Town of Manlius, NY

       

GREETINGS FROM THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Highway Superintendent
William Bennett
656-3090

Snowplow Safety

Highway Department Frequently Asked Questions
All Town Department Frequently Asked Questions

Greetings from the Town of Manlius Highway Department. Please be assured that your roads will be plowed and safe through this season. The department remains on a 24/7 schedule. The Highway Department is responsible for plowing 114 centerline miles of town and county roads. Since both sides of the road have to be plowed, that mileage doubles to 228 miles each time we plow. Many times the crews have to plow and sand their routes 3 times in a day/night shift. The mileage then totals out to 684. The average plow route takes 3 1/2 hours to complete, so it may be at least that long before the road is replowed. This work is all done with one crew without having a second or third shift relief crew.

The following is information on town wide parking regulations, safety and highway department mailbox repair/replacement policies.

PARKING is prohibited from 1:00 AM to 7:00 AM on all town roads November 1st to April 15th, Re: Town of Manlius code 139-11. This allows Town snowplows to keep the traveled roadway wide enough to allow two-way traffic and emergency vehicle access. The penalty for violation of this restriction shall be a fine of $20.00. Offenders may also risk having their vehicles towed.

Of interest to commercial driveway plowers and individuals who shovel or blow snow into the road, it is illegal to do so. According to Town of Manlius code 83-2; No person shall throw, put or place, or cause to be thrown, any snow or ice into any public highway, street, public place or thoroughfare in the Town. Penalty not less than $5.00 or more than $100.00. It is also a violation of NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law Sec. 1219A. Placing snow on the highway, especially after the town has plowed creates a hazard which could result in property damage, injury or death.

MAILBOXES: This is almost a no win situation for everyone, especially when snow begins to accumulate. The Town snowplow operators try to plow close enough to the mailbox so that mail can be delivered by your mail carrier. Unfortunately the snow coming off the end of the plow, or the snow being compacted between the mailbox and the plow may damage or destroy the mailbox. If the plow driver does not come close enough to the mailbox the mail carrier will not deliver the mail. Even though it is the addressee’s responsibility to enable the carrier to deliver their mail, the Highway Department is blamed if the mail can’t be delivered. We are also faulted if the plow damages the mailbox because we came too close. And yes, occasionally the driver does get too close or is sometimes forced over by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction and the plow hits the mailbox. Believe it or not we do not intentionally knock mailboxes down. It is the Town of Manlius Highway Department policy to repair or replace any mailbox that we determine we have damaged. For further information please call 656-3090, or check our mailbox repair policy included in this newsletter.

PARENTS please keep the kids from tunneling into the snow banks created by the plows. Kids in tunnels create the potential for a tragic accident by either the collapse of the tunnel or being struck by the snowplow as it continues to keep the roads wide enough for two way traffic. These tunnels are difficult to see from the driver’s position and situations have arisen in the past, which is cause for this concern. Also be advised that sporting devices such as basketball hoops and hockey nets located in the right of way, normally 24’ to 30’ from the road centerline are considered as obstructions and therefore illegal.

This information is being passed along to inform, not offend the public. The Highway Department appreciates your cooperation.

MAILBOX REPAIR POLICY-The Town of Manlius Highway Department will repair or replace mailboxes damaged by highway snow removal operations provided the mailboxes meet the following criteria:

• The mailbox was installed and maintained according to United States Postal Department standards.
• The mailbox, supports, and post are of sound structural condition to withstand Central New York winter snow removal operations.
• Upon inspection by the Highway Superintendent, or his designee, the town plow or wing did in fact make contact with the mailbox or the support and the movement of snow did not cause the damage.
• The homeowners or residents have made a diligent effort to delineate or otherwise mark and keep mailbox area cleared of snow to make mailbox visible and to insure that private plow operators have not caused the damage.

• A basic standard size steel mailbox will be provided.
• A standard 4” x 4” post and support will be used in any repair or replacement.
• Temporary repairs may be made during the winter until permanent replacement or repairs can be made in the spring.

The decision to repair or replace a mailbox and/or support system rests solely with the Highway Superintendent or his designee.

Best wishes for safe travel through the remainder of the winter season from all of us at the Town of Manlius Highway Department.

Highway Department History

The first page in the Manlius Town Road Book "Saturday Oct 10th, 1794 - Began on the Genesee road on Lott 89 at intersection of the north & south road leading through said Lott to Pompey…” On the next page is the road between Fayetteville and Manlius “beginning at Mr. Cunningham’s house…”

Today’s Town of Manlius residents take their excellent roads for granted – bare of snow in the winter and smooth pavement the rest of the year. The highway department operates 24/7 from a 100 by 300 foot building at Route 290 and Clemons Rd., built in 1983. Our settlers faced an entirely different situation.

The roads were narrow unpaved paths through the trees – deep mud in spring and fall and dusty in summer. Winter, which froze the ground, was regarded as the best time to move cattle and wagons across the countryside. Few people had horse and walking from Manlius Village to Utica was not unknown. Before bridges were built, wagons and people crossed the streams at shallow points.

The first records of the Town of Manlius are about a meeting of the road commissioners on Saturday, October 10, 1794 to define what is today’s Salt Springs road that can be traced from the north side of Syracuse through the city, DeWitt and on east of Fayetteville. In those days the Town of Manlius included all of today’s town, all of the Town of DeWitt, the City of Syracuse east of Salina St. and part of the Town of Salina, including Electronics Park.

Caring for these unpaved town roads was the responsibility of the property owners along the road. For many years, the town was divided into road districts and maintenance was done entirely by work parties organized by the road commissioners. Each property owner brought his own equipment and animal power to rake out the stones, smooth the dirt and shape the ditches, or sent someone to do his work for him. Eventually this system was converted into a fee charged to each property owner that is part of today’s January town tax bill.

In addition to the town roads, there were turnpikes that crisscrossed the state. These roads were built by private investors, who collected tolls to pay for construction and maintenance, just as today’s State Thruway does. By 1900, most of these turnpikes had become state and town roads that are part of today’s highway network. In general, Rt. 173 was the Seneca Turnpike (1800), Rt. 5 was the South Branch of the Seneca Turnpike (1806), and Rt. 92 from Manlius east to Cazenovia was the northern end of the Cherry Valley or Fourth Great Western Turnpike (1803).

The coming of the bicycle and automobile called for drastic changes. A stone crusher and a dump truck bought in 1901, and a road scraper in 1903 were the town’s first equipment. Part-time town crews took over the work previously done by property owners themselves.

The state’s Route 290 was the first road paved in the Town of Manlius (1911) because it was the main route from Utica to Syracuse.

From 1910 to 1925, there was constant conflict between the automobile owners who wanted pavements cleared and horse owners who wanted the snow packed on the road for sleighing. Eventually the automobile won and the town bought a snowplow with an unheated cab. The town’s first highway “barn” was built in 1926.

Even in the 1960’s, there were still some unpaved roads in the Town of Manlius, but now almost all have been paved, and today’s drivers rarely distinguish between state, county, and town roads.

The Town of Manlius is responsible for 104 miles of roads that are maintained year-round by the town work crews. Snow is cleared 24/7, roads are paved, trees and brush are removed to keep sight-lines clear, bridges are built and maintained.

- May 3, 2002, Barbara S. Rivette, Manlius Town Historian.

The Blizzard of ‘66

The Blizzard of 1966 remains a benchmark for weather in the Town of Manlius. The snow started falling early Sunday morning and by noon everyone knew it was going to be a long, hard week.

The town’s highway crew continued to operate even after the state had pulled its plows off the roads and the daily newspaper ceased to publish. All the roads in Onondaga County were closed, but there were still emergencies. With a snow plow in the lead, a police car and ambulance made the trip to a hospital, breaking up the drifts along the Syracuse streets.

Most of the town’s road crew spent the week in the highway garage in Minoa, with Charlie Bender, Sr. the town’s veteran highway chief in charge. One man remembered that they were fed “whatever Charlie could find at Minoa’s only grocery store.” It had been a good year for deer hunters, so the men also had a few meals of venison.

By the end of the week, the sun began to shine, and another great effort was over – except for the stories that live on and on.

Highway Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is my garbage/brush/yard debris going to be picked up?
A: Call Town of Manlius at 637-8815 or Syracuse Haulers at 426-6771.

Q: Why didn’t they pick up my garbage/brush/yard debris? What is the schedule?
A: Call Town of Manlius at 637-8815 or Syracuse Haulers at 426-6771.

Q: What I do with the brush that I can’t bundle (large trees)?
A: CallSyracuse Haulers at 426-6771 for details.

Q: I have a dead tree in my yard—will you cut it and take it away?
A: We will do this if it is in our right of way (within 25-30 feet from the center of the road depending on location of road). Otherwise, you are responsible to take care of this matter.

Q: Do we grind stumps?
A: We will grind stumps if they are located in our right of way.

Q: Where canI obtain blue bins?
A: Blue bins can be picked up at the town highway garage weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Q: What do I do with refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, televisions, and large pieces of metal?
A: The town highway department does not pick these up nor are we responsible for the disposal of these items. Call OCCRA at 453-2870 or Syracuse Haulers at 426-6771 to make arrangements.

Q: Will you remove the dead deer from the road?
A: We will come and remove the dead deer if it is a Town owned road (named roads). Dead deer on state and county roads should be referred to them.

Q: Who do I call with a water problem?
A: If it relates to drainage on a town road, we will add it to our list of items to fix. If it relates to a water delivery problem, then they should call OCWA at 455-7061.

Q: Who do I call if I am having a problem with my sewer?
A: You should call Onondaga County sewer maintenance at 435-3157.

Q: When are they going to mow?
A: We have one full-time roadside mower that mows continuously all summer long. He will mow all town owned roads about 3 times during the summer season.

Q: Is it okay if I drop my small brush off at the town highway garage?
A: Yes, you may bring brush (and Christmas trees) here to drop off, and we will grind them into mulch.

Q: Do we have free mulch?
A: There is a limited supply of free mulch here at the town highway department available for town residents to pick up. Residents are responsible to load their own mulch.

Q: Why is my neighbor’s road plowed & not mine?
A: You neighbor may live on a state, county, village, or a neighboring town highway.

Q: When are you going to plow my road?
A: Our plow routes take approximately 3½-4 hours to complete. Your road will be addressed sometime during each plow run.

Q: Will you fix my mailbox?
A: Even though it is not legally required,we will gladly fix your mailbox if it is hit by one of our plow trucks. We are not responsible to repair mailboxes damaged by private driveway plows.

Q: Why do I get more snow plowed into my yard than my neighbor’s do?
A: We do not intentionally plow more snow in your lawn than your neighbor’s lawn; but depending upon your location, this could happen.