Communicating with the people of District 12

DISPATCH

Volume XIV, Issue 3 March 2014 February 28, 2013

Page 4 February 28, 2013

The Ohio Department of Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

John R. KasichGovernor

Myron S. PakushDistrict Deputy Director

Jerry WrayODOT Director

Snow and Ice Experts At It AgainMolly Leonard This winter has proven to be one of the snowiest on record in Ohio. There have been over 40 days this snow and ice season where a measurable amount of snow has fallen at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport since the first snow back in October. In addi-tion, approximately 55-60 inches of snow has fallen in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga coun-ties. Looking back to 1950, there have been only nine times where the Greater Cleveland area has seen more snow in one year, the Northeast Ohio Media Group found when going through daily weather reports. On average, by this point of the year, the Cleve-

land area receives approxi-mately 37 inches of snow and nearly 30 days where a mea-surable amount of snow has been recorded.

Even though schools and businesses have been shut down due to severe weather con-ditions, someone has to make sure all that snow and ice is clear so the roads are safe and passable for the motoring public. Enter the ODOT snow and ice experts. Since early December, the District 12 Maintenance Man-agers, Mechanics and Plow Drivers have been on a schedule that allows ODOT to be staffed

around the clock Monday through Fri-day. They often work 12-hour shifts to make sure the roads are passable and motor-ists can reach their destination safely. The action has been slow and steady throughout the entire winter, putting a sig-nificant dent in resources and the number of hours crews have worked. To date District 12 has used approximately 98,000 tons of salt on the roadways. That’s enough salt to fill near-ly 5 Olympic size swimming pools. Since October, Managers, Mechanics and Driv-ers have worked a combined 88,763 hours. That’s nearly 10 straight years of work! And crews have driven 1,044,666 miles to date. That’s equivalent to driving to the moon and back twice. It’s obvious how hard District 12 has worked to get the snow cleared and keep the roads safe, so everyone can get where they See Snow and Ice Experts Page 2

www.Ohgo.com

District 12 Answers the Call for Help At Recent Blood Drive

Engineer For a Day

Erin Patton-Graziani Winter weather has certainly taken its toll on us all; the American Red Cross has seen its supply dwindle to dangerous levels from lack of donation as a result of cancelled drives due to the harsh winter weather. And the American Red Cross has been putting out calls for all donors of all types to give. On February 18th, thanks to the generous donations from ODOT District 12 staffers, the Red Cross was able to collect 12 pints to be used for area patients in need. February was American Heart Month, and these donations will find their place in someone’s heart and could make the all difference in their life. Thank you again to everyone who donated and for their continued support of the American Red Cross. Watch your calendars for the next blood drive coming soon.

Molly Leonard On Friday, February 21 two local high school students visited the District 12 headquarters for the annual “Engi-neer for a Day” event. Keith Hamilton organized a fun day full of learning about what our engineers do here at ODOT. When the students arrived they were greeted by Keith

and Jim Mihelich of Roadway Ser-vices to teach them about our mainte-nance responsibili-ties and what it’s like on a typical day for him. They

were then taken to the Planning & Engineering Department to learn about bridge design from Dick Walters and get a Microstation Overview from John Grmovsek. After lunch the students had the opportunity to get an overview and tour of the Innerbelt Project from Jason Wise. The day went very smoothly and the students got to learn about what engineers do at ODOT. Thanks to all for con-tributing.

Erin Patton-Graziani ODOT continues to open their hearts and show tre-mendous support for those in need. Completing the 2013 Combined Charitable Cam-paign, the Ohio Department of Transportation raised a total of $317,333. That total contrib-uted to the statewide total of giving of $3,445,240.

Employee participants assisted in reaching the mon-etary goal, increasing over-all payroll deductions and increasing per capita giving from last year. These dona-tions spread across over 1,800 organizations will go to pro-viding valuable, or at times, invaluable services to those in need.

2013 Combined Charitable Campaign Results are In

Page 2 February 28, 2013 February 28, 2013 Page 3

NEWS IN THE MAKING: Around District 12Mark your Calendar:

Customer Kudo Corner District 12 is being recognized by its customers for its excellent customer service. The following are messages received recently in gratitude of ODOT’s hard work! If you’ve received a letter, e-mail, or phone call of thanks, the Dispatch would like to hear about it. Please contact D12.PublicInformation@dot.state.oh.us if you’ve received a Customer Kudo that you would like to share!

The Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 is happy to welcome new employees! Please join us in welcoming new full time permanent employees: Geauga County Automotive Technician, Matthew Baldwin and Office of Business Development Administrator Deborah Green. Also welcome new seasonal employees: Highway Tech-nicians in Cuyahoga County James Rose, Jason Rich-ards, Robert Payne, Jose Marrero, and Todd McAleer.

Karen Savage-

Wanted to pass along that District 3 was very appreciative

of Mary Kirk and wanted us to know that she “really went

out of her way” to hand deliver packets to the District 3

Director’s Office. Myron also thanked Mary on behalf of

District 12 Leadership.

Christine M. Rosa

Daylight Savings: March 9

Snow and Ice Experts, Continued

St. Patrick’s Day: March 17

Coworker Kudo Corner District 12 is being recognized by its customers for its excellent customer service, and now we’re recognizing District employees for their contributions! If you would like to give a coworker a “kudo,” the Dispatch would like to hear about it! Please contact D12.PublicInformation@dot.state.oh.us if you’d like to share a “Coworker Kudo” with all of District 12!

I’ve recently driven the reconstructed State Route 2 through western Lake County. You and your staff are to be commended on a great piece of work. My thanks and appreciation go out to all those involved in making this a much safer and more pleasant road to travel on. I especially like the low level lighting and the sound wall design.

Joe Bellassai

Dear Molly Leonard,

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your

help assisting us with the distracted driving simulator. The

kids really had fun with the system and as you know it was

really well attended. We just wanted you to know that your

generosity helping us is really appreciated. The children

at the school were very engaged in and enlightened by this

experience.

We believe that the City of Strongsville’s D.A.R.E.

Program has proven to be successful for the children of

our city. Thoughtfulness such as shown by you and your

organization gives those working in this program an added

incentive to work even harder in helping our children

Thank you again for your generosity assisting us with this

cool simulator educational event.

Marie A. McManus Strongsville Police Department

First Day of Spring: March 20Food Tasting: March 17

Welcome New Employees

Amanda McFarland On the busy Interstates of Cuyahoga County it’s not uncommon to see traffic back-up during the morning or evening rush hours, however around 7:30 p.m. traffic is typically back up to speed. Around this time on Friday, February 21, Cuyahoga County Transportation Manager Nequinne Chielo was preparing to stop for a cup of coffee at Tiedeman Road off I-480 when she noticed traffic was unusually backed up and motorists were honking and swerving around one particular car. She put her truck into four-wheel drive to pull up next to the vehicle and noticed the female driver appeared to be having a seizure. Nequinne then stopped her truck, got out and ran to the driver’s side of the car to see what was going on.

“I opened her door and went to put my foot on the brake, but I couldn’t get hers out of the way. So I had to put my foot on top of hers to get the car in park,” said Chielo. Once in park she turned the car off, took the keys out of the ignition and called 911. When the ambulance arrived the woman still appeared to be having a seizure and they quickly took her to a nearby hospital. While everyone else seemed angry this car was block-ing traffic, Nequinne knew something wasn’t right and made an unselfish decision to stop and see what was going on. This good deed most certainly helped save this wom-an’s life. Thank you for all you do Nequinne, we are glad to have you as part of our organization!

Transportation Manager Jumps Into Action Yesterday when I picked up the pool car it was buried un-der more than a foot of snow and the parking lot on each side of the car was also covered with over a foot of snow. Tod Hersman was picking up a different pool vehicle and when he saw me he immediately came over and helped unbury the car. I really appreciated the unexpected help from a fellow employee.

Bill Hudec

Cuyahoga Co. Managers,

Thank you and all your HTs for making quick work of the

Weigh-scale to Vrooman Rd. haul. Much appreciated.

LOVEFrank Delguyd

@ODOT_Cleveland got in safe last night and

already traveled safely today!!! Thank you for your

preparation!!! #ODOT #streets #highways

April Thompson

Top of the cap to @ODOT_Cleveland and @CityofC-leveland -- the highways very clear tonight. Chris Tye @TVTye

I just want to say thanks to each and everyone of your plow drivers are doing a great Job thanks ODOT

Raphael

Thanks to all of you for doing such a

great job during yesterday’s snow storm!

Kim LaFleur

From Page 1 they need to go safe and on time. Their hard work and dedi-cation is truly appreciated by all. Now, let’s see what our customers have to say about the great job they’re are doing....

Once again our skilled snow and ice teams have lived up to their reputation. They kept the roads safe for emergency vehicles, holiday travelers and commuters this snow and ice season. Thanks again from all your fans not only within but also outside of ODOT.

Salute to ODOT salt drivers. Well done! Impres-

sive work on 71 tonight. Thank them for me.

Safely home thanks to your crews. Much thanks.

@merlechoate – Chuck Choate

Thanks for your efforts @ODOT_Cleveland plow drivers and everyone involved in trying to clear these roads all winter for us! Thank you.

Karin McKenna @KarinMcKennaCLE

Thanks for all you do ODOT couldn’t make it without you guys.

Daniel McNutt

You guys have done a great job

through this storm and deserve

an honorable Thank You.

Matt @Stix082480

Thanks for the tireless work that you have done to

keep our roads clean and safe.

Matt Norberg

@ODOT_Cleveland

great job on district 12

smooth ride in to work

@ 4am

A Davis @Smurfd45

Page 2 February 28, 2013 February 28, 2013 Page 3

NEWS IN THE MAKING: Around District 12Mark your Calendar:

Customer Kudo Corner District 12 is being recognized by its customers for its excellent customer service. The following are messages received recently in gratitude of ODOT’s hard work! If you’ve received a letter, e-mail, or phone call of thanks, the Dispatch would like to hear about it. Please contact D12.PublicInformation@dot.state.oh.us if you’ve received a Customer Kudo that you would like to share!

The Ohio Department of Transportation District 12 is happy to welcome new employees! Please join us in welcoming new full time permanent employees: Geauga County Automotive Technician, Matthew Baldwin and Office of Business Development Administrator Deborah Green. Also welcome new seasonal employees: Highway Tech-nicians in Cuyahoga County James Rose, Jason Rich-ards, Robert Payne, Jose Marrero, and Todd McAleer.

Karen Savage-

Wanted to pass along that District 3 was very appreciative

of Mary Kirk and wanted us to know that she “really went

out of her way” to hand deliver packets to the District 3

Director’s Office. Myron also thanked Mary on behalf of

District 12 Leadership.

Christine M. Rosa

Daylight Savings: March 9

Snow and Ice Experts, Continued

St. Patrick’s Day: March 17

Coworker Kudo Corner District 12 is being recognized by its customers for its excellent customer service, and now we’re recognizing District employees for their contributions! If you would like to give a coworker a “kudo,” the Dispatch would like to hear about it! Please contact D12.PublicInformation@dot.state.oh.us if you’d like to share a “Coworker Kudo” with all of District 12!

I’ve recently driven the reconstructed State Route 2 through western Lake County. You and your staff are to be commended on a great piece of work. My thanks and appreciation go out to all those involved in making this a much safer and more pleasant road to travel on. I especially like the low level lighting and the sound wall design.

Joe Bellassai

Dear Molly Leonard,

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your

help assisting us with the distracted driving simulator. The

kids really had fun with the system and as you know it was

really well attended. We just wanted you to know that your

generosity helping us is really appreciated. The children

at the school were very engaged in and enlightened by this

experience.

We believe that the City of Strongsville’s D.A.R.E.

Program has proven to be successful for the children of

our city. Thoughtfulness such as shown by you and your

organization gives those working in this program an added

incentive to work even harder in helping our children

Thank you again for your generosity assisting us with this

cool simulator educational event.

Marie A. McManus Strongsville Police Department

First Day of Spring: March 20Food Tasting: March 17

Welcome New Employees

Amanda McFarland On the busy Interstates of Cuyahoga County it’s not uncommon to see traffic back-up during the morning or evening rush hours, however around 7:30 p.m. traffic is typically back up to speed. Around this time on Friday, February 21, Cuyahoga County Transportation Manager Nequinne Chielo was preparing to stop for a cup of coffee at Tiedeman Road off I-480 when she noticed traffic was unusually backed up and motorists were honking and swerving around one particular car. She put her truck into four-wheel drive to pull up next to the vehicle and noticed the female driver appeared to be having a seizure. Nequinne then stopped her truck, got out and ran to the driver’s side of the car to see what was going on.

“I opened her door and went to put my foot on the brake, but I couldn’t get hers out of the way. So I had to put my foot on top of hers to get the car in park,” said Chielo. Once in park she turned the car off, took the keys out of the ignition and called 911. When the ambulance arrived the woman still appeared to be having a seizure and they quickly took her to a nearby hospital. While everyone else seemed angry this car was block-ing traffic, Nequinne knew something wasn’t right and made an unselfish decision to stop and see what was going on. This good deed most certainly helped save this wom-an’s life. Thank you for all you do Nequinne, we are glad to have you as part of our organization!

Transportation Manager Jumps Into Action Yesterday when I picked up the pool car it was buried un-der more than a foot of snow and the parking lot on each side of the car was also covered with over a foot of snow. Tod Hersman was picking up a different pool vehicle and when he saw me he immediately came over and helped unbury the car. I really appreciated the unexpected help from a fellow employee.

Bill Hudec

Cuyahoga Co. Managers,

Thank you and all your HTs for making quick work of the

Weigh-scale to Vrooman Rd. haul. Much appreciated.

LOVEFrank Delguyd

@ODOT_Cleveland got in safe last night and

already traveled safely today!!! Thank you for your

preparation!!! #ODOT #streets #highways

April Thompson

Top of the cap to @ODOT_Cleveland and @CityofC-leveland -- the highways very clear tonight. Chris Tye @TVTye

I just want to say thanks to each and everyone of your plow drivers are doing a great Job thanks ODOT

Raphael

Thanks to all of you for doing such a

great job during yesterday’s snow storm!

Kim LaFleur

From Page 1 they need to go safe and on time. Their hard work and dedi-cation is truly appreciated by all. Now, let’s see what our customers have to say about the great job they’re are doing....

Once again our skilled snow and ice teams have lived up to their reputation. They kept the roads safe for emergency vehicles, holiday travelers and commuters this snow and ice season. Thanks again from all your fans not only within but also outside of ODOT.

Salute to ODOT salt drivers. Well done! Impres-

sive work on 71 tonight. Thank them for me.

Safely home thanks to your crews. Much thanks.

@merlechoate – Chuck Choate

Thanks for your efforts @ODOT_Cleveland plow drivers and everyone involved in trying to clear these roads all winter for us! Thank you.

Karin McKenna @KarinMcKennaCLE

Thanks for all you do ODOT couldn’t make it without you guys.

Daniel McNutt

You guys have done a great job

through this storm and deserve

an honorable Thank You.

Matt @Stix082480

Thanks for the tireless work that you have done to

keep our roads clean and safe.

Matt Norberg

@ODOT_Cleveland

great job on district 12

smooth ride in to work

@ 4am

A Davis @Smurfd45

Communicating with the people of District 12

DISPATCH

Volume XIV, Issue 3 March 2014 February 28, 2013

Page 4 February 28, 2013

The Ohio Department of Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

John R. KasichGovernor

Myron S. PakushDistrict Deputy Director

Jerry WrayODOT Director

Snow and Ice Experts At It AgainMolly Leonard This winter has proven to be one of the snowiest on record in Ohio. There have been over 40 days this snow and ice season where a measurable amount of snow has fallen at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport since the first snow back in October. In addi-tion, approximately 55-60 inches of snow has fallen in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga coun-ties. Looking back to 1950, there have been only nine times where the Greater Cleveland area has seen more snow in one year, the Northeast Ohio Media Group found when going through daily weather reports. On average, by this point of the year, the Cleve-

land area receives approxi-mately 37 inches of snow and nearly 30 days where a mea-surable amount of snow has been recorded.

Even though schools and businesses have been shut down due to severe weather con-ditions, someone has to make sure all that snow and ice is clear so the roads are safe and passable for the motoring public. Enter the ODOT snow and ice experts. Since early December, the District 12 Maintenance Man-agers, Mechanics and Plow Drivers have been on a schedule that allows ODOT to be staffed

around the clock Monday through Fri-day. They often work 12-hour shifts to make sure the roads are passable and motor-ists can reach their destination safely. The action has been slow and steady throughout the entire winter, putting a sig-nificant dent in resources and the number of hours crews have worked. To date District 12 has used approximately 98,000 tons of salt on the roadways. That’s enough salt to fill near-ly 5 Olympic size swimming pools. Since October, Managers, Mechanics and Driv-ers have worked a combined 88,763 hours. That’s nearly 10 straight years of work! And crews have driven 1,044,666 miles to date. That’s equivalent to driving to the moon and back twice. It’s obvious how hard District 12 has worked to get the snow cleared and keep the roads safe, so everyone can get where they See Snow and Ice Experts Page 2

www.Ohgo.com

District 12 Answers the Call for Help At Recent Blood Drive

Engineer For a Day

Erin Patton-Graziani Winter weather has certainly taken its toll on us all; the American Red Cross has seen its supply dwindle to dangerous levels from lack of donation as a result of cancelled drives due to the harsh winter weather. And the American Red Cross has been putting out calls for all donors of all types to give. On February 18th, thanks to the generous donations from ODOT District 12 staffers, the Red Cross was able to collect 12 pints to be used for area patients in need. February was American Heart Month, and these donations will find their place in someone’s heart and could make the all difference in their life. Thank you again to everyone who donated and for their continued support of the American Red Cross. Watch your calendars for the next blood drive coming soon.

Molly Leonard On Friday, February 21 two local high school students visited the District 12 headquarters for the annual “Engi-neer for a Day” event. Keith Hamilton organized a fun day full of learning about what our engineers do here at ODOT. When the students arrived they were greeted by Keith

and Jim Mihelich of Roadway Ser-vices to teach them about our mainte-nance responsibili-ties and what it’s like on a typical day for him. They

were then taken to the Planning & Engineering Department to learn about bridge design from Dick Walters and get a Microstation Overview from John Grmovsek. After lunch the students had the opportunity to get an overview and tour of the Innerbelt Project from Jason Wise. The day went very smoothly and the students got to learn about what engineers do at ODOT. Thanks to all for con-tributing.

Erin Patton-Graziani ODOT continues to open their hearts and show tre-mendous support for those in need. Completing the 2013 Combined Charitable Cam-paign, the Ohio Department of Transportation raised a total of $317,333. That total contrib-uted to the statewide total of giving of $3,445,240.

Employee participants assisted in reaching the mon-etary goal, increasing over-all payroll deductions and increasing per capita giving from last year. These dona-tions spread across over 1,800 organizations will go to pro-viding valuable, or at times, invaluable services to those in need.

2013 Combined Charitable Campaign Results are In