Telephone pole about to fall over on Elmwood

[Betsy Voinovich]

Hi Bret--

Just had to give this its own thread. So what do you think? Do you think the light pole with the 20 mile and hour sign will fall over while it's flashing to warm people to slow down for the kids it's about to fall over on? Or the line of cars dropping them off or picking them up?

According to teachers there, the pole wasn't like that two weeks ago so it must be slipping fast, the pole must be almost rotted through.

Pretty good technique to tie it to your house with a piece of plastic tape.

Should I not send my daughter to school tomorrow you think? Should I take the chance? Should I risk her life? It probably won't fall on her. What are the odds?

Betsy Voinovich


Brett Callentine wrote:

suprised you didn't stop by my place yesterday, as we played host to our wonderful Lakewood Fire Department.

two days ago we noticed that the pole in our tree lawn that holds the school speed limit sign was begining to fall over due to rot. so we called the city, the city apparently called C.E.I. who sent out a truck, of which the result was to determine that it was the city's responsibilty, so the fire department was called... why the fire department? That was my question too.

well the fire department stuck around for about an hour until they heard back from the city that "we'll look into it tomorrow."

so they wrapped some caution tape around the pole and left.

nothing to see here... move along people...

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[Stan Austin]

I know which side of that pole I'd walk on

[Charlie Page]

Whoever said a picture is worth a thousand words is right on the money. The only thing holding the pole up are the electrical wires at the top.

This is an obvious safety hazard. I'm confused as to why the City has not taken care of this

[Betsy Voinovich]

Whoever said a picture is worth a thousand words is right on the money. The only thing holding the pole up are the electrical wires at the top.

This is an obvious safety hazard. I'm confused as to why the City has not taken care of this

Hi Charlie,

I'm confused too, and worried. Bret reported this on Wednesday October 5th. The City said that it would be taken care of "tomorrow" on Wednesday, but nothing has happened. That area will be jammed with families tomorrow morning, RIGHT THERE. That's where everybody turns in to the parking lot at Grant school.

Betsy Voinovich

[Edward Favre]

The City is the owner of the speed limit sign and CEI is probably the owner of the pole. This is typical of how CEI is allowing its infastructure to deteriorate.

[Jim DeVito]

Has anyone called the power co about this? Or just the city? I would say I saw a proper response time for something not nearly as serious. See Below...

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10286&p=77434#p77434

[Bret Callentine]

Update...

apparently I had a message on my machine at home (note to self, check messages more often) the city wants to anchor the pole temporarily and then excavate around the pole to pour more concrete. However, I'm not sure what that will do since the pole is rotted at the base. I have a message back with the city and will see if we can't get some resolution quickly.

CEI and the city have been out and both have assured us that even if the pole became completely disconected at the base that the steel cable connecting it to the two adjacent poles would be strong enough to completely support the pole. The firemen who were on scene originally said that they've seen plenty of poles sheered completely off by a car accident that just dangled, suspended by the wire, so they didnt think it was in any danger of falling on anyone. That said, you still won't see me parking my car under it.

P.S. the caution tape wasn't my idea. I thought it was interesting that they thought it was enough of a hazard to put up the tape, but then, told us it wasn't in danger of falling. And also, that the way the caution tape was initially set up, it forced kids to walk out into the street, and under the pole, to get around.

[Betsy Voinovich]

Update...


P.S. the caution tape wasn't my idea. I thought it was interesting that they thought it was enough of a hazard to put up the tape, but then, told us it wasn't in danger of falling. And also, that the way the caution tape was initially set up, it forced kids to walk out into the street, and under the pole, to get around.

Hi Bret,

Yeah, the caution tape was in the wrong place for where it would fall, I didn't really understand it-- It was very neighborly and civic-minded of you to let your banister be used for holding up that pole.

My husband dropped my daughter off today and said that a city truck (or maybe a CEI one? he wasn't paying close attention, no flourescent green shirts) was over checking things out by the pole and that there was a notice that said "caution" on it.

He also said you didn't have to go under the sign at all if you entered from the Franklin side-- so that's probably a good strategy until the sign is fixed. A little extra exercise for walkers.

Betsy Voinovich

[Betsy Voinovich]

The pole is gone! And long before the kids got out.

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These guys were putting new signs on the next pole down the street. I would have taken a picture of the pole being gone but it just looks like the front of Bret's house.

I wonder if they'll put the blinking sign on the new designated pole.

Thanks for getting this done-- City of Lakewood and CEI, I think.

Hopefully Bret will come back and give us the details. I'm so glad I'll be picking up my daughter without having to look at the crazy sign.

Betsy Voinovich

[Betsy Voinovich]

And thanks Observation Deck for giving us a place to share what we're worried about, and what we're relieved about.

Betsy Voinovich

[Bret Callentine]

nice to know that Betsy is watching my house all day, especially with all those break ins.

[Stan Austin]

That's just the front--- NOBODY'S got your back

[Charlie Page]

I'm happy to hear the pole has been safely removed. That must have been some strong CAUTION tape to hold that pole up over the weekend

[Bret Callentine]

Update; just two short years later, the city (or somebody... maybe just big gophers) finally dug a hole for the new pole yesterday.

I'm thinking they'll have the new pole and sign in by late spring, just in time for the school to be demolished.

good work.