By Paul Buescher Friday 3/1/19
To All,
Attached you will find two photos taken today involving problems with the WOW Cable installers. The one photo shows the oil spill at 115 Hazel, which WOW said they would clean tomorrow (Sat). The other (taken by a resident) shows one of the installers standing on suspended wires without any safety harness or other safety equipment. That’s right, he is standing approximately 21-feet above the ground on suspended wires with no safety equipment what-so-ever!
During the past week, our residents have not only been ‘entertained’ by the “Three Stooges” pulling a trailer tied to an occupied suspended bucket but now it’s a tightrope act! These guys are no Wallenda’s and even Karl Wallenda fell to his death!
At 5PM Friday afternoon, WOW left two traffic cones in the middle of the northbound lane of Brandywine Road. One was on one side of the hill by the All Saints Cemetery and the other one was on the other side of the hill. Drivers (on both sides) of the road had to go around the cones while unable to see any oncoming traffic. There were no WOW vehicles or personnel anywhere in sight – Just the cones in the middle of the road. I personally saw this and after talking with a Sagamore Hills resident who was walking, he was disgusted and moved them to the ditch. This situation was recorded on a dash cam.
I also drove around town and saw MANY piles of cut limbs left by the WOW crews. This included those along Northfield Ave. I talked with the crew that did the cutting last Monday. At that time, they asked me where they could dump the branches. I suggested Sagamore Soil and I clearly told them that it was entirely their responsibility to remove any debris that they create and they acknowledged this. This conversation was recorded on a dash cam.
As I write this (Fri. Mar 1st 9:30PM) half-inch thick optical cables are currently laying across and on the ground in the front yards of our residents, especially along W. Highland Rd. Many people walk their dogs in these areas thus creating a very hazardous and dangerous condition, especially at night where the cables are virtually invisible.
Despite several communications regarding these incidents, more seem to occur everyday. I want a full accounting involving the bond money that we supposedly received. I find it hard to believe that WOW posted bonds for work throughout the entire Township. If there are areas where they’re working and those areas have not been bonded, I want them out of there. Furthermore, I want every penny of the bond money held until every branch and other debris that they created has been removed. And I want to be personally involved in any and all inspections!
I am also requesting that our Administrator, Steve Wright, forward all evidence to OSHA for investigation and enforcement for all applicable Federal, State and Local safety standards and laws. And the Sheriff’s Office has already been advised to enforce ALL violations involving traffic control. And I should add – Littering to the growing list! This notice should serve as a reminder for the enforcement requests.
I am asking my fellow Trustees, Township personnel and the Sheriff’s Office, to join with me to resolve these totally unacceptable and dangerous practices that not only place our fellow residents in danger but themselves as well!
Respectfully,
Paul G. Buescher
Northfield Center Twp. Vice-Chairman
330-467-9451