About

Random Quote

I work all day. — Mother Teresa

The invisible high crash traffic sign in Solon Ohio

City of Solon and Ohio Department of Transportation conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of a MUTCD non-compliant HIGH CRASH LOCATION-FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE yellow warning traffic sign.  Within the context of the study limitations, the study concluded that the traffic sign made no positive impact on the number of traffic crashes.  It was as if the traffic sign was invisible to the motorists.

Assured Clear Distance

According to Ohio Revised Code-

continue reading The invisible high crash traffic sign in Solon Ohio

Oil and Natural Gas Wells-Ohio Residential Property Disclosure Form

Marcellus and Davonian Shale in Appalachian Basin

For new residents of Northeast Ohio, one of the lesser known facts about the region might be its association with its oil and natural gas wells. The State of Ohio has about 274,733 wells yielding 1.126 billion barrels of crude oil and more than 8.35 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Research completed by Ohio Department of Natural Resources’s Divisions of

continue reading Oil and Natural Gas Wells-Ohio Residential Property Disclosure Form

Jesus is the reason for the season

Christmas 2009

Something is not right when people have to informed through a sign that Christmas is about Jesus Christ and not shopping.

Municipal zoning or other rules may permit installation of non commercial opinion signs if the signs meet the size, color, location and other prescribed criteria.  These yard signs are a tribute to our First Amendment.

However, some yard signs or commercial electronic message boards, in particular, that are becoming

continue reading Jesus is the reason for the season

Atypical Stop Sign in City of Aurora, Ohio

Atypical Stop Sign

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public traffic.

This atypical stop sign is installed off of South Bissell Road at its intersection with West Pioneer Trail, near Walden of Aurora in City of Aurora Ohio.  Purists might find this

continue reading Atypical Stop Sign in City of Aurora, Ohio

City of Solon Fire Department in action

Click to enlarge image

City of Solon-Bainbridge Road Project

Bainbridge Road Cross Sections from Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Office

The Cuyahoga County Engineer’s Office held a public meeting on September 22, 2009 at Grantwood Golf Course, for the upcoming Bainbridge Road Project in the City of Solon.  This meeting was held in an open house format.  A feature of open house format public meetings is that it provides a lower probability of unhappy citizens yelling at one or a few public

continue reading City of Solon-Bainbridge Road Project

Flooding Issues in Cleveland Suburbs

Rainfall Map for Cleveland Suburbs. Map source: A public agency.

Click to enlarge this rainfall map of the June 22-24, 2006 storm.  This massive storm event caused some flooding issues in Broadview Heights, Brecksville, Solon, Sagamore Hills, Bainbridge, Twinsburg, Independence, Glenwillow, Oakwood, Bedford, Garfield Heights, Valley View etc.

100 Year Storm: A storm of a certain intensity and length of time that has a 1% probability of occuring each

continue reading Flooding Issues in Cleveland Suburbs

City of Solon Flood Zones Map-Real Estate in City of Solon

City of Solon Flood Zones Map-Click to enlarge

FEMA FLOOD ZONE DESIGNATIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Annual Probability of Flooding of 1% or greater

A Subject to 100-year flood. Base flood elevation undetermined.

AE or A1-A30 Both AE and A1-A30 represent areas subject to 100-year flood with base flood elevation determined.

AH Subject to 100-year shallow flooding (usually areas of poundings) with average depth of 1-3 feet. Base flood elevation determined.

AO Subject to 100-year

continue reading City of Solon Flood Zones Map-Real Estate in City of Solon

Speed Kills

Lee Friedman

Friedman Lee S, Hedeker D, Richter ED. “Increased Fatalities and Injuries Following the Repeal of the National Maximum Speed Limit in the U.S.” EPUB, American Journal of Public Health.

What are the key findings of your study?

We estimate that between 1995 and 2005, approximately 12,500 people died as a result of repealing the National Maximum Speed Law. In the 10 states that essentially did not change their posted

continue reading Speed Kills

Backwater Valve

Lower basement drains may need a backwater valve to prevent basement flooding. Source: Unknown

Basement fixtures below red line may need backwater valve to prevent basement flooding-Source: City of Worcester

Click on the backwater valve graphics to enlarge them.

What is a Backwater Valve?

Backwater valves are installed to prevent or reduce the frequency of sanitary and storm water backing up on the mainline through the lateral and flooding a basement.  This

continue reading Backwater Valve

Sub-Watershed Map of City of Solon

Sub-Watershed Map of City of Solon, Ohio

City of Solon Automatic Garbage Pickup Truck

Home Buying and Remodeling Hype

Zac Bissonnette writes about real estate and remodeling hype:

Your home is not an investment: Really, it isn’t. An investment is something that gives you money and an expense is something that costs you money.  Therefore your primary residence is an expense.  Real estate may well be a fantastic investment, but primary residences are only good investments to the extent that they’re cheaper than renting.

The most common type of residential property,

continue reading Home Buying and Remodeling Hype

Traffic signal counters funneling effect in Solon

Traffic Signal Warrants

Traffic Signal Warrants-Institute of Transporation Engineers

Traffic Signal in City of Solon

The April 16th, 2009 hard copy issue of The Solon Times (Volume 32, Number 32) published an article titled Finally, city sheds light on ‘funneling‘ by Sue Reid.  The article reported that City of Solon is in the process of potentially considering and approving installation of traffic signals at SOM Center Road/Lisa Lane intersection and SOM Center

continue reading Traffic signal counters funneling effect in Solon

Earth Day celebration in City of Solon

Earth Day celebration at Solon Community Park

City of Solon Service Department Truck

Sewer Camera?

City of Solon’s Earth Day celebration at the Solon Community Park was a home run.  Folks were lining up for mulch and the paper shredder.  Perfect weather, free food, bad day for Debbie Downer.

The picture is that of  City of Solon’s sewer camera truck, I think.  I think the City of Solon has allocated significant

continue reading Earth Day celebration in City of Solon