Burlington Spotlight
January 2006

WINTER DRIVING

Winter can be a beautiful time of the year. Winter can also be a very dangerous time of the year for driving. If you plan on traveling during the winter there are several tips, and it pays to be prepared for the worst.

Following a few simple driving habits like planning ahead, driving at a safe and legal speed, driving alert and sober and buckling up could insure you make it to your destination safely.

Safe winter driving tips:

• Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights, even the hood and roof before driving: People often think the heater will defrost the windows as they drive and have poor visibility. They leave their homes with only a small portion of the windshield cleared and most accidents occur within two miles of one's residence.

• Pay attention: Don't try to drive faster than conditions allow. If you drive safe and slow you will get to your destination, it sure beats waiting for a rescue squad and tow truck. Remember posted limits are for dry pavement.

• Leave plenty of room for stopping: You never know who is driving in front of you, and what their driving habits are like. Road conditions can change at any time.

• Know the current road conditions: Call 1-(800)-ROADWIS or log onto winter road conditions report Web page.

• Watch for slippery bridge decks: Even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition the bridge decks will ice up sooner.

• Don't get overconfident in a 4X4 or Sport Utility Vehicle: Four-wheel drive vehicles will help you get going quicker but will not help you stop quicker. In fact, they are heavier than passenger vehicles and may cause you to need more room to stop.

• Do not pump anti-lock brakes: If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump the brake pedal in attempting to stop. The right way is to "stomp and steer". If you have questions on how these brakes function, call your local service center.

• Look further ahead in traffic than you normally do: Actions by other drivers will alert you sooner to problems ahead.

• Drive slowly!

• Remember: Wisconsin snowplows plow the snow wide off the road and can make ditch lines invisible.

SNOW REMOVAL FROM CITY HYDRANTS

 

The City of Burlington Water Utility is asking residents and community businesses to adopt their neighborhood fire hydrants during the winter season. They can do this by clearing accumulated snow around hydrants near their homes and places of employment.

Snow removal around fire hydrants is the responsibility of utility employees, but during heavy winter storms, hydrants may become buried for some time before utility crews reach all hydrants in the City. By keeping the snow removed from around the hydrants, precious time is saved for the Fire Department in case of a fire. The house you save might just be your own!

The City of Burlington thanks all the residents in the past that have "adopted" the fire hydrant in their neighborhood and helped to keep the fire hydrant clear and visible. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES

 

During the past few years we have all been reading and hearing about the rapidly rising cost of medical insurance for private and public corporations. Annual double digit increases in insurance premiums has had an impact upon employers and employees due to this rapidly increasing cost center. What is the impact of medical insurance costs for our City's taxpayers and employees?

Unlike some public employees that you may have read about our employees pay a significant portion of their insurance costs. Since 1999 the City's medical insurance premiums have been consistent with the marketplace, i.e. our employee medical costs have risen significantly each year for the past seven years and are anticipated to increase again about 8.2% for 2006. To combat these rising costs the City has worked with its employees to implement several cost saving measures. First, only full-time employees and retirees can participate in the City's benefit program. Second, City employees now contribute up to fifteen percent of the annual premium for coverage. The premium contributions may be less if our employee assumes higher deductibles, higher co-insurance limits, and higher doctor visit co-payments since these higher employee payments reduce the City's premium cost. Retirees pay 100% of their premiums until they enroll in Medicare at which time their premium contributions drop to 75% since Medicare becomes the primary payer for medical claims. Third, there is a committee of city managers, employees, union officers and non-union employees who are working together to determine effective and economical alternatives and choices to help manage the rapidly increasing medical costs. This committee has recognized cost saving methods used successfully by other employers and worked with our employees to adopt and implement several of these measures. The outcome of this combined effort of management and employees has helped the City to keep its medical insurance premium increases lower then the cost increases generally seen throughout the SE Wisconsin region.

As Paul Harvey might say, this is the rest of the story.

2006 CAPITAL PROJECTS

The commitment to maintaining our local roads is continued in the upcoming budget with approximately $450,000 being spent annually to resurface deteriorating roads. The commitment during the past six years has led to our local road rating improve from 5.91, on a scale of one to ten, in 1997, to an average rating of 6.97. More importantly the City has cut by one half the percentages of roads rated "poor" and more then doubled the percentage of roads rated "good". Our Public Utilities department (water and sanitary sewer) continues to coordinate updating of the underground utilities with the street program at an additional cost. The next few years we will resurface some sections of streets that include infrastructure that is in need of repair, is very old, and in undersized. In accordance with our recent facility studies the 2006 budget includes funding for this infrastructure maintenance and repair work.

The 2006 budget includes the reconstruction of Commerce St; repaving and utility replacement at: the intersection of Market St and McHenry St, on State St between McHenry St and Pine St, on Robert St between Kane St and Pine St, and on Lincoln St between McHenry St and Elmwood Av; and, the installation of a T-turnaround at the end of Dunford Drive. The Commerce Street Reconstruction project is in addition to the locally funded projects, will be let by the State of Wisconsin and is funded by a Federal grant and the TID #3 escrow funds.

JANUARY LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Adult Book Discussion

These discussions are open to the public and no registration is necessary. Stop in at the library for a list of the 2006 choices and schedule. We lead off on Monday, January 23 at 7:00 p.m. with the book THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark Haddon.

 

CHRISTMAS TREE DISPOSAL

The City of Burlington will be picking up Christmas trees beginning January 9, 2006. It is not necessary to call for a pick up. Trees should be placed in the parkway. All materials such as lights, garland, ornaments or any metal objects should be removed from trees. Trees may also be dropped off at anytime at the City's compost area located on Maryland Avenue. Any questions regarding tree disposal should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 763-2060.