Vernon Sends Out Winter Warning About Hoops, Mailboxes And Ashes

VERNON, CT — With significant snow in the weekend forecast, Vernon officials are sending out their annual winter warnings for mailboxes, basketball hoops and ash disposal.

Basketball Hoops/Poles

The Public Works Department is remind ing residents that the town will not be responsible for basketball hoops and poles placed on town property, either at the edge of a road or on a cul-de-sac. Basketball hoops or poles damaged by town vehicles, especially during removal of refuse, recycling, snow, slush, etc. will not be repaired or replaced, officials said. They should be placed on private property, officials said.

Mailboxes

While plow truck drivers make every effort to avoid mailboxes, they do, on occasion, hit or knock one over, officials said. Operators must report these incidents to their supervisors. Snow thrown against a mailbox is often sufficient to cause damage to what officials are calling "a less-than-perfect installation." Posts with cracks, rusty screws or nails, dry rot or deterioration at the bottom are likely to fail when wet snow hits them, officials said. If a mailbox has been damaged, residents should call the DPW at 860-870-3500 to report it the day after the storm. Mailboxes knocked over by heavy, wet snow where no contact with the plow has occurred and where they have not been maintained or adequately mounted or braced will not be repaired by the town, officials said. Also, mailboxes damaged by private contractors, homeowners clearing snow, errant drivers, etc., will not be fixed by the town, officials said.

Ash Disposal

Town officials said that, under no circumstances, are ashes to be disposed of inside refuse and recycling carts. Wood ash retains enough heat to ignite other combustible materials for several days, and is a fire hazard, officials said. A designated container for ash is at the DPW garages at 375 Hartford Turnpike and is available to the public 24/7. The ash receptacle is located in the parking lot near the community swimming pool.