SPRING IS HERE! Please note these important items to help keep our community safe and healthy.
SPEED LIMIT The speed limit on all BHV roads is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. Watch for pedestrians, cyclists, animals, delivery trucks and other surprises on our narrow, winding roads. Pedestrians must walk facing traffic; cyclists ride with traffic; all in single file when traffic is present.
TICKS/LYME DISEASE Ticks that carry Lyme disease are present in increasing numbers in Washtenaw County. See information below from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on actions to take to reduce the risks of disease caused by tick bites.
COAL TAR SEALANT BAN Ann Arbor Township is adopting an ordinance (applicable in BHV) banning driveway sealants that contain higher amounts of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), referred to as coal tar sealants. *See information below.
GARLIC MUSTARD Garlic mustard is an aggressive invasive herb that crowds out native plant species in and near forested areas. Early spring is the ideal time to look for and pull out garlic mustard before it goes to seed. Put the pulled plants near the road for pick up/proper disposal by BHV staff. For a very informative video featuring local experts and former BHV resident Fred Clark (author of the BHV Forestry Study) visit https://vimeo.com/2855779.
SEPTIC MAINTENANCE BHV Code Chapter 8 requires septic tank pumping at least every 4 years or more often as needed. Contact Jan at the BHV Clerk’s Office when making an appointment for pumping so a staff member can come at the same time to fill out the necessary paperwork. Jan can also tell you when your system was last pumped.
LAWN DEBRIS BHV staff will pick up brush and sticks gathered by homeowners for disposal. Lawn service providers are expected to haul away their clean-up debris. Separate out sticks/brush that can be chipped from leaves and other debris. Place piles near the driveway or road where the staff can see and collect them as their work schedule allows.
BARTON HILLS MAINTENANCE CORPORATION NEWS
LAST CALL FOR BOATS BHMC will be issuing ID tags for resident boats kept at the North Dock area (behind the chain link fence north of the Boat Club building). Boats that have not been claimed will be disposed of. Contact Jan at the Clerk’s Office to identify your boat.
BHMC BUDGET VOTE Wednesday May 17, 2017 is the deadline for returning your BHMC budget ballot. The approved budget is the basis for BHMC assessments.
*COAL TAR SEALANT BAN
Ann Arbor Township is in the final stages of adopting an ordinance to prohibit the use of driveway sealants that contain higher amounts of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Scientific studies have demonstrated a relationship between the use of these products and certain health and environmental concerns, including increased cancer risk and impaired water quality. The City of Ann Arbor, Dexter and Scio Townships already have such ordinances.
While it is a common practice to use sealants with 0.1 or more PAHs by weight –referred to as coal tar-based sealants—many PAH’s have been identified as toxic, carcinogenic and associated with higher risks of birth defects. Children who play on and near these surfaces are more likely to inhale PAHs, and particles also make it into homes on shoes and pets. Studies also have found that 50-75% of all PAHs found in sediments in the Great Lakes region come from coal tar sealcoat.
There are several alternatives with significantly lower or no PAH content, including asphalt-based seal coat which is readily available at similar cost. Asphalt-based sealers and crack fillers carry the label: C.A.S. 8052-42-4. The product label also should state Asbestos Free. More information about adequate alternative sealants is available on the Ann Arbor Township website at www.aatwp.org.
The new ordinance will apply both to commercial operators and homeowners, and will take effect 60 days after adoption. Commercial operators contracted by a homeowner should confirm their compliance with the annual registration process required under the ordinance.
When Barton Hills Village does not have a specific ordinance about a topic and Ann Arbor Township does, the township ordinance applies in BHV.
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Tick season is here: Take appropriate precautionary measures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Eisner 517-241-2112
May 1, 2017
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is encouraging Michigan residents to protect themselves from ticks as the warm weather approaches. Tick-borne diseases, and particularly Lyme disease, are expanding across the State.
Although ticks can cause multiple illnesses, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in Michigan. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted by the blacklegged/deer tick.
The blacklegged tick is well-established in Michigan’s western Upper and Lower Peninsulas. However, the ticks are expanding into new areas across the Lower Peninsula. In 2016, there were 221 human cases of Lyme disease reported, and approximately two out of three cases reported exposure in Michigan.
“With the expansion of blacklegged ticks into new areas in Michigan, the most important way to protect against Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites,” said Dr. Eden Wells, Chief Medical Executive of the MDHHS. “If you find a tick attached to your body, promptly remove it. Monitor your health and if you experience fever, rash, muscle or joint aches, or other symptoms, consult with your medical provider.”
People can protect themselves against Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases by using the following tips to prevent tick bites:
- Avoid tick-infested areas.
Walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter at trail edges.
Protect your pets too! Dogs and cats can come into contact with ticks outdoors and bring them into the home, so using tick prevention products on pets is also recommended. - Use insect repellent.
Apply repellent containing DEET (20-30 percent) or Picaridin on exposed skin.
Treat clothes (especially pants, socks, and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact or buy clothes that are pre-treated. Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying any repellents. - Perform daily tick checks.
Always check for ticks on yourself and your animals after being outdoors, even in your own yard.
Inspect all body surfaces carefully, and remove attached ticks with tweezers.
How to remove a tick: Grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With a steady motion, pull the tick’s body away from the skin. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic. - Bathe or shower.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you.
Washing clothing in hot water, and drying on high heat will kill ticks in clothing, and help to prevent ticks from coming indoors.
For more information visit www.cdc.gov/lyme, www.michigan.gov/lyme or www.lymedisease.org.