HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 05.c• Lakeville's Watershed Cleanup Day
On April 21 over
1,300 volunteers
helped remove
trash throughout
the City from parks,
roadsides, wetlands,
waterways, and
trails. This is an
annual event
organized by the
Environmental
Resources staff to
celebrate Earth Day in
Lakeville. Earth Day is a
powerful focal point
around which people
demonstrate a commitment
to improving the
environment. In Lakeville,
that commitment is focused
on the cleanup of our
watersheds and removal of
LAKEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS
Christopher Petree, Director
April 2012
the debris that collects
throughout the year In 3, " P
addition, it is a stage from
which to provide educational and informational opportunities
recycling, reducing waste, water quality, exotic species, and water
conservation. Educated participants were rewarded with environmentally
conscious prizes after demonstrating their gained knowledge.
Representatives from Dick's Sanitation in Lakeville emphasized the many
things that can be recycled and Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation
centered on
District staff conducted several Blue Thumb introduction classes. Those
participating in the Blue Thumb classes had an opportunity to enter a
drawing for a rain barrel. Overall, more than one billion people in 192
countries around the world took part in Earth Day 2012. This highlights an
increasing focus on improving the environment and spotlights the
importance of Lakeville's efforts in watershed cleanup.
Roadway Shoulder Maintenance
Lakeville has both urban and rural road sections. The most noticeable
difference being that urban sections typically have curb and gutter whereas
rural sections have an open, unpaved, and sloped shoulder. Along rural
sections, maintenance of the unpaved shoulder is important to minimize the
difference in Zane and shoulder elevation, which can significantly impact
driver safety. Throughout — = a;
the spring and summer,
Streets Division staff
monitors the shoulders for
any Toss of material along
the edge of the asphalt
that can lead to an unsafe
condition. As needed, a
conveyor assembly is '{
attached to the back of a
tandem axle dump truck
and material is added
along the edge of the
roadway. The new
material is then bladed
off the road surface and
shaped to ensure a
smooth transition. The
goal of shoulder
maintenance is to
restore road shoulders
to a condition where
they can meet two
primary objectives:
provide a safe and
smooth transition for
users and protect the
sealed pavement from
excess deterioration.
❖ Water Tower Maintenance
Maintenance of the water towers is
important to the overall health of the
water system. Besides the storage of
clean water, the towers serve two basic
functions. One is to provide pressure
to the system and the other is to
provide a readily available source for
emergencies. In all, Lakeville has over 8
million gallons of water storage
capacity. To be able to respond to
demand and maintain good water
quality, the towers are periodically
inspected and scheduled for necessary
maintenance. This year, the Fairfield
and Airlake towers are being cleaned
to make sure that the accumulated dust
and dirt on the tower does !
not cause a premature
failure of the exterior
coating. Cleaning of the
tower is done using hot,
high pressure water. An
additive in the water aids in
removing the dirt and deters
future dust and dirt
accumulations. Also, as part
of the project, the Lakeville
logo on the Fairfield tower is
being repainted.