The Feb. 5, 2010, Snow Storm and Snow Removal

Snow falling, Feb. 5

Snow falling Feb. 6

Snow removal will begin as soon as the snow fall stops. All homeowners are requested to::

1)  not park on the streets so that the snow can quickly and efficient be removed from the streets;


2) park inside garages to allow for cleaning of the driveways.


Unlimited has been reuested to remove snow from the streets, alleyways, driveways and sidewalks in that order. Unlimited was also advised about mailbox accessibility and making sure that car driveways were cleared to allow for two cars to exit.


Until we can resolved the issues with the density of the concrete and ice melting materials, we will not apply any salt or chemicals for ice.


Remember, the faster the clean up, the lower the cost to the Association.
Any questions or problems, please contact our Manager, Florence (356-7999) or Howard Corey (454-0602).

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Report on Feb. 3, 2010, Board Meeting

The Chester Village Green Homeowners' Asso. Board met on Feb. 3, 7:00 PM, in the Arts Center office.
Board members present:

Howard Corey, President,
Robert Tierney, Vice Pres.,
Jack Mayer, Treasurer,
Arlene Ripp, Secretary,
Andrew McCauley,
Also present: Association Manager: Florence Harrison.
Homeowners present: 13


1) Minutes of the January meeting were read and approved.
 
2) Treasurer's Report: Our cash reserve is in good shape, but snow removal is eating into it.
 
3) Snow Removal: few complaints --generally seen as done well and timely. Unlimited Landscaping's contract responsibility with us is to remove snow from the back alleys, the driveways, and the sidewalks. VDOT is responsible for the streets. They came on Monday, Feb. 1. Chemicals and rock salt are no longer being applied to sidewalks, because of the damage caused in the past.
 
4) Dogs: Both residents and visitors are failing to clean up after their dogs, especially in the grassy areas between the sidewalks and the streets.
 
5) Verizon FIOS: They are once again digging up lawns in order to connect new customers to the fiber optic lines they buried in the Fall. Sometimes they
dig up a non-customer's lawn in order to bring the line through to the new customer. Some home owners have had very disturbing experiences with both Verizon and its subcontractors during this process. For this reason, Verizon management will be invited to be present at the next Board meeting to answer questions from both the Board and home owners.

6) Future tree replacements: As the trees along our sidewalks grow, they may have to be replaced if their roots begin to damage the sidewalks. A committee will meet with experts on Feb. 18 to determine the best trees for replacement.

7) Sidewalk & driveway deterioration: About 10 homes have been affected. Apparently, the concrete mix was too thin, and chemicals are accelerating the deterioration process.

8) Geese: The board has contracted with a goose management company to control the geese. Trained and controlled collie dogs will be used. Please do not call Animal Control if you see them working.

Once again, the Board reminds everyone of the obligation to:
--walk dogs on a leash and pick up after them
--park cars in garages so that streets and driveways can be cleared
--do not park on the wrong side of the street --a ticketable law violation
--do not park in front of your neighbor's home.

The Village Book club will hold a BOOK SALE for the public on Sat., March 13, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, at the Chester United Methodist Church, 12132 Percival St., - and everyone is encouraged to come and buy books for your own enjoyment. It is for the benefit of the Central Asia Institute, which builds hundreds of schools in Aghanistan and Pakistan. Please also donate books. You can leave your book donations in a box or grocery bag on Carol Ray's front porch, 4408 Village Garden Cir.

Artists will be at work  on their paintings in the Arts Center office on Thursdays, March 11 & 18, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. You are welcome to come and observe.

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The Snow of Jan. 29 - 30, 2010

Above, the Snow of  Fri. & Sat., Jan. 29 - 30, 2010, as seen late on Mon., Feb.1.      BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WALKING OR DRIVING; BEWARE OF BLACK ICE (which is almost invisible).

The deep snow of Dec.18 was almost (but not quite) all gone when the deep snow of Jan. 29 - 30 arrived. Most of it will probably still be with us when the predicted snow of Feb. 5 - 6 arrives (and more snow/mix is forecast for Feb. 9 & 10). And we have so often bragged to our Northern friends and relatives that, "it hardly ever snow in Virginia, and when it does, it is all gone in a day or two."

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Arts Center Bonds May Be Issued In 2011

In 2004, Chesterfield County citizens approved a bond referendum specifying $5.9M for the Chesterfield Center for the Arts, later increased to $6.9M, with the general community challenged to raise $1,081,000 in private donations to meet a target of c. $8,000,000, with a construction date of 2010.

In the light of the current downturn of the economy, the County may put off the sale of the bonds until 2012 (not 2016, as eronneously reported) with construction to also begin in 2012, with completion the same year.

The next step is to obtain funding for a capital campaign to raise the required private donations.

Proposed Electronic Signs: A Professional Engineer's View

The following remarks were given in response to a proposed electronic message sign in front of the new Firestone out near WalMart on Route 10. The topic is also pertinent to the discussion concerning  the one proposed for the corner of Chester Village Drive & Rt. 10:

January 19, 2009

Case Number: 10SN0158 Bermuda Magisterial District, HOLIDAY SIGNS

Remarks from Mike Sawyer, PE
Vice President Chester Community Association

Good Evening Mr. Chairman,

My name is Mike Sawyer and I live in Chester,VA. I am a licensed professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a highway safety expert.

I believe this case has several engineering decisions that need to be signed and sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the commonwealth of Virginia.

Professional Engineers review and approve plans based upon known traffic safety engineering principles to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the traveling public from hazards. Electronic Advertising Signs are a relatively new technology and recent national research has shown that there is cause for concern related to these advertising signs and their effect on driver behavior.

This research has identified and provided guidance on several traffic engineering decisions. These include, but not limited to:

Crash history and crash trends
Roadway geometrics
Sight Distance
Speed Limit
Visual clutter with existing traffic control signal operations
Size of the proposed sign
Amount of Information on the sign at any one time
Message display duration
Proximity to other signs
Text size
Message sequencing
Visual effects between messages

I would encourage you to follow the Code of Virginia tonight and require that a professional engineer sign and seal these engineering decisions from a highway safety perspective and require a report on how these engineering requirements were applied to the specific case and context. Each evaluation is independent and the professional engineer’s recommendation should lead the discussion, not be an afterthought. The health, safety, and welfare of the traveling public can ask for no less.

This case is on a dangerous corridor and as far as I know there is no professional engineering seal on the plans; therefore I strongly oppose this case. These engineering decisions should not be left to the whims of salesmen and advertisers.

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