News Releases
Friday, December 14, 2012 News from the City of Lawrence
(Sent: 2012-12-14 08:01:22)NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Friday, December 14, 2012 News from the City of Lawrence
1) Snow ordinance will be in effect this winter
2) Utilities Department continues to monitor drought conditions and area lake levels
3) City infrastructure improvement projects for the week of December 17
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1) Snow ordinance will be in effect this winter
(Lawrence, Kan.) – It is beginning to feel a little more like winter as the temperatures continue to drop and the word ‘snow’ becomes a little more prevalent in our vocabularies this time of year. The City of Lawrence would like to remind residents of the local ordinances that affect them when snow begins to fall.
Since December of 2008, the City of Lawrence has enforced a more stringent sidewalk snow removal ordinance. This ordinance requires all Lawrence property owners to remove snow or ice from all sidewalks adjacent to their property within 48 hours of a winter storm. For example, if snow stops falling at 8:00 a.m. on a Monday morning, then by Wednesday morning at 8:00a.m., the sidewalks should be clear or the property owner may receive a citation from the city’s Code Enforcement division.
“The purpose of this snow and ice removal ordinance is to create an environment of safe walkways for pedestrians,” said Brian Jimenez, code enforcement manager.
The ordinance applies to all public sidewalks in the city and is primarily handled on a complaint-based system, not staff-initiated code violations.
If a resident sees a sidewalk that has not been cleared within 48 hours of a snow event, they can call the Code Enforcement Division at (785) 832-7700 or go online to www.lawrenceks.org/code_violation to report the violation. It is helpful if the complainant can provide a specific address instead of a general area as this allows staff to be efficient when processing complaints. Property owners who are cited will be assessed a fine of $20 for each citation issued plus court costs.
For more information on the snow and ice removal ordinance, contact Development Services at (785) 832-7700 or visit www.lawrenceks.org/pds.
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Contact: Jeanette Klamm, utility programs manager, (785) 423-3379 OR David Corliss, city manager, (785) 832-3400
2) Utilities Department continues to monitor drought conditions and area lake levels
(Lawrence, Kan.) - The drought continues to impact this area. The Utilities Department continues to closely monitor the drought conditions and the water levels of Clinton Reservoir and the upstream reservoirs, which supply water to the Kansas River. The city met the high water use demands of customers this summer. However, the Kansas Water Office maintains the Stage 1 Water Watch for this area of the state.
The City of Lawrence Water Watch stage includes notifying the public of the rainfall, temperature, water levels and storage for the previous month. A summary of this information indicates that Lawrence is almost 12-inches less than the average year in rainfall. The summary also indicates that the levels of local reservoirs, including Milford, Tuttle, Perry, and Clinton are below normal water level with the flows entering all three less than the amount that the Corps of Engineers is releasing to maintain desired flows on the Kansas River. Current predictions for lake levels are that they will continue to fall if the dry conditions persist. The Department of Utilities will continue to monitor the drought conditions over the coming months.
Additional information on wise water use practices and the precipitation, temperature, and reservoir level data can be viewed on the Utilities web pages.
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3) City infrastructure improvement projects for the week of December 17
(Lawrence, Kan.) - Infrastructure improvement projects for the week of December 17. Construction projects listed are now available in a map format at http://lawks.us/construction-map.
Project: Miscellaneous Pump Station Reconstruction – Pump Station 15
Traffic Impact: EmCon, Inc. is reconstructing pump station 15 as part of City project No. UT0919CS. The work involves the installation of gravity and force main sanitary sewer lines and pump station facilities. Work the pump station will impact the 200 block of North Michigan Street. Residents can expect to see construction equipment, materials, and construction activity within public right-of-way and utility easements. No access restrictions, lane closures, or detours are planned as part of this project.
Project: Crack Sealing
Traffic Impact: Crack sealing north of 6th Street in the neighborhoods east and west of Monterey Way. Temporary lane closures during working hours (weather permitting).
Project: KDOT replacement of K-10/23rd Street Bridge between Haskell and Barker
Traffic Impact: Traffic on both eastbound and westbound K-10/23rd Street from Haskell Avenue to Barker Avenue has shifted from the existing north/south shoofly detours onto the new K-10/23rd Street Bridge. For now, there will be two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane across the new bridge as project work continues. Crews will now begin work to remove the existing shooflys and complete work on the frontage roads on either side of the new bridge.
Advance message boards will alert drivers to the lane closures. Drivers should expect major delays during peak travel times. Updated traffic information for the K-10/23rd Street bridge replacement project can be viewed online: www.ksdot.org/topekametro/laneclose.asp.
Project: 2012 Concrete Rehabilitation Program
Traffic Impact: Contractors for the City of Lawrence will continue the concrete rehabilitation program through November/December (weather permitting). Concrete streets to experience traffic impacts from patching include: Palmer Dr, Nicklaus Dr, Hogan Dr/Ct, Palmer Dr/Ct, east of Inverness Dr. Through traffic in both directions will be generally maintained throughout the project with flaggers, traffic control devices and signage. There is a possibility of street closures, if necessary, especially in cul-de-sac bulb locations. Residences and businesses will be notified if access to driveways will be restricted while work is performed. Please see the following link for mapped work locations for the entire street maintenance program for 2012: http://lawrenceks.org/public_works/files/2012_street_maintenance_AsBuilt_11x17.pdf
Project: Water main installation
Traffic Impact: The Utility Department will install a water main on Belle Haven Drive, from W. 25th to W 27th. The road will be closed to thru traffic and no parking Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. There is no paring in the construction area and the road will be closed to thru traffic from Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Project: Levee trail detour for power plant expansion
Traffic Impact: A portion of the Kansas River levee trail has been closed for the construction of the Bowersock Mills & Power Co.’s new plant on the north bank of the Kansas River. A detour on the trail will take users from the trail to city streets crossing at the controlled intersection of 2ndand Locust Streets. Signage will be clearly posted marking the detour route to direct users throughout the detour. The city urges drivers and trail users to use caution when travelling through the intersection. The detour will run for the duration of the project, which is projected to last 20 months (starting April 2011). For more information, contact the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Administrative Office, at (785) 832-3450.
Project: Lawrence Municipal Airport sanitary sewer improvements
Traffic Impact: No impacts at this time, construction activities are currently on hold.
Project: Miscellaneous Pump Station Reconstruction
Traffic Impact: EmCon, Inc. is reconstructing pump stations 35 and 37 and decommissioning pump station 28 as part of City project No. UT0919CS. The work involves the installation of gravity and force main sanitary sewer lines and pump station facilities. Work on pump stations 28 and 35 will impact Sandpiper Drive, North Michigan Street, Pike’s Peek Place, and Riverridge Road. Residents can expect to see construction equipment, materials, and construction activity within public right-of-way and utility easements. Work on pump station 37 will impact East 1500 Road from Elmwood Street to the pump station site located approximately 900 feet east of Lindenwood Lane. Residents can expect to see construction equipment, materials, and construction activity within the public right-of-way and utility easements. No access restrictions, lane closures, or detours are planned as part of this project.
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