and household use, there are additional downside factors with using salt which ultimately gets into Lake Erie through sewers and ground water. Many organizations and universities have studied the challenges, including human health risks and economic development impacts, associated with the use of salt as a deicer.

Salt:

Is corrosive to streets, buildings, vehicles, bridges and other infrastructure. Maintenance, repairs or replacement is very expensive, whether for public or private property.

Can infiltrate nearby surface soil and ground water.

Alters the chemistry and changes the ecosystem of Lake Erie.

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The U.S. Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for our area. Rain will begin on Wednesday then turn to snow overnight. Depending on how fast temperatures drop, there could be freezing rain, creating ice on power lines and trees. Snow will fall overnight Wednesday through Thursday and into Friday morning, according to latest reports. Snowfall is estimated at 9-14 inches, but could go as high as 20 inches. Please stay safe. The following tips may help you be better prepared.

Get ready

Charge cell phones, computers and other devices.

Locate flashlights, batteries.

Stock up on necessities – medications, nonperishable food, bottled water.

Reporting emergencies

Life threatening emergencies, including electrical contact or entrapment, should be reported directly to 911. Dispatchers are trained to assess these situations.

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Residents celebrated the arrival of the holiday season and Santa on December 11. A parade of more than a dozen vehicles led Santa, who was riding in a firetruck, from Community Drive near Shoreway Shopping Center down Lake Road to the Joyce Hanks Community Center where he pulled the switch to light the commuity Christmas tree before leading residents into the center for a party that included crafting, cookie decorating and photos with the Jolly Old Elf and Mrs. Clause, the Grinch, Disney Princesses and elves.

The event is possible again this year thanks to the hard work of volunteers led by Brookside high School grads Julia Mohrbach and Julia Pyle and in kind donations from local businesses and individuals.

The city is replacing or creating sidewalks along a number of city streets. Superintendent Pat Hastings said the work was being done in front of some 50 houses. A city ordinance requires that home sellers place funds in escrow to pay for sidewalks that fail inspection before title transfers following sale of a home. In addition, sidewalks have been added where a new home is built. Hastings said the work will be concluded by later this fall.

The city is showing off its newly refurbished Engine 61. It recently underwent a complete vinyl wrap.

The work was done by Gorilla Graphics of Brunswick whose custom graphic work can be seen on racing cars, food trucks, buses, service and sales vans of many companies as well as emergency vehicles.

Cost for the wrap was $8,400. This compares to $60,000 to paint it. Sheffield Lake had Engine 63 vinyl wrapped three years ago. Firefighters said the vinyl wrap has worn well, with no peeling. In addition, if a part of the truck is dinged, a small vinyl replacement piece is made and applied over the ding, again at significant savings.

Mayor Dennis Bring said the city saved $100,000 using the vinyl wrap process on the two fire trucks. “This will add years to the useful life of both fire engines,” he said. A new fire pumper truck costs over $500,000, he added.

Sheffield Lake appears to be the only local fire department that utilizes this proces to extend the life of equipment.

A female American Bald Eagle fighting off a hawk over a fish was electrocuted Monday morning near East Ave. The incident was reported by the city to both ODNR and the Nature Center in Bay Village.

Nature Center staff are licensed wildlife rehabbers and are permitted to handle the birds. They picked it up and took it to their center. From there, it will be prepared and transported to a Native American center in Colorado.

While Bald Eagles are no longer considered endangered, they are still protected by several federal laws including The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These protections strictly forbid average citizens from touching the birds, including keeping a feather that they may find on the ground.