HALLOWEEN There’s still time to sign up for the Halloween Trick or Treat ride and pizza party featuring Dollie the Trolley. The BHV Halloween event will be held on Saturday October 31 beginning with pizza at the Village Hall at 5:30 PM. The trolley will depart at 6:15 PM sharp and typically concludes at the Village Hall between 8-8:30 PM. If you want your children to participate, or want to have the trick-or-treaters stop at your home, please respond as soon as possible to Jody Glancy Scott at jodyglancyscott@gmail.com or phone 734-834-2420. There is no need to contact Jody if you do not want to participate, but she is glad to answer any questions.
BHMC UPDATE The recent Barton Hills Maintenance Corporation Shareholder vote resulted in adoption of the proposed 2015-16 budget. Information concerning the 2015 Board of Directors election is being distributed to BHMC Shareholders on October 19, 2015.
BHV ORDINANCE CODIFICATION At their October 12, 2015 meeting the Barton Hills Village Board of Trustees proposed to codify the Village ordinances. Currently each ordinance is a separate document. In creating a BHV Code, all of the ordinances except the Zoning Ordinance and the gas franchise will be combined in a single document. Codification does not change any of the content of the ordinances, but provides a more consistent standard of organization that will be easier to use.
The proposed code document can be reviewed and a copy obtained at the BHV Clerk’s Office in the Village Hall. Residents may comment on the proposed codification:
–by attending to speak in person at the November 9, 2015 Board of Trustees meeting which begins at 6:00 PM at the Village Hall, and/or
–by contacting any Trustee, and/or
–by sending written comments to the Trustees in care of the Clerk’s Office by mail (199 Barton
Shore Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48105), fax (734-222-9177) or email (bhvclerk@comcast.net).
BHV RESIDENT DIRECTORY UPDATE Residents will soon receive a note from Deputy Clerk Jan Esch regarding update of the BHV Resident Directory. The Directory is only distributed to BHV residents to help them connect with each other, and no information is given out by the BHV staff. It will be very helpful if residents will respond when they receive the note from Jan so the Directory accurately reflects the information residents want to be included.
FALL CLEAN UP Please note the following:
–If you rake your own leaves, you can pile them near the road or driveway for BHV collection.
–Lawn services are expected to haul leaves away as part of their contract.
–Mulching leaves during mowing adds nutrients to the soil.
–Leaves can be raked into wooded areas to add nutrients there.
–Don’t pile leaves in the roadway where they will be a hazard to pedestrians and traffic.
–Don’t bag leaves, as BHV vacuums up the loose leaves.
–Leaf pick up will not be on trash pick up days since the same truck is used for both.
–Sort out sticks, rocks and debris that will clog/damage the leaf vacuum.
–Sticks and brush can be put in piles for separate pick up.
–Keep leaves, sticks and debris out of catch basins and gutters in the roads.
DRIVEWAY SEALING ADVISORY Applying sealcoat to asphalt driveways is a common practice that can improve the appearance and lifespan of the driveway. However, driveway sealcoats containing coal tar are incredibly high in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which have been found to be harmful to both humans and the environment. When applied, PAHs volatilize into the air, affecting air quality. As the sealcoat weathers, dust from the pavement makes its way into homes on shoes and clothing. When it rains, loose particles move into soils, stormwater catch basins, lakes, and rivers. Coal tar sealants contain 1000 times more PAHs than asphalt-based sealants (a readily available alternative) and are the number one source of PAHs in lake sediments. Besides causing harm to mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and plants, cancer risks are elevated for people who are exposed to coal tar sealants over long periods of time.
BHV residents are encouraged to either eliminate sealcoating or to use asphalt-based sealants which are much safer and available both from application companies and from stores for application by homeowners. Do not tear out a pre-existing pavement that has been sealed with coal-tar, just to get rid of the coal-tar. A better choice would be to encapsulate the driveway with a different product like an asphalt-based sealcoat. For more information contact the Huron River Watershed Council at hrwc.org.