I'd like to get a few thoughts and suggestions on a situation....

I live in a planned community... many of the side streets end
in cul-de-sacs.

We have a circle in the center of our cul-de-sac... the circle is
about 30' diameter surrounded by about 8 houses... I believe
the circle is maintained by the county, however they do not
beautify the circle and just let it sit to be overrun with garbage
and weeds. So the neighborhood got together and landscaped
the circle, providing shrubs, flowers, mulch, and lots of back
breaking labor... resulting in a nicely landscaped location..

So I walked out to the circle a few days ago, and found it
literally covered in road salt. There was a ice covering a few
days back, which is why I'm assuming the salt trucks came...
however they literally covered the circle in road salt. Very
suspicious were two recently planted shtrubs that had mounds
of road salt around them, (like you would put mulch). However
none of the houses around the cul-de-sac had even a tiny particle
of salt by the curb, driveways or front lawns... and they are only
20 feet away from the circle.

Anyway, the shrubs are all dying... hundreds of dollars of plant
material and many dozens of hours gone.

My question.... I'm at a loss as to how to start..... where to complain,
who should be responsible for repairing the damage... or can the damage
even be repaired as the salt has already started saturating the ground.

I suspect this has been on-going for years as many plants have never
bloomed or have died after planting, including marigolds, daffodils, hostas,
sedum, germaniums and chrysanthemums.... all of whom thrive successful
in the surrounding landscapes but not in the circle.. It just never was so
obvious before now with a thick coating of salt on the ground and mounds
of salt piled around the shrubs, most are at least 4 feet from the street curb.

Is the dept of highways deliberating doing this to kill plant growth on their
weed patches which used to be thickly covered with thistles and dandelions
during the summer, until the community decided enough was enough and
landscaped the eyesore.

Is it some idiot worker who decides that salting a street after a light snow is so
important that it justifies destroying landscapes, trees and shrubs. (we have
plenty of idiots here if anyone needs a couple).

This is zone7 Maryland, between Washington and Baltimore

Your suggestions are appreciated .... many thanks in advance...

Peter

In article ,
wrote:

I live in a planned community...

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

wrote in message
...

I'd like to get a few thoughts and suggestions on a situation....

I live in a planned community... many of the side streets end
in cul-de-sacs.

We have a circle in the center of our cul-de-sac... the circle is
about 30' diameter surrounded by about 8 houses... I believe
the circle is maintained by the county, however they do not
beautify the circle and just let it sit to be overrun with garbage
and weeds. So the neighborhood got together and landscaped
the circle, providing shrubs, flowers, mulch, and lots of back
breaking labor... resulting in a nicely landscaped location..

So I walked out to the circle a few days ago, and found it
literally covered in road salt. There was a ice covering a few
days back, which is why I'm assuming the salt trucks came...
however they literally covered the circle in road salt. Very
suspicious were two recently planted shtrubs that had mounds
of road salt around them, (like you would put mulch). However
none of the houses around the cul-de-sac had even a tiny particle
of salt by the curb, driveways or front lawns... and they are only
20 feet away from the circle.

Anyway, the shrubs are all dying... hundreds of dollars of plant
material and many dozens of hours gone.

My question.... I'm at a loss as to how to start..... where to complain,
who should be responsible for repairing the damage... or can the damage
even be repaired as the salt has already started saturating the ground.

I suspect this has been on-going for years as many plants have never
bloomed or have died after planting, including marigolds, daffodils,
hostas,
sedum, germaniums and chrysanthemums.... all of whom thrive successful
in the surrounding landscapes but not in the circle.. It just never was
so
obvious before now with a thick coating of salt on the ground and mounds
of salt piled around the shrubs, most are at least 4 feet from the street
curb.

Is the dept of highways deliberating doing this to kill plant growth on
their
weed patches which used to be thickly covered with thistles and
dandelions
during the summer, until the community decided enough was enough and
landscaped the eyesore.

Is it some idiot worker who decides that salting a street after a light
snow is so
important that it justifies destroying landscapes, trees and shrubs.
(we have
plenty of idiots here if anyone needs a couple).

This is zone7 Maryland, between Washington and Baltimore

Your suggestions are appreciated .... many thanks in advance...

Peter

Sounds like a local community problem caused by whatever asset is salting
the roads, which may be in fact a private contractor hired by that asset.
You didn't mention Home owners association... If I were a lawyer offering
advice, which I'm not, I'd want to hear more specifics. And, you could
pre-empt some obvious facts needed by doing some research yourself. Along
the way, you just might find a potential long-term solution.

Or, you and your neighbors can watch the symbol of neighborhood cooperation
be steamrolled by shared ignorance, governmental bureaucrats, and you and
your neighbors own lack of fortitude. Consider yourself spanked.

If you're actually here for emmotional support, nevermind.
--
Dave

On Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:02:14 -0500, wrote:


I'd like to get a few thoughts and suggestions on a situation....

I live in a planned community... many of the side streets end
in cul-de-sacs.

We have a circle in the center of our cul-de-sac... the circle is
about 30' diameter surrounded by about 8 houses... I believe
the circle is maintained by the county, however they do not
beautify the circle and just let it sit to be overrun with garbage
and weeds. So the neighborhood got together and landscaped
the circle, providing shrubs, flowers, mulch, and lots of back
breaking labor... resulting in a nicely landscaped location..

So I walked out to the circle a few days ago, and found it
literally covered in road salt. There was a ice covering a few
days back, which is why I'm assuming the salt trucks came...
however they literally covered the circle in road salt. Very
suspicious were two recently planted shtrubs that had mounds
of road salt around them, (like you would put mulch). However
none of the houses around the cul-de-sac had even a tiny particle
of salt by the curb, driveways or front lawns... and they are only
20 feet away from the circle.

Anyway, the shrubs are all dying... hundreds of dollars of plant
material and many dozens of hours gone.

My question.... I'm at a loss as to how to start..... where to complain,
who should be responsible for repairing the damage... or can the damage
even be repaired as the salt has already started saturating the ground.

I suspect this has been on-going for years as many plants have never
bloomed or have died after planting, including marigolds, daffodils, hostas,
sedum, germaniums and chrysanthemums.... all of whom thrive successful
in the surrounding landscapes but not in the circle.. It just never was so
obvious before now with a thick coating of salt on the ground and mounds
of salt piled around the shrubs, most are at least 4 feet from the street curb.

Is the dept of highways deliberating doing this to kill plant growth on their
weed patches which used to be thickly covered with thistles and dandelions
during the summer, until the community decided enough was enough and
landscaped the eyesore.

Is it some idiot worker who decides that salting a street after a light snow is so
important that it justifies destroying landscapes, trees and shrubs. (we have
plenty of idiots here if anyone needs a couple).

This is zone7 Maryland, between Washington and Baltimore

Your suggestions are appreciated .... many thanks in advance...

Peter


Plant back from the street, maybe 4 or 5 feet. I found most grasses
can take the salt better than some plants. The salt truck threw
grape-size salt chunks all over last week. You could sue the city
for damages, but keep in mind that they have the job of keeping the
streets as safe as reasonable possible if streets are icy. The only
thing that might help the plants is flushing with fresh water.

On Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:02:14 -0500, wrote:


The saga does have a happy ending after all. Here's the deal.

My first call was to the local HOA organization, asking them for advice.
As expected they said "send an email" and we'll forward to the 'appropriate
departments". I sent one, but didn't expect any response, as this is a
"send it' we'll send it along to someone else, and eventually it will wind up
in the round basket.. but we've done our job.

So, I searched a little on the internet... road salt is toxic.... found out the
DPW Bureau of Highways is the county agency who salts the roads. Visited
their site... found a link to "Claim Management Dept". So called for additional
information

They were exceedingly courteous in taking the information and promised a
supervisor would call."

At 7:00 am the following morning, a road crew was busy cleaning up the
salt we had scraped off over the weekend.

Two hours later a supervisor was onsite, surveying the damage. He called in
a workcrew who removed the remaining salt, shoveled up the top layer of
contaminated dirt and replaced it with fresh soil.

Part of the problem... this is a cul-de-sac with the circle in the center. A neighbor
parks his spare car on the curb 24/7 for months at a time. To avoid this car, the
salt truck was forced to move closer to the circle, and because the salt is sprayed
from the left side of the truck, it covered the circle, while leaving the street
untouched.

So it had a good ending... the county responded, the plants were saved
and damage removed.

Followed up with an 'atta boy' to the division chief, praising the
efficiency of his department personnel.

End of story.....




I'd like to get a few thoughts and suggestions on a situation....

I live in a planned community... many of the side streets end
in cul-de-sacs.

We have a circle in the center of our cul-de-sac... the circle is
about 30' diameter surrounded by about 8 houses... I believe
the circle is maintained by the county, however they do not
beautify the circle and just let it sit to be overrun with garbage
and weeds. So the neighborhood got together and landscaped
the circle, providing shrubs, flowers, mulch, and lots of back
breaking labor... resulting in a nicely landscaped location..

So I walked out to the circle a few days ago, and found it
literally covered in road salt. There was a ice covering a few
days back, which is why I'm assuming the salt trucks came...
however they literally covered the circle in road salt. Very
suspicious were two recently planted shtrubs that had mounds
of road salt around them, (like you would put mulch). However
none of the houses around the cul-de-sac had even a tiny particle
of salt by the curb, driveways or front lawns... and they are only
20 feet away from the circle.

Anyway, the shrubs are all dying... hundreds of dollars of plant
material and many dozens of hours gone.

My question.... I'm at a loss as to how to start..... where to complain,
who should be responsible for repairing the damage... or can the damage
even be repaired as the salt has already started saturating the ground.

I suspect this has been on-going for years as many plants have never
bloomed or have died after planting, including marigolds, daffodils, hostas,
sedum, germaniums and chrysanthemums.... all of whom thrive successful
in the surrounding landscapes but not in the circle.. It just never was so
obvious before now with a thick coating of salt on the ground and mounds
of salt piled around the shrubs, most are at least 4 feet from the street curb.

Is the dept of highways deliberating doing this to kill plant growth on their
weed patches which used to be thickly covered with thistles and dandelions
during the summer, until the community decided enough was enough and
landscaped the eyesore.

Is it some idiot worker who decides that salting a street after a light snow is so
important that it justifies destroying landscapes, trees and shrubs. (we have
plenty of idiots here if anyone needs a couple).

This is zone7 Maryland, between Washington and Baltimore

Your suggestions are appreciated .... many thanks in advance...

Peter

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:02:14 -0500, wrote:


The saga does have a happy ending after all. Here's the deal.

My first call was to the local HOA organization, asking them for advice.
As expected they said "send an email" and we'll forward to the
'appropriate
departments". I sent one, but didn't expect any response, as this is
a
"send it' we'll send it along to someone else, and eventually it will
wind up
in the round basket.. but we've done our job.

So, I searched a little on the internet... road salt is toxic.... found
out the
DPW Bureau of Highways is the county agency who salts the roads. Visited
their site... found a link to "Claim Management Dept". So called for
additional
information

They were exceedingly courteous in taking the information and promised a
supervisor would call."

At 7:00 am the following morning, a road crew was busy cleaning up the
salt we had scraped off over the weekend.

Two hours later a supervisor was onsite, surveying the damage. He called
in
a workcrew who removed the remaining salt, shoveled up the top layer of
contaminated dirt and replaced it with fresh soil.

Part of the problem... this is a cul-de-sac with the circle in the center.
A neighbor
parks his spare car on the curb 24/7 for months at a time. To avoid this
car, the
salt truck was forced to move closer to the circle, and because the salt
is sprayed
from the left side of the truck, it covered the circle, while leaving
the street
untouched.

So it had a good ending... the county responded, the plants were saved
and damage removed.

Followed up with an 'atta boy' to the division chief, praising the
efficiency of his department personnel.

End of story.....

End of story..... not!

If the neighbor's car is permitted to continue parking there you will have
the same problem next time the salt truck comes by.

Didn't want to start a flame war on this ng, so left that out of the equation.

You are correct it will happen again unless there's a workable solution.


Normally the car is not a problem... it's parked on the side of the cul-de-sac,
passenger side wheels up on the sidewalk, obstructing pedestrian traffic. The
guy rents the house and has two cars filling the drive. So this is his spare
car, seldom uses it and it stays parked for months at a time. The only time
it becomes a problem is when the street cleaners don't clean the street because
it blocks the way, or the snow plows, salters and sanders do a half a?? job because
they are forced to move around this turkey.

Years ago it used to be that you could bring this to your neighbors attention, and
usually get some cooperation. Nowadays, many people are so used to 'having
it their way', it just createds problems in the neighborhood.... been there, done that,
it's happened more than once... I get the idea.

I've got a call into the local PD for advice... if nothing can be done, I'll boost it
up to a friend on the county council. The guy from the DPW said "you're lucky
we plow your street at all, because the trucks have a problem getting through"
He's right, the car does impede utility work, and the owner should be notified.

I'm just not willing to start a neighborhood feud. Pity... we're talking about a
non-issue here... and there's such a problem getting it resolved wait till something
truly disasterous comes along.

Peter



On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:00:19 GMT, "brooklyn1" wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:02:14 -0500, wrote:


The saga does have a happy ending after all. Here's the deal.

My first call was to the local HOA organization, asking them for advice.
As expected they said "send an email" and we'll forward to the
'appropriate
departments". I sent one, but didn't expect any response, as this is
a
"send it' we'll send it along to someone else, and eventually it will
wind up
in the round basket.. but we've done our job.

So, I searched a little on the internet... road salt is toxic.... found
out the
DPW Bureau of Highways is the county agency who salts the roads. Visited
their site... found a link to "Claim Management Dept". So called for
additional
information

They were exceedingly courteous in taking the information and promised a
supervisor would call."

At 7:00 am the following morning, a road crew was busy cleaning up the
salt we had scraped off over the weekend.

Two hours later a supervisor was onsite, surveying the damage. He called
in
a workcrew who removed the remaining salt, shoveled up the top layer of
contaminated dirt and replaced it with fresh soil.

Part of the problem... this is a cul-de-sac with the circle in the center.
A neighbor
parks his spare car on the curb 24/7 for months at a time. To avoid this
car, the
salt truck was forced to move closer to the circle, and because the salt
is sprayed
from the left side of the truck, it covered the circle, while leaving
the street
untouched.

So it had a good ending... the county responded, the plants were saved
and damage removed.

Followed up with an 'atta boy' to the division chief, praising the
efficiency of his department personnel.

End of story.....

End of story..... not!

If the neighbor's car is permitted to continue parking there you will have
the same problem next time the salt truck comes by.

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:00:19 GMT, "brooklyn1"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:02:14 -0500, wrote:


The saga does have a happy ending after all. Here's the deal.

My first call was to the local HOA organization, asking them for advice.
As expected they said "send an email" and we'll forward to the
'appropriate
departments". I sent one, but didn't expect any response, as this is
a
"send it' we'll send it along to someone else, and eventually it will
wind up
in the round basket.. but we've done our job.

So, I searched a little on the internet... road salt is toxic.... found
out the
DPW Bureau of Highways is the county agency who salts the roads. Visited
their site... found a link to "Claim Management Dept". So called for
additional
information

They were exceedingly courteous in taking the information and promised a
supervisor would call."

At 7:00 am the following morning, a road crew was busy cleaning up the
salt we had scraped off over the weekend.

Two hours later a supervisor was onsite, surveying the damage. He called
in
a workcrew who removed the remaining salt, shoveled up the top layer of
contaminated dirt and replaced it with fresh soil.

Part of the problem... this is a cul-de-sac with the circle in the center.
A neighbor
parks his spare car on the curb 24/7 for months at a time. To avoid this
car, the
salt truck was forced to move closer to the circle, and because the salt
is sprayed
from the left side of the truck, it covered the circle, while leaving
the street
untouched.

So it had a good ending... the county responded, the plants were saved
and damage removed.

Followed up with an 'atta boy' to the division chief, praising the
efficiency of his department personnel.

End of story.....

End of story..... not!

If the neighbor's car is permitted to continue parking there you will have
the same problem next time the salt truck comes by.



How true. We had a neighbor that decided to park his car for seven
years. It was hit one time, vandalized, and had two flat tires.
After it was finally towed away, the street had marks on it from the
traffic and street sweeper. The owner of the car was the deputy
sheriff.

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:00:19 GMT, "brooklyn1"
wrote:

If the neighbor's car is permitted to continue parking there you will have
the same problem next time the salt truck comes by.


Do you live in Sheepshead Bay? I used to live there on Voorhies
Avenue and Bedford Rd.

I used to work on Sheepshead Bay Rd. But I lived in Gravesend.

Enjoy: http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/index.htm

"Jangchub" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:09:19 GMT, "brooklyn1"
wrote:


"Jangchub" wrote in message
. ..
On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:00:19 GMT, "brooklyn1"
wrote:

If the neighbor's car is permitted to continue parking there you will
have
the same problem next time the salt truck comes by.


Do you live in Sheepshead Bay? I used to live there on Voorhies
Avenue and Bedford Rd.

I used to work on Sheepshead Bay Rd. But I lived in Gravesend.

Enjoy: http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/index.htm


I can't tell you how many times I walked across that bridge to
Manhattan Beach. Seeing Lundy's was also great. I didn't think it
was still there. I worked at Randazzo's Clam Bar and then at the
Lobster House when I was a kid. So many memories.

I had an after school job at Barton's Bonbonairre on Sheepshead Bay Rd. I
knew all of NYC well, as a young child I'd ride a bicycle all over the
entire city, back then it was perfectly safe. Now when I go back I don't
know NYC anymore, it's not the same in any regard, it's more a war zone... I
just drive through, I wouldn't dare get out of my car and walk those streets
as I once did with never a care.

The local mower boys who have the contract with your HOA have been
having a very bad year. The tiny amount of snow / ice we have had this
season brought all these landscrapers out of hibernation for some much
needed quick cash, and they happily slung salt with reckless abandon to
be sure everyone knows they were out there doing their job.