Public Works Department

phone# 708-458-2961
Email:

 Table of contents

Chipping Service Tips

Snow Plowing Season Tips!

Proactive Flood Measures Spring 2009

What Residents can do to Help in the Prevention of Flooding

Info on Potholes

Permits Required

Pothole Repairs

Equipment For Sale

Projects

 Snow Plowing Season Tips!

Click Here for PDF Version

SNOWPLOWING SEASON IS HERE!

HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL TIPS THAT COULD MAKE THE SEASON RUN SMOOTHLY

 As always, our Public Works Department, during the snowplowing season, do there very best to plow our streets as quick and as efficient as possible. The Village receives many complaints during this season. One of the most frequent complaints is the snowplowing in of the mailboxes and driveways. This is unavoidable! When plowing the streets, the snow rolls off the end of the plow at the curb line. In order to keep our streets clean, the snow must go somewhere.

 As a department, we are asking for the resident's assistance. If you could please shovel the snow from your driveway, mailbox or sidewalk onto your grassy areas and not into the street it would be greatly appreciated. In this way, when the plow truck comes along it won't simply push the snow back onto your driveway and mailbox. If you use your parkway and lawn for the excess snow, this problem can be eliminated. Also, if residents can remove all portable basketball nets off the street for the winter so the plows can do their job. The Public Works Department will not be responsible for any damages that may occur.

 We would also appreciate that on garbage day, residents set their trashcans behind the curb line. After trash is picked up return the trashcan to their proper storage as soon as possible to avoid the cans being blown and rolling onto the street.

 Residents who park on the streets where snow route signs have been placed are being asked to move their vehicles and keep them off the street if there is a winter storm possible predicted in the area. It makes it so much easier for the snow plows to come through the street without having to go around the vehicles. In the event a vehicle has not been moved, Village ordinance allows the police to issue tickets and/or towing of the vehicle.

 The front of the mailbox should be even with the curb line and no more than 10-12 inches from the curb line towards your house. The bottom of the mailbox should be 36-42 inches above the top edge of the curb. They are not to encroach past the curb line. Please check your mailboxes to make sure that they are not leaning over the curb.

 In the event if a mailbox is hit with a snowplow, we will repair the mailbox as soon as possible. Please call Public Works with your address. Public Works and the Village is not responsible for decorative mailboxes, only the standard mailboxes on 4x4's.
If your mailbox is damaged by heavy snow or snow being plowed towards it, it is the homeowner's responsibility to repair or replace.

 Public Works also plows senior citizens driveways. Please remember these driveways start being plowed once all main streets throughout the Village are plowed and salted and safe for our residents. If you believe you qualify for Village assistance for your driveway please call Public Works and we will check to see if you do qualify for having your driveway plowed. All driveways that the Public Works do must not have any cars in the driveway, this creates a problem for our trucks and an accident can occur. Please remember to remove any cars in your .driveway before we get their or our driver will pass your house and go on to the next driveway. We have over 70 driveways to do so please be patient. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

 Chipping Service Tips

Chipping will begin the 1st week of April and will continue until the mid fall.
An ending date for this service will be posted when it is determined.
 
The Public Works Department will be out on a regular basis to chip branches and small limbs from residents yards that have been trimmed from trees.
Please pile your trimmings neatly at the street's edge.
This does not include entire trees that have been cut down.

Your patience is asked as it takes several days to cover the entire village.

 Permits Required  

Note: All permit application are in triplicate and can be obtained at the Public Works Department located at: 8748 W. 82nd Place (map)
Hours: 7am to 3pm
phone: 708-458-2961

Street Auguring / Street Cuts  

Sewer Laterals

What Residents Can do to Help in the Prevention of Flooding

Residential cooperation is essential in the prevention of flooding throughout the village no matter which section of the village you live in. 1^st and foremost is the preventative maintenance of the area around the culvert, catch basin and ditch on your property. The culvert is the tube that runs underneath your driveway that allows runoff to flow to the catch basin. If you don’t have a ditch there will be a catch basin on or near your property. Not all residential properties have a catch basin. If your property does not have one it is very likely that your neighbors do depending on the engineering that was done in your area. These areas need to be kept clean of debris including; paper, leaves, branches, grass clippings and anything that would prevent the flow of water. No grating or chicken wire type material should be placed at the opening of a culvert as this will cause debris to build up and eventually block the flow of water. If your culvert should become blocked and you are unable to clear it please contact Public Works and they will clear it. If you see the catch basin is not draining please call Public Works. No residents should ever remove any catch basin or sewer cover. They are heavy and there is a risk of injury. Nothing should be inserted into a catch basin to attempt to clear it. Notify Public Works, they have the proper equipment and the knowledge to clear catch basins and culverts.

As the year goes by we do different thing in the maintenance of our property; cutting the grass, raking leaves, trimming trees or shrubs ect., when you are doing these things residents should never pile or rake grass, tree, shrub clippings or leaves into or around their ditch, culvert or catch basin. Make inspecting these vital areas a part of your regular property maintenance routine.

These small preventative measures by residents will go a long way in protecting not only their property, but the properties of their neighbors and the whole village.

If you see anyone raking or placing anything in a ditch please notify Public Works or the Building Department to have the property inspected..

Public Works can be reached at: 708-458-2961 or email:

The Building Department can be reached at: 708-458-2130
or email:

Click HERE for PDF version

 Potholes Repairs

UPDATE: 3-24-09 Public Works is continuing to patch potholes as often as the weather will allow with cold patch material. This of course is a temporary measure until the asphalt plants resume operations and hot patch materials become available. We are told the plants will be starting production April 15th. If you see a pothole that needs repairs please contact the Village Hall at  708-458-2520 or the Public Works Department at 708-458-2961.
UPDATE: 2-25-09 Public Works repaired potholes on many of the streets throughout the Village as the weather warmed to the mid 40's allowing them to use the patch material effectively.
UPDATE: 2-17-09 Public Works repaired potholes on 80th St. between Wilkins School and Chief's Trailer court. This area seem to become bad quickly. In efforts to ensure the safety of the children going to school and the residents in the area, Public Works proactively fixed the potholes and will continue to monitor the area with top priority status.

Due to the amount of snow, ice, sleet and the extreme temperature swings we have experienced, potholes have appeared through out the area. This of course happens every year during and throughout the winter season and is not unique to Justice.
The Public Works Department has started to patch as many potholes as they can. Please note that potholes can't be patched until the weather warms enough and the ground thaws properly to accept the patch material. On December 29th Public Works crews were out filling potholes almost as fast as they appeared. They will continue to do so as long as the weather permits.

This is an ongoing battle during the winter that The Public Works Department will continue to combat. Please keep in mind that there are many potholes to take care of and to be patient as they will be repaired A.S.A.P.
If you see a pothole that needs repairs please contact the Village Hall at  708-458-2520 or the Public Works Department at 708-458-2961.
Some of the streets that go through the village are under the care of the state and the county such as Archer Rd (RT. 171) and 79th and 88th( County roads).

For a tutorial on how Potholes form Click HERE

 Equipment For Sale

For more information on any of the listed equipment please contact the Village of Justice Public Works Department  (All equipment sold "as is").
Call: 708.458.2961
or email:

Morbark E-Z Beaver Chipper model 2400, purchased new Sept. 3, 1998 (10,251 hrs. on chipper.)

Asking price: $18,000

 Potholes

What Creates a Pothole? |  The Birth of a Pothole

 Return to top of potholes

The Birth of a Pothole Below is an explanation of how a pothole forms provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation. The Birth of a Pothole - Step 1 The Birth of a Pothole - Step 2   1.  Potholes begin after snow or rain seeps into the soil below the road surface.   2. The moisture freezes when temperatures drop, causing the ground to expand and push the pavement up. The Birth of a Pothole - Step 3   The Birth of a Pothole - Step 4   3. As the temperatures rise, the ground returns to normal level but the pavement often remains raised. This creates a gap between the pavement and the ground below it.   4. When vehicles drive over this cavity, the pavement surface cracks and falls into the hollow space leading to the birth of another pothole. Michigan Department of Transportation© 2001   Return to top of Potholes

 Public Works Employee of the Year

The Public Works Department honored one of its employees with an "Employee of the Year" award. Mayor Wasowicz was in agreement with Public Works Director Phil DePaola and graciously presented the "Public Works Employee Of The Year" award to Mr. William Picman at this year's Village Employee Appreciation Dinner on January 11,  2008.
Mr. Picman (Bill) has been employed in the Public Works Department since 2003. Public Works Director Phil DePaola said of Mr. Picman "He is an outstanding employee, he is highly motivated, dedicated and always shows a high level of professionalism on the job".
Congratulations Mr. William Picman.