The work of the Road Department is more involved than most people envision. Although a major goal of the department is to keep the ongoing maintenance program of road surfaces in place, it involves much more than just taking care of the roads. There are many responsibilities that most people do not realize belong to the road department. These responsibilities include:
The Paradise Township Road Department garage is located behind the Municipal Building. The department also has a storage yard and salt storage facility. These facilities, along with dedicated personnel and excellent equipment, provide the well-maintained Township roads enjoyed by the residents.
Concrete Drives: Residents who wish to install new concrete driveways entering Township maintained roadways are required to have a permit (the amount of this fee and permit can be obtained at the Township Building). Permits are also required for for asphalt drives. When the required permit is issued, the Township checks the condition of the culvert pipe under your existing drive. The property owner must pay for the initial culvert and installation. If you live on a road that is state or county maintained, you must check with those authorities. If you are unsure about who maintains your road, call the Roadmaster to inquire. (595-3534)
Open Ditch Elimination: Paradise Township has an ongoing program of ditch elimination on Township maintained roads. Interested property owners (on Township maintained roads) should contact the Roadmaster and make a request. As time (road maintenance repairs have first priority) and weather permitting, the work is scheduled. Property owners are not permitted to close up or change elevation of ditches (which are actually on Township right-of-ways) on their own.
Tree/Shrub Trimming: Each year Road Department employees cut back trees and shrubs, which obscure stop signs, speed limit and other traffic regulatory signs. This is required by state laws which are very specific about the distance from which the signs must be visible. Property owners are notified before trimming is done.
Snow Removal:
The Road Department is responsible for clearing 35+ miles
of Township roadways. The remaining roads are maintained by either the state or
the county. Ninety percent of these 35+ miles serve residential areas. The lack
of curbs clearly defining the roadway and roadside mailboxes make it very
challenging for the plow operators. A second obstacle are vehicles on the road.
Residents are urged to avoid parking on the roads when snow removal may be
necessary. When plowing a driveway, please do not place snow in the road. It
takes five people, five trucks, four hours, and fifty tons of salt and antiskid
to cover our Township roads. If the snow is deep enough that it must be plowed,
it takes eight hours to do the job. Since the priority is to guarantee
residents’ access to police, fire, paramedic, and other emergency services, a
two-pass plowing system is used. The first pass is done quickly to open up all
roads and intersections to facilitate handling emergencies. Once this is
accomplished, the plows return and push the snow back to the berm to open up
the roads full width.
Road Kill: You may call the Monroe County Litter Control (570-420-3754) to have dead deer removed from any Township maintained road. Same applies for State roads.
Township Maintained Roads: Township officials are proud of the work done by the Road Department, the up-to-date procedures and materials used, and the results as shown in the generally good condition of Township maintained roadways. The key phrase is Township maintained roadways. The Paradise Road Department does not maintain some roadways within the Township. On a few roadways, which have both dedicated and undedicated portions, only the dedicated portions are maintained by the Township.