The severe weather events the last few weeks aren’t the only “systems” the village of Bridgeport has been forced to deal with recently.
Finances, coupled with severe weather, and an overstretched street department have created the perfect storm of problems.
The result saw the sanitation pickup get slightly behind and not as much attention paid to cold-patching potholes as the administration would like.
In essence, a little patience would go a long way. Village leaders know what needs to be done and are working to get it taken care of.
“The streets need worked on. We’re doing the best we can with the potholes,” Mayor Norma Teasdale said. “We’re doing the best we can with the money available right now, but we have (only) three members on the street and sanitation department and, with having to work hard in dealing with the snow, the garbage pick-up is not on schedule.”
Doubling down on issues in sanitation, the village’s packer was down temporarily, but it’s presently back in operation. But it required several days in the shop to finalize repairs.
Garbage pick-up is a two-employee operation, with the third able to focus on street department issues or, recently, snow removal. It’s just that recently, snow removal has been a major time sink. Naturally, the safety of residents and motorists in Bridgeport comes first.
“We can get to the (cold) patching when it’s nice out, but not when it’s snowy,” Teasdale noted. “With the snow, we only have three guys on the street department, and the roads have to be plowed and salted. Garbage then becomes the No. 2 priority, so it got a little bit off schedule.”
The employees, who generally work a 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift, have been logging overtime to help keep the streets clear. But the break in the severe weather action the last few days should have helped the crew get caught up with garbage. And if it hasn’t completely yet, it’s coming.
Pothole Problem
Potholes are not a problem unique to Bridgeport, nor any community in the Upper Ohio Valley. Bridgeport’s street department can apply cold patch, but not with the surface being wet from the snowfall.
When dry, that work can commence again and, once the warmer weather hits, hot patch can help square away some of the larger problem areas.
Without having to worry about plowing and salting, the third employee can focus on patching while the other two handle sanitation duties. Once the load has been dropped off at the transfer station, if time allows, they can assist in patching to close out the day.
Traditionally the Bridgeport street and sanitation departments functioned with two employees each, but as the village battles to emerge from its fiscal issues, that number currently sits at three workers total.
AEDs in the Cruisers
One bit of good news for the police department is each cruiser now has an automated external defibrillator, or AED.
The devices were obtained through the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley via an anonymous donor, along with the Belmont County Enrichment Fund.
All the officers will be trained in use of the AED along with obtaining CPR certification. Speaking of the village’s bravest and finest, the emergency squad arm of the Bridgeport Fire Department has been busy since the turn of the year.
Bridgeport’s FD has answered more than 100 calls since January 1, including some mutual aid to surrounding communities.
Teasdale noted the opening of East Ohio Regional Hospital has been a major plus for the emergency squad and has helped to cut down on travel time through the I-70 eastbound detours. She spoke of one instance in particular she knew of where a patient who suffered an allergic reaction and was able to be rushed to EORH quickly and is now doing well.
Coming Up
Bridgeport Village Council’s most recent meeting was slated for last Tuesday before the severe weather forced a postponement to this Tuesday.
The meeting, which begins at 6 p.m., is available via teleconference by calling 888-392-4560 and entering the passcode 8464829#.
