Rural Infrastructure thread

[Bocephous]

There is no contract with our township but, by default, the state police will respond to emergencies. The response time can be an hour or more though. The same is true for the VFD in a neighboring township. A few years ago, a neighboring barn burned to the ground before help arrived.

Private EMT services are available, but again, the response times can be lengthy. Most folks around here either drive themselves 30 miles to the hospital, or have a friend do it.

Yes, to some extent, we're SOL.

Several years ago in January my wife heard the exterior alarm sounding off around 11PM at my dad's house up the road. I went to investigate, anticipating a sensor had fallen off a garage window. Following footprints in the snow I found his front door ajar.

Glock was already out, I went up the steps and looked inside to see a man lying propped against the chimney in the mudroom. I ordered him to sprawl on his belly, arms extended, to which he stood up and faced me. First trigger on the Glock was then pulled flush with the second, center of his chest being my focus. He said, "You ain't the effin cops." He then sat down on the homemade bench next to him. That probably saved his life.

I called 911 with my left hand, keeping eyes on him, and told them they'd better get here quick as I didn't know if he was alone (tunnel vision, one set of prints, duh). After about 20 minutes I called my wife and told her to call 911 as I was starting to get chilly. All the time the 21 year old drunk who had just crashed his car (information discovered days later) alternately cried and cussed me out. But he never stood up. After 45 minutes the state police showed up and I handed the idiot off to them.

 

[LHF2019]

We have always had power outages here and last few years seems to be whenever the wind blows. Wife ever since moving here has wanted a generator. I guess my welder generator running extension cords doesn't do it for her. I have always wanted to get a PTO generator. Already have the tractor but would also require the needed junction box. When it was a dairy and power was out for hours, there was one generator that was borrowed between 4 or so farms. So go help them then move to next farm. If the generator made it to our farm it was hooked up in the silo room and ran backwards. Not proper or safe but just how it was done.

5 years ago I caught people wandering through my field and talked with them and learned that Penelec was looking to build a substation and was researching locations. Ended up in talks with them over the course of a year. Then an hour before the next meeting it was canceled with them telling me they didn't need the ground. Couple years ago see a land transfer go through with Penelec being a buyer. Assumed they were building it on that ground which is next to our other farm. Fast forward to a couple months ago talking to my cousin. Copy and paste from another site.

Last week while getting a piece of equipment from my cousin I learned he is the recipient of the substation. That puts the location of it back to where I will directly benefit from it. Supposedly there were environmental issues on my side. He is unhappy with the loss of the land which is some of his best for this area, however he is after the same thing I would have been ZERO power loss which was a lot this weekend and becoming all to common again. Several hours out on Saturday and at least 3 times on Sunday brief losses. Several weeks ago they were drilling in his field and this winter saw recent survey markers so wife and I were curious what he up to. Never know with him. 7 acres of ground sold for the substation. He will retain ownership of the road to the substation with them maintaining it. Reason, He does not want them to have the ability to kick him off using it for field access and dumping on it. Also they are building a 2 acre parking lot/staging area at his farm which he is leasing to them and then will have that once they are done. No power loss electricity can't come soon enough. I'll bet still 5 some years out. I will have to do some drone shots when it gets going.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Several years ago in January my wife heard the exterior alarm sounding off around 11PM at my dad's house up the road. I went to investigate, anticipating a sensor had fallen off a garage window. Following footprints in the snow I found his front door ajar.

Glock was already out, I went up the steps and looked inside to see a man lying propped against the chimney in the mudroom. I ordered him to sprawl on his belly, arms extended, to which he stood up and faced me. First trigger on the Glock was then pulled flush with the second, center of his chest being my focus. He said, "You ain't the effin cops." He then sat down on the homemade bench next to him. That probably saved his life.

I called 911 with my left hand, keeping eyes on him, and told them they'd better get here quick as I didn't know if he was alone (tunnel vision, one set of prints, duh). After about 20 minutes I called my wife and told her to call 911 as I was starting to get chilly. All the time the 21 year old drunk who had just crashed his car (information discovered days later) alternately cried and cussed me out. But he never stood up. After 45 minutes the state police showed up and I handed the idiot off to them.

It does happen around her, but thankfully, not often.

In my case, it would be a Sig.

 

[ultrarunner]

I live in a very rural township that is seeing an influx of retirees from eastern cities. I attend township meetings regularly and always get a kick out of the complaints raised by these transplanted city folk. No trash pickup, no dedicated fire or police departments, little or no maintenance on back roads, poor cellular service, etc. are the usuals.

The response from the township supervisors is always the same. The local taxes are around 10% of what they were paying in the city.

Eventually it’s a numbers game and transplants become supervisors and small levies start being added…

The mindset of many urban dwellers is to make a big enough fuss to force response or change… at least in my experience.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Eventually it’s a numbers game and transplants become supervisors and small levies start being added…

The mindset of many urban dwellers is to make a big enough fuss to force response or change… at least in my experience.

Yes, I've seen this happen myself. Fortunately, by the time the transplants work their way into positions of authority, they have acclimated to country living and low taxes. Time seems to mellow their desire to spend other peoples money, as well as their own. At least that's what I see around here. I'm sure this varies with location though. YMMV

 

[LouNY]

I've had a few get upset with me, when I have suggested they trot their worthless carcasses back to where they just got run out of.

 

[ponytug]

I've had a few get upset with me, when I have suggested they trot their worthless carcasses back to where they just got run out of.

I can't imagine why...

 

[paulsharvey]

Saw this one some plans; not my county, but where 75% of my work is:
Fire Department Note:
Fire department access road shall be unobstructed 20 feet wide, stabalized surface to support 80,000 lbs and provide turnaround for a 50 ft Fire apparatus (NFPA 1, HAP 16).


Its a relatively small, commercial property, but just figured id share that.

 

[ponytug]

Not too different from what our local fire department requires (NFPA standard?);

II. Road Design

A. Minimum Clear Width: The minimum clear width of the fire department access roads shall be 20 feet. Modifications to the design or width of a fire access road, or additional access road(s) may be required when the fire code official determines that access to the site or a portion thereof may become compromised due to emergency operations or nearby natural or manmade hazards (flood prone areas, railway crossings, bridge failures, hazardous material-related incidents, etc.). The width of the secondary access roads may be reduced to less than 20 feet provided turnouts are installed adjacent to the roadway every 500 feet with a minimum dimension of 10 feet wide and 75 feet long or as otherwise determined by the fire official code.

B. Access and Loading: Facilities, buildings, or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by way of an asphalt, concrete, or other approved drive surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing at least 75,000 pounds (34,050 kg) or as otherwise determined by the Fire Code Official.

C. Minimum Clear Height: Vertical clearance over required vehicular access roads and driveways shall be 13’6”.

D. Grade: Maximum grade shall not exceed 15% (6.75 degrees).

E. Turn Radius (Circulating): The minimum outside turning radius is 42 feet for required, circulating, access roadways. A greater radius of up to 60 feet may be required where the Fire Code Official determines that ladder truck access is required (See AERIAL FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS).

*Circulating refers to travel along a roadway without dead ends.

F. Turning Radius (Cul-de-sacs): The minimum outside turning radius is 36 feet for cul-de-sacs. Use of cul-de-sacs is not acceptable where it is determined by the Fire Code Official that ladder truck access is required, unless greater turning radius is provided.

G. Turnarounds: Turnarounds are required for all dead-end roadways with a length in excess of 150 feet. The turnaround details show in this document are intended to provide a general design concept only. Modifications of variations of these designs may be approved by the Fire Code Official on a case-by-case basis. All turnaround designs submitted for fire department review shall meet all previously stated requirements.

 

[ultrarunner]

Not possible with even some old city streets but if FD can’t access it moves on to the next…

 

[BigBlue1]

Speaking of infrastructure... Just returned from a weeklong vacation in Missouri. I live in MN. One thing that was very different about the roads in the Ozarks area is that they are very much "built on the topography". I suspect that due to the rocky ground it would be quite expensive to grade out hills and make wider roads there. But the very steep grades up & down with a "looking at the sky going up" and "crest the hill and now you're dropping" situation is something I've never encountered in a ton of driving across many other portions of the US and Canada. Lots of opportunity for surprises. Down there it was everywhere on county and state highways. Plus the narrow lanes with zero shoulders was a little odd. I know that is more normal in other parts of the US, especially further east due to the age of roads and topography. Driving those roads was (mostly) fun on my motorcycle but less fun pulling my 36' 5th wheel RV.

 

[ponytug]

@BigBlue1 roads like those remind me of the student driving handbook advice of always pulling to the roadside when cresting hills.

I hope that you had fun in the Ozarks.

All the best, Peter