HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 05.bntenance
March 2011
• Fleet Maintenance
LAKEVILLE OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
Christopher Petree, Director
March 2011
March, traditionally, is a changeover month for Fleet Maintenance activities;
shifting from repairs to snowplows to preparing lawnmowers, weed whips,
and other equipment for spring
and summer activities. With
the extended winter, that
transition has been somewhat
slower than in past years. One
major project added to this
year's spring task list is a
transmission repair on a Parks
Department New Holland
tractor. Fourth gear no longer
works and the goal is to have it
repaired before seasonal staff
arrives. To start the process,
service technicians removed the
cab, engine cowling, fenders, and other
chassis. Once the chassis was exposed,
chassis taken apart to gain
access to the transmission case
and gears. Now that the
transmission has been taken
apart, parts are being
researched and ordered. When
received, staff will install them
and put the tractor back
together. This is not a typical
project for the fleet
maintenance technicians, but
one which they are capable of
doing and doing so cost
parts that interfered
the
rear axles were
with access to
removed and
the
the
effectively. Other Parks equipment is in for their spring servicing and will be
ready as the grass starts growing.
❖ Tree Trimming
As a testament to the difficulties encountered over the winter season with
snowstorms, tree trimming,
which usually begins in
December and continues over
the course of the winter
between snow events, is just
now getting underway. The
continuing cool weather has
helped to prolong the time
during which the trees are
dormant and given staff an
opportunity to get some
trimming done. Trimming trees
while they are dormant reduces
their likelihood to contract diseases. The
tree trimming program focuses on a specific
district and concentrates on removing
dead, broken, and diseased branches.
Branches that extend into the roadway are
removed as well to prevent them being
damaged by passing vehicles. Additionally,
staff thins or removes limbs that are
crowded together and those that cross to
reduce the chance for future damage and
to improve the shape of the tree. Since the
trees are without foliage, it is much easier
to see the shape of the tree and those limbs
that need to be removed. Tree trimming
for this season centered in the Dakota
Heights area.
❖ Street Light Inspection
While you sleep, City staff prowl the streets in search of broken streets lights.
As with water from the tap, people generally do not spend a great deal of time
thinking about their streetlights. However, when they don't work they tend to
standout and there needs to be a process for getting them fixed. The
Operations & Maintenance Department periodically fields calls from residents
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about non - working streetlights and lets them
know to get the pole number and call their
electric provider to have it repaired. The
department also inspects all the streetlights in
the City twice a year, in the spring and fall,
to locate any non - working lights and record
any other necessary repairs. To do the
inspections, two Streets Division staff swap
days for nights and for two weeks travel City
streets checking each of the approximately
5,000 streetlights. When they are finished,
the City has a comprehensive catalog of
streetlights and is able to coordinate repairs
for those that need them.
• Spring Load Restrictions
Regardless of the weather forecast, the only
true measure of the approach of spring is
the establishment of spring Toad restrictions.
It indicates that even though the
temperatures fluctuate both above and
below freezing and we may be getting
more snow, the general trend is toward a
thaw. During the spring thaw, pavement
layers are generally in a saturated,
weakened state due to partial thaw
conditions and trapped water. The water is
trapped between the road surface and
lower, frozen layers; this causes the road to
become very flexible. This is when they are
most vulnerable and more prone to
damage and the heavier the vehicle the
greater the potential for damage. Spring
Toad restrictions went into effect on March 14, 2011 and remain in effect for
eight weeks. Lakeville's roads and streets are limited to 5 tons per axle during
this period unless otherwise posted.
AXLE
WEIGHT
LIMIT
TONS
RV WASTE
STATION
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