Collaboration between Claridon Township and University Hospitals will result in the installation of a street light at an increasingly busy intersection.
Collaboration between Claridon Township and University Hospitals will result in the installation of a street light at an increasingly busy intersection.
Claridon Township Trustee Jonathan Tiber has been working with UH and Cleveland Electric Illuminating for several months to make the intersection of Aquilla Road and Ravenwood Drive safer for UH Geauga Medical Center employees and visitors, those using the recycle station recently opened to the public, county employees and wildlife.
“A resident called me twice saying the corner of Ravenwood and Aquilla is very dangerous,” Tiber said Jan. 2.
The Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste District facility is open 24/7 for residents to deposit recyclable items, he said.
During the dark hours, the intersection sees a lot of traffic and deer often cross the road there, he said.
Tiber started his campaign for an LED light by calling CEI. He learned there is already a pole there powering the UH sign, so installing a light would cost $1,676, with electricity costing $5 to $7 during the summer and $14 to $15 during the winter, he said.
Tiber also contacted the residents closest to the intersection to see if they objected to having a light on that pole.
Not only did they say they were okay with it, they mentioned it is a high deer traffic area, so the light would save deer and vehicles, he said.
Besides hundreds of workers at the hospital and the Geauga County offices turning out of Ravenwood onto Aquilla, Aquilla is a commonly-used shortcut for travelers between Chardon and Burton, and, at that intersection, the speed limit is 45 mph.
Tiber’s next step was to contact Bill Rice of UH Institutional Relations and Development and explain what township trustees wanted to do.
“UH is big on collaborating in Geauga County,” he said. “UH is home to Claridon Township. They were excited and offered to pay for half the installation.”
Both roads are county roads, but the township is responsible for all its street lights regardless of what roads they are on, he said, adding he contacted the Geauga County Engineer’s Office.
“They simply informed me on how to proceed,” he said. “They have nothing to do with it.”
UH agreed to cut a check for its half of the installation to the township and the township would pay CEI for the work, which Tiber said should occur in a couple of months.
Rice said the hospital wants to partner with the community.
“We’re glad for the opportunity to collaborate with Claridon Township for the good of our employees and the residents,” he said Tuesday. “We have 1,000 employees at the hospital using (state Route) 44 and Aquilla. Safety is a high priority for us.”
Tiber sent a letter to the COO of UH thanking him.
“Illuminating the intersection speaks to safety for not just Claridon residents and Geauga hospital workers and visitors, but also for county workers as Claridon is now home to many county agencies,” he wrote. “We are proud to have Geauga hospital in Claridon and very much enjoy the strong relationship we have with the hospital.”
