Perry officials add snow-road alerts to free Nixle cellphone service
PERRY TWP. – Residents now have an avenue to keep an eye on what main streets are receiving winter attention by township road workers.
The new effort launched earlier this month via Nixle alerts residents what streets are being serviced and when for snow and ice treatment.
More: Northwest Perry Township streets are focus of 2021 repaving plan
Nixle is a free service that allows government agencies and safety forces to communicate with the public via cellphone. Perry's original version went online in August 2019. Alerts are sent by text message to folks who sign up.
A priority road list is also being posted as needed on Perry's Facebook page, "Perry Township, Stark County Ohio," when snowfall is deemed to reach a hazardous level.
A townshipwide parking ban — related to an upcoming or current snowstorm — is one example of road service alerts being sent to those signed up to the township's Nixle account, according to road Supervisor John Masalko.
"It starts with the parking bans," said Masalko. "(Obviously), if things are worse and we get 11 or 13 inches of snow, those (Nixle) alerts are going out, too."
More: A nearly $2 million upgrade is planned for Tuscarawas Street W at Perry Drive in fall 2021
Masalko said the first Nixle message sharing road service information was Jan. 16; the day around a foot of snow fell through much of Stark County and Northeast Ohio.
High priority roads in Perry
A few main roads in Perry Township cited by Masalko as "high priority for snow and ice service" are 13th Street SW near Perry High School; Fourth Street NW, Genoa Avenue NW and SW and Jackson Avenue NW.
Road closures and waterline breaks are examples of information that have been shared with the public via Nixle, Masalko said.
The idea to add snow-road updates was initiated by the Perry Township Board of Trustees, which include new members: Matt Miller and Lisa Nelligan.
"The new board (of trustees) wanted more information out there to better communicate with residents," Masalko said.
Trustee Lisa Nelligan said Tuesday that she and Miller have recently toured all township departments and are mulling ways to further Nixle's use.
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"We thought, 'Why aren't we using it more?'" Nelligan said. "It's a way to keep our residents more in the know."
Officials are looking into using Nixle to update followers on vehicle crashes in the township, as well as road detours and closures related to new construction or resurfacing, Nelligan said.
How to receive Nixle messages
Nixle is a free, web-based, community messaging service that sends out instant public announcements or emergency notices to subscribers.
In Perry Township, you can sign up via cellphone by texting PerryTwpOH to 888777.
Specific zip codes can also be sent to the same six-digit code to receive alerts.
Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com.
On Twitter: @sgrazierINDE
This article originally appeared on The Independent: Perry Township using Nixle to alert residents of snowplow service
