Latest news with #OperationsCommittee
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Wheeled Excavator Programme Clears The Way For Safer Roads In Hurunui
A new 'light-touch' initiative to improve roadside drainage across Hurunui District is already proving its worth, with 150 kilometres of roadside cleared in just the first month of Council's wheeled excavator programme. 'Water is the biggest enemy of the roading network,' said Council's Chief Operations Officer Dan Harris. 'The wheeled excavator programme is helping to move water away from our roads as quickly as possible, making a real difference to road safety and road quality.' 'It's a smart, light-touch approach,' said Council's Roading Manager Charlie Hutt. 'We're opening up culvert ends, getting water moving and making note of the roads needing a little more.' Hutt said the work often occurs where large-scale drainage work would have been too costly or disruptive. Two wheeled diggers are employed to carry out the roadside drainage improvements, reshaping and clearing culverts, removing trees and opening up blocked drainage channels. Each digger is accompanied by a spotter, armed with a shovel and a sharp eye, ensuring targeted, efficient maintenance. Councillor Robbie Bruerton, Chair of the Operations Committee, described the initiative as a 'good piece of work, done the right way.' 'The biggest complaints we were getting were about drainage and road deterioration.' The programme had tackled those issues, with real cost savings, Bruerton said. The programme follows a trial undertaken in 2023, with an additional pilot carried out in 2024 around well-known hot spots in the district that were prone to flooding. Hutt said these previously problem areas were performing well, even after recent rain. Funding for the current and next two financial years has been budgeted for in the Long Term Plan. Part of a further year will be funded by Resilience Improvements money granted by Waka Kotahi NZTA, on Council's Vulnerable Roads. Mayor Marie Black welcomed the success of the trial. 'This is a great example of innovation and partnership delivering better outcomes for our communities.'
Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Arklow RNLI hosts vice admiral ahead of 200th anniversary and boat naming ceremony
No stranger to Ireland, having served as a chair of the RNLI's Operations Committee and visited several Irish lifeboat stations during his tenure, this was Sir Tim's first time visiting Arklow lifeboat station – the oldest established RNLI lifeboat station on the island of Ireland. Receiving a warm welcome from all present, the vice admiral was introduced to the assembled lifeboat crew, station management, fundraisers, and their families by lifeboat operations manager John Bermingham, with guest in attendance including Arklow Harbour master, captain Paul Ivory, Arklow MD cathaoirleach, Cllr Pat Kennedy and Arklow Sailing Club commodore Seamus Cramer. Coxswain Eddie McElheron and mechanic Craig O'Reilly gave Sir Tim a tour of the new €3.1m Shannon class lifeboat, and there was also a visit to the boathouse and shop, before the visit concluded with a stop at the town's maritime museum, which recently hosted an RNLI 200 exhibition. Former Lifeboat operations manager Jimmy Tyrrell and coxswain Brendan Dillon were on hand for a tour and some station history. Jimmy was responsible for the RNLI naming the Shannon class after an Irish river, in recognition of the service of Irish volunteers to the charity over two centuries, a fact that was shared with their visitor. Commenting on the special visit, John Bermingham said: 'We were delighted to host Sir Tim Laurence for a special visit to our station. Arklow is a lifeboat station steeped in RNLI history, and the town has a hugely important maritime background. 'We are very proud to be the first RNLI lifeboat station on the island of Ireland and to be naming our new Shannon class lifeboat soon, following its arrival last October. It was Sir Tim's first time visiting the station, and we hope to welcome him again in the future.'
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Serious crashes prompt new traffic signals for Greater Sudbury roadway
City staff is recommending left turn signals be installed at two intersections with MR35 in Azilda because of the severity of collisions there in recent years. City staff is recommending left turn signals be installed at two intersections with MR35 in Azilda because of the severity of collisions there in recent years. A study found that while traffic volumes don't warrant the new traffic signals, the fact the speed limit is 80 km/h means when crashes do occur, they are more serious. The report said between Jan. 1, 2020, and April 1, 2025, there were 23 collisions at the corner of MR35 and Marier Street. 'Ten of these collisions were either angle type or turning movement type collisions, which are the collision type most associated with left turn movements,' the report prepared for the June 16 meeting of the operations committee. 'During the same time at MR35 and Montee Principale, a total of 15 collisions occurred and 10 of those were either angle type or turning movement type collisions.' MR was expanded to four lanes in 2020, becoming a four-lane cross-section from two. A traffic study at the time concluded that no left turn signal was needed. While an average of two collisions a year normally wouldn't lead to left-hand turn signals, the report said as a result of the higher speed limit on the roadway, 'a number of these collisions resulted in injury.' Because of 'the posted speed limit and the severity of the collisions which have occurred, staff are proceeding with installing fully protected left turn signals for both left turn lanes at both intersections,' the report said. 'The required material and installation costs will utilize existing traffic signal operating budget and existing staff compliment will be used to reprogram the traffic signal controllers. It is anticipated that the left turn signals will be installed and operational in June 2025.' Read the full report here.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LCS approved for stand alone bus garage
It looks like Lee County Schools will be getting a new bus garage in the near future. During the LCS board meeting on Tuesday, April 8, Superintendent Chris Dossenbach said the district was given approval for the stand-alone facility as opposed to a joint facility with the county that was previously discussed. Dossenbach reported that information from an initial '5 on 5' committee meeting between the two governmental entities from Monday. In addition to him, the meeting included the county manager, county finance team and the school finance director. 'I felt like it was a productive meeting,' Dossenbach said. In an email, LCS spokesman James Alverson noted that the current LCS Bus Garage is located at 416 Cox Maddox Road. It has been in use since November 1974. Funding for the new garage would come during the 2025-26 school year, Dossenbach said. During the 5 on 5 committee meeting, he said he stressed the need for additional classified employee funding, noting that school staff provided information dating back 17 years when salaries were frozen during the Great Recession. Board chair Sherry Lynn Womack asked when the next 5 on 5 meeting would be. Dossenbach said none is currently scheduled, adding that county staff want to get through the budget season first. FORFEITURES Board attorney Stephen Rawson noted that LCS pulled in $75,483 in bond forfeitures from July 1, 2024 through Feb. 28. After questioning from Womack, Rawson added that some of the funding will go to charter schools for Lee County students who attend such. Rawson's fees for culling the funds total $12,822, which he said represent a six-to-one ratio. CELL PHONES Board member Chris Gaster reported on the district's Discipline Committee, noting that although only 5% of the student discipline referrals are for technology, 73% of them come from the middle schools. 'That blew me away because I was thinking it would be high school,' he said, noting there were 286 violations in middle schools. 'This is a bigger problem than people even imagine,' he said, adding that 'a lot of that is from disrespect. It all starts in the home.' Operations Committee chair Alan Rummel noted they also talked about that issue, but noted that more discussion is needed for what to do about it. REDISTRICTING Rummel said the Operations Committee approved using the Institute for Transportation Research and Education out of North Carolina State University for elementary school redistricting. Their study would include 'far more than redistricting,' he said, adding that it would include sites for future school construction, along with other information. During new business, the board approved a contract for $148,558 with Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments of Elliott City, Md. for a facilities condition assessment. The report should be finished by August, according to Rummel. The assessment will be used to drive the district's capital improvement and master facilities plans, according to a board document. GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL During the meeting, Dillon Crockett, the district's science coordinator, announced that two 11th grade students were chosen for the Governor's School for four weeks this summer. Addison Tunnard, a student at Lee Early College, will attend the Governor's School East at Meredith College for social science. Larkin McBryde, a student at Southern Lee High School, will attend the Governor's School West at Greensboro College for natural science.
