From Public Works:

News Release

DATE: January 6, 2010

CITY OF CHAMPAIGN PREPARES FOR WINTER STORM

Champaign — The City of Champaign Public Works Department is mobilizing resources in preparation for the winter storm that is forecasted to hit the area early Thursday through Friday. The storm is expected to begin between 1:00 to 3:00 a.m. Thursday morning with possible snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches before ending late Thursday or early Friday. In response, a full Public Works crew is scheduled to report for work at 10:00 p.m. tonight and staff will work continuous 12-hours shifts as needed until City streets and sidewalks have been cleared according to the goals outlined in the Snow and Ice Plan. Departmental personnel are currently checking equipment and expect to have all 14 snow response vehicles ready for this event. Staff will continue to monitor weather forecasts and will adjust plans accordingly should the timing of the storm change.

Crews will focus initially on plowing because the current low temperatures impede the effectiveness of using salt to assist in response efforts. If and when conditions become favorable for using deicing chemicals, the City has a full inventory of salt and calcium chloride available. More information on the City’s Snow and Ice Plan including details on how work activities and City streets are prioritized during events and response time goals can be found on the City’s website. Citizens may also call Public Works Operations at 403-4770 with questions or concerns.

In the event of two or more inches of accumulation, the Public Works Director has the authority to activate Emergency Snow Routes and the Sidewalk Snow Removal Ordinance. Citizens are encouraged to monitor the City’s website (www.ci.champaign.il.us), CGTV Cable Channel 5 and local media for information about activations and deactivations. Whenever possible, Citizens are encouraged to keep City streets free of parked vehicles during this time to expedite plowing efforts and to utilize alternate off-street locations (such as the Hill Street Parking Deck in Downtown) in lieu of parking on the street.

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Public Works staff will continue to proactively monitor forecasts and to respond in a timely and efficient manner to threats of inclement weather with the goal of providing for the safety and well-being of the City’s citizens and visitors. Citizens are reminded to drive cautiously, plan ahead, allow for extra travel time, travel with an updated winter emergency kit throughout the season and to stay updated and informed by tuning in to local media and accessing the City’s website (www.ci.champaign.il.us), CGTV Cable Channel 5 and NOAA’s National Weather Service (www.nws.noaa.gov) for updated information.

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Christmas Tree Pick Up follows the same schedule as leaf and spring pick ups, which is to say, by zone.

Here’s the announcement by Public Works:

CITY OF CHAMPAIGN CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION

This year, the City of Champaign Christmas Tree Collection program will run from January 4 through

January 15, 2010.  This collection is available to all residential properties in the City of Champaign

within City limits.  This program provides an opportunity for residents to recycle their natural

Christmas tree at no charge.

City residents may participate by simply placing their tree within four feet of the curb by 6:00 a.m. on

their scheduled collection date.  Residents should refer to the map and schedule below to determine

their collection days.

Participants must remove decorations, stands, and plastic bags before setting their tree out for

collection.  The collected trees are taken to the Landscape Recycling Center where they are chipped

and made into garden mulch.  Any foreign objects left on the trees may be missed and could

contaminate the mulch.

Zone Collection Days

O-1 Mondays: January 4 and January 11

O-2 Tuesdays: January 5 and January 12

O-3 Wednesdays: January 6 and January 13

O-4 Thursdays: January 7 and January 14

O-5 Fridays:   January 8 and January 15

B-1 Mondays: January 4 and January 11

B-2 Tuesdays: January 5 and January 12

B-3 Wednesdays: January 6 and January 13

B-4 Thursdays: January 7 and January 14

B-5 Fridays:   January 8 and January 15

Information on this program can be found on the City’s web site at www.ci.champaign.il.us and on the

City’s television site, CGTV-Cable Channel 5. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for an

automatic e-mail notification of this and all future yard waste collections at the City’s web site.  Any

questions about the program can be answered by calling the Operations Division at 217.403.4777.

Trees may also be taken to the Landscape Recycling Center at 1210 E. University Avenue in Urbana

for free disposal through January 29, 2010.  Residents may call the Center at 217.344.5323 with any

questions regarding operating hours.

HAPPY TUESDAYS! in Downtown Champaign

On June 30th, 40 North brings street performance to the pavement of Downtown Champaign in conjunction with Happy Tuesday! You’ll see music, dancers and a Dance Party in front of Boltini & Guido’s. Anyone can participate in Dance Party it’s all ages and all fun! It only lasts for 10 minutes so don’t miss this opportunity to get your groove on.

5-6pm - Joe Aslin, harmonica @ corner of Main & Neil
6-6:10 - Dance Party @ Neil & Main (outside Boltini & Guido’s)
6:10-7pm - Dancers, Jacqueline Kinsman, Anna Marks and (One Main Plaza)
7-8pm - Jason Bentley, guitar @ Taylor Street Plaza
7-8pm - Dancers, Jacqueline Kinsman and Anna Marks performing in conjunction with Jason Bentley

There will also be…

Karaoke:
Boltini
Memphis on Main 9pm - G force
Bentley’s 9:30om - Rock Star
Clark Bar 9pm - Paul Faber

Mind, Body, Spirit:
Carmons - Tarot Card Reading 5-9pm

Kids & Family:
Springer Cultural Center - Model Rocket Club is meeting 7-9pm

Open Mic:
Cowboy Monkey 10pm with Mike Ingram

Game Playing:
Boltini Lounge 7pm
Jupiters - half off billards

Live Music:
Boltini Lounge - DJ Motion 10pm

Food & Drink:
Memphis on Main - $3 Big Fat Bottles, $6.50 Mason Jars
Jim Gould - half off appetizers
Boltini - Crazy 8 and half price appetizers, $3.50 Rum Runners from 4-6pm
Radio Maria - half off all wines by the glass
Bacaro - U of I students receive 3-course pre-fixed menu with a class of wine for $25 from 5-7pm
Jupiters - half off large pizza, $1.50 Miller Lite & Miller High Life