Residents with special medical needs receive snow-removal priority
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The time has come once again for residents with special medical needs to register with the Bella Vista Property Owners Association's Public Works Division to receive priority snow removal this winter. The association's street department is currently developing snow clearance routes, and needs updated information from residents who receive regular medical treatment, such as chemotherapy, dialysis or oxygen delivery, according to Kirk Allman, POA streets superintendent. Registration forms can be found in the October issue of The Village Voice or can be picked up and filled out at the Public Works'main office, 51 Huntley Lane. Residents are asked to be specific about which medical service is being administered and the day and time the services are normally scheduled, Allman said. This way, the street maintenance department can assess which streets need to be cleared first in the case of inclement weather, he explained.
The roads leading to these residences are given special attention to ensure the continuation of any medical treatment, he said.
"We're going to make sure to get to those people."
The street department breaks the 500-plus miles of Bella Vista roads into about eight routes, he said.
Each worker is notified if there is a special medical situation on their route, and that street is cleared first, he added. This helps to clear the way for emergency service vehicles or medical deliveries, he explained.
The roads are usually cleared in the early morning, before 6 a. m., Allman said. This is the high traffic time for people leaving for doctor's appointments, he explained.
The POA has been creating snow removal priority routes for more than seven years, and it is important to keep the information current, Allman said.
Registrations will be accepted all winter long, but the sooner one registers, the better, because routes are already being formed, he noted.
For more information, call the Public Works office at 855-5060. Hours of operation are from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Allman reminds any resident experiencing a medical emergency to call 911 or 855-2771. The street department merely clears the way for help to arrive, he said.
"We're going to do all we can."
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