Engineering Newsletter - July, 2005

In the JULY NEWSLETTER the need for alternative drive surfaces will be presented. Recently, we were confronted with a request by a Municipal Fire Department to put an access road behind a proposed building and a request from the Planning Department to allow water to naturally flow and keep as much of the site as green as possible. We looked at a number of surfaces that allow water to pass through them such as open grade asphalt, porous concrete pavement, stone pavers and plastic grid systems. The first three allow for water flow but did not meet the second request of additional green area.

The plastic grid system was chosen. The plastic cells are bedding in a stone-soil-sand fill and planted with grass on their surface. The system allows for free flow of surface water into the substrata and add surface detention as water is kept in the grass-soil area of the application. This system also allows for bio-cleaning of the run-off though the natural grass and soil cleaning system.

This approach allowed for a solution that satisfied the needs of diverse concerns, allows for self-cleaning bio-filters, are economical to install and environmentally friendly.

WEB LINK of THE MONTH: www.sitefabric.com/tufftrack_grass_pavers.htm

As always, you can count on McSteen and Associates, a multi-faceted second-generation family business that has been serving Northeast Ohio since 1970 to help you better design your project. The McSteen & Associates Engineering and Surveying Departments will design a quality product, using the experience gathered over many years of dealing with government agencies, in a manner readily accepted by the City Councils, County Engineers Office and the Recorders Office. The management team consisting of Terry Feller, President and Registered Professional Engineer and Surveyor, Tim Feller, Vice President and Registered Professional Surveyor and Debbie Feller CFO and Certified Public Accountant and the 62 employees in the offices in Cuyahoga, Lake, Summit, and Franklin counties will handle your project needs. A new office in western Cuyahoga County has recently been added to allow us to provide even more effective services. Local knowledge of the area, extensive records and experience with the area governments allows McSteen & Associates to go the extra mile to protect your investment.

Whether your needs are Mortgage Location and Boundary Surveys, Elevation Certificate, Commercial and Industrial Surveys or complete Engineering Design we are well staffed to provide the professional product you need. Each project will receive the personal service associated with working with a well-established family owned and operated business.

Humor of the Month:

-The beard of Hans Steininger was the longest in the world in 1567. It was longer than he was tall. While climbing the steps leading to the council chambers in Brunn, Austria, he stepped on the beard, tripped and fell down the stairs to his death.

-As migration approached, two elderly vultures doubted they could make the trip south, so they decided to go by plane. When they arrived they checked their bags but the attendant noticed they were carrying two dead raccoons onto the plane. "Do you wish to check the raccoons with your luggage?" the attendant asked. They replied, "No, thanks, they’re carrion."

-A poor soul worked at a company that made blankets. He lost his job when the company folded.