IN West Jefferson Hills Winter 2021 | Page 55

PREPARING FOR WINTER SNOWFALL
Shorter days and falling temperatures are signs winter is quickly approaching ! In response , the Borough of Jefferson Hills Department of Public Works ( DPW ) are working diligently to prepare for icy roads and excessive snow fall this season . DPW exercises care and concern keeping the community ’ s roads safe and passable during the winter season . Over the past several years , Borough of Jefferson Hills Council has also made efficient snow removal in the Borough a priority . The goal of these efforts has been to clear roads in a timely manner , as well as ensure vehicle and pedestrian safety during winter weather events .
To further ensure safety , DPW would like residents to keep the following topics in mind regarding their household snow removal process : Technological advancements have improved snow removal efforts !
The Department of Public Works uses tools like weather prediction models and radar to monitor when snow will be arriving in the area . With advanced information DPW can pretreat Borough roads before snow enters the area . DPW are also able to have staged crews ready to remove impediments to travel during the storm . Timing plays a major role in the snow removal process !
In addition to battling the elements , DPW plows and trucks may have to battle traffic and congestion during rush hours . This traffic can delay snow removal in certain cases as DPW trucks are not considered emergency vehicles . Please be mindful of trucks , plows , and salt spreaders as you traverse the Borough . DPW participates in Snow Removal Maintenance Agreements with both Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ( PENNDOT ) and Allegheny County .
These agreements permit Borough DPW to maintain state and county roads during winter weather events . In addition to timelier responses to snow removal , the Borough is compensated for each lined mile of county and state roads cleared of snow and ice . The Borough is charged with rates established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Allegheny County . The snow routes are established and prioritized with preference given to hills , emergency vehicle response routes , school bus routes , and major arterial roadways .
In addition to all Borough owned roadways , the Borough takes care of the following state and county roads in the
event of a snowstorm as part of our Snow Removal Maintenance Agreements :
State : Cochran Mill Road , Gill Hall Road , Miller Road , Payne Hill Road , Ridge Road , Route 837 , Route 885 , Snowden Road , Wall Road , Walton Road
County : Coal Valley # 1 , # 2 , # 3 , and # 4 ( Chamberlain ), Gill Hall Road , Old Clairton Road , Scotia Hollow Road , Worthington Road
The Borough does not do snow removal on Route 51 ( serviced by Penn-DOT ), or on Cochran Mill Road from West Bruceton to the tunnel at South Park Township ( serviced by Allegheny County ). Tips for Residents :
• Remove cars from the street in the event of a storm – per Borough ordinance 15-901 , parking on Borough roads is prohibited during a snowstorm . This is to allow plows to effectively clear the roadways .
• Slow down when driving on snow covered roads
• Give yourself extra time when traveling during storms
• Stay off the roads , if possible , during inclement weather events
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL EMS ( SEREMS )
SouthEast Regional EMS ( SEREMS ) is the sole provider of emergency medical services in the Borough of Jefferson Hills . SEREMS is proud to be a full-service medical care and transportation provider to Borough residents and surrounding communities . They provide Advanced and Basic Life Support ambulance services for both emergency and non-emergency calls . Additionally , they provide special event standby , on and off-site CPR / First Aid trainings , as well as AED training and consultation .
SEREMS began as the result of a merger between Elizabeth Township Area EMS and Jefferson Hills Area Ambulance Association on October 1 , 2017 . In addition to serving the Borough of Jefferson Hills , SEREMS also serves the city of Clairton , Elizabeth Township , West Elizabeth , Elizabeth Borough , Forward Township , Lincoln Borough , Liberty Borough , and Union Township in Washington County .
SEREMS offices are in Jefferson Hills at 2121 Century Drive and in Elizabeth Township at 911 Swiss Way . Additionally , there are vehicles frequently stationed throughout the service area to ensure timely response to any situations that may arise . Community Events and Education
SouthEast Regional EMS takes pride in providing events and educational opportunities to the communities it serves . Each month , they provide American Heart Association CPR classes to the public . Successful completion
Campers learning about the services SEREMS provides
Continued next page our community at Summer

Recreation this past July est Jefferson Hills BOROUGH OF JEFFERSON HILLS NEWS

WEST JEFFERSON HILLS ❘ WINTER 2021 53