Do the BRIGHT Thing While Walking or Biking

Public Safety officials are asking pedestrians and bicyclists to "Do the Bright Thing" by being clearly visible while walking or biking through our community!

The Town of Greenville is requesting every pedestrian and bicyclist to be clearly visible on public roadways. This request comes after reports of pedestrians out after dark, wearing dark clothing and not being visible to motorists. It is our hope that by providing this public education we can prevent accidents and injuries by encouraging pedestrians and bicyclists to be visible.

In addition to wearing bright colors, becoming more "visible" can be achieved in the following ways:

Reflective Clothing: At least four (4) square inches of the outer layer of the pedestrian's clothing has reflective material that is visible from up to 500 feet. The reflective clothing should be visible from the front and back when headlights are shining in the direction of the pedestrian.

Reflectors: The pedestrian is equipped with reflectors or reflective tape with a diameter of at least two (2) inches of surface area that is visible from up to 500 feet. The reflectors should be visible from the front and back when headlights are shining in the direction of the pedestrian.

Flashlights: A pedestrian has a flashlight that is lit and worn or carried, and is visible from a distance of up to 500 feet; also that is lit and worn or carried by the pedestrian that is red in color that is visible from a distance of up to 500 feet behind the pedestrian.

Parent & Guardian Responsibility:  Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that their children are wearing the appropriate attire for their safety and the safety of others. Also, remember that everyone on the road after dark should follow the minimal visibility guidelines stated above. If a motorist sees only some members of your group (because others are not sufficiently visible), this presents a substantial risk of accident and/or injury that can be avoided. Public safety is key!

Public safety personnel hope this educational opportunity helps keep pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists safe, while allowing everyone to enjoy the beautiful weather. Please: do the BRIGHT thing!

Greenville Earns Tree City USA Award

Greenville was named a Tree City USA again for 2018 by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of our commitment to effective urban forestry management.  Greenville has been consecutively recognized as a Tree City USA community since 2001.

The Town achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation.  "Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education.

Trees provide multiple benefits to a community when properly planted and maintained.  They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among other benefits.

More information on the program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

About the Arbor Day Foundation:  The Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plan, nurture, and celebrate trees. 

SHARE the Road - Pedestrian Safety Reminders

According to AAA.com, Memorial Day is when the 100 deadliest days of the year begin for drivers - and increasingly pedestrians and bicyclists. Sharing the road is the responsibility of all users!

Did you know the number of pedestrian fatalities in the United States (U.S.) increased substantially over the past five years, while at the same time, total traffic deaths increased by about six (6) percent.

Do you know how to walk safely on a road without sidewalks? Do you know Wisconsin has rules (statutes) regarding walking on the road?

Let's start with the statutes and some definitions. Someone walking is considered a pedestrian and Wisconsin State Statutes define a pedestrian as:

• 340.01(43) "Pedestrian" means any person afoot or any person in a wheelchair, either manually or mechanically propelled, or other low-powered, mechanically propelled vehicle designed specifically for use by a physically disabled person, but does not include any person using an electric personal assistive mobility device.

And a vehicle as:

• 340.01(74) "Vehicle" means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except railroad trains. A snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle, and an electric personal assistive mobility device shall not be considered a vehicle except for purposes made specifically applicable by statute.

Put them together on a roadway and you have "traffic":

• 340.01(68) "Traffic" means pedestrians, ridden or herded or driven animals, vehicles and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any highway for the purpose of travel.

Yes, pedestrians are traffic. Even though you are traffic you do not follow the same rules as the vehicles do. Pedestrians on roads without sidewalks are to walk on the left side of the road. The statue reads:

• 346.28: Pedestrians to walk on left side of highway; pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of electric personal assistive mobility devices on sidewalks. (1) Any pedestrian traveling along and upon a highway other than upon a sidewalk shall travel on and along the left side of the highway and upon meeting a vehicle shall, if practicable, move to the extreme outer limit of the traveled portion of the highway.

To sum it up, as a pedestrian you have a right to use the road. When using the road you need to walk on the left and move over if there is other traffic coming toward you. These are the rules and following them can help keep you safe!

Annual Town Meeting - Tuesday, April 16, 2019

If you want to learn about Town services, accomplishments in 2018 and projects & activities planned for 2019, this is the meeting to attend.

The Annual Town Meeting is unique to town governments in Wisconsin; as it is required to be conducted per State Statute.

Annual Town Meeting

• Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
• Greenville Town Hall - W6860 Parkview Drive.

All are welcome to attend the meeting!

Warmer Weather - Auto Maintenance

When the weather turns from frozen to fantastic, the hoses come out and it is time to return our cars from dirty grey to their original colors. When you decide to wash and maintain your car, please consider the following:

Washing your car: It is always nice to go to local commercial car washes; it supports local businesses. However when the sun is shining on summer days you can find a lot of people outside washing their vehicles. With so many of us washing our cars at home we need to make sure we are making smart choices and not harming the environment. 

1. Wash cars on lawn.
2. Wash cars on gravel driveway.
3.  Use biodegradable soap.

Oil Changes: Did you know one (1) quart of oil can contaminate up to 250,000 gallons of water?  Motor oil is insoluble in water and has a negative impact on local fish and wildlife and vegetation Here are some recommendations:

1. Motor oil should NOT be disposed of in sanitary sewer, storm water drains, or by dumping at an unauthorized site.
2. Motor oil can be properly disposed of at the Greenville Public Works facility. 

To learn more about how you can help protect our surface waters, visit the Wisconsin DNR's website:  https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/StormWater/learn_more/pollution_prevent.html