Public Works

Public Works Public Works

The Public Works Department provides for the operation and maintenance of the Village's infrastructure systems; to include: streets, water, sewer, and stormwater. The Public Works Department also contributes to park maintenance, refuse pickup and forestry.

Mailbox Placement & Replacement Policy

Installing a Mailbox

This is a guide to residents on proper installation of a mailbox as well as other mailbox information. All mailboxes need to be installed according the United States Postal Guidelines, which are detailed below.

All Mailboxes

Mailbox door must be behind the back edge of the curb for streets with curb and gutter, or behind the gravel edge on streets without curb and gutter.
Mailbox height should be 36” from the top of the curb to the bottom of the mailbox, or 42” from the top of the gravel to the bottom of the mailbox.
An acceptable support for a mailbox includes treated wood post 4” x 4” square, round post 4.5” in diameter, or soft metal 1.5” to 2.5” in diameter. Posts should be embedded no more than 24” into the ground and compacted with sand or gravel, not concrete.
Decorative mailboxes that have massive supports such as telephone type pole sections, heavy metal posts, concrete posts, brick or stone posts, brick planters, antique farm equipment, or other similar objects are prohibited because they do not meet federal breakaway standards. Any supports must be designed so that if struck, it will bend away from the striking vehicle to prevent severe damage to the vehicle or injury to the traveling public. Property owners may be held liable for injury or damages for mailboxes that do not meet postal guidelines.
Street number should be posted on your mailbox and your house.
Mailbox should state “Approved by U.S. Post Office Dept.”

Mailbox Complaints

If your mailbox is damaged as a result of municipal operations please call the Department of Public Works at 635-2122, #221 to report it. The Director of Public Works will investigate all damaged mailbox reports that are received.

The Village will install a temporary mailbox until repair/replacement is completed. For damage that occurs during the winter months, temporary repairs or mailbox will be put in place until the snow has melted and frost is out. The Village will retrieve any temporary mailbox by May 15th from any residence that did not have a properly installed mailbox.

If damaged occurred to your mailbox and it was not installed according to postal standards the Village will not be responsible for any repairs or replacement. Mailboxes that lean toward the street past the back edge of the curb or that has decorative items that cross the back edge of the curb are considered to be not compliant. In addition, the Village will not be responsible for damage to mailboxes that have inadequate materials such as rotted wood posts. Cracked or rotted posts will fail when snow from the plow pushes against the mail box.

If damage occurs to a properly installed mailbox (items 1 – 3 above) due to municipal operations the Village will be responsible for the repairs to include labor, and the cost of materials up to $100.00. The homeowner is responsible for any costs that exceed $100. The Village will not provide labor for mailbox posts other than wood or soft metal as indicated in number 3 above.

The homeowner will be responsible for repair/replacement of designer or decorative mailboxes. If damage occurs to a non standard, designer or decorative mailbox (see number 3 above) due to the fault of the Village the Village will reimburse the homeowner for repairs/replacement up to $100.00.

Village staff will survey and document mailboxes in October of each year for improperly installed mailboxes. Should a mailbox be improperly installed or be of defective material the Department of Public Works will notify the homeowner in writing that their mailbox is in need of repair. If the homeowner fails to make repairs the Village will not be responsible for any damage that may occur.

Reminder

Homeowners are reminded to clear snow away from the mailbox area after each plowing. Snow that remains in front of the mailboxes will get compacted by post office vehicles and make subsequent plowing less effective.

Forestry

The urban forest of Poynette provides a multitude of aesthetic, economical, and environmental benefits to citizens, businesses, and visitors alike. Beyond shade and beauty, trees also have practical benefits; provide public services and monetary value. Unlike other public infrastructure components, properly planted and maintained trees increase in value over time.

Urban Forestry Plan and Tree Inventory Analysis

To help ascertain the state of Poynette’s urban forest, Bluestem Forestry Consulting Inc. completed a public tree inventory along street rights-of-way, as well as at seven parks during April of 2019. These parks are: Colby, Columbia, Jamieson, Old Settlers, Paquette, South and Veteran’s Memorial. Bluestem completed Poynette’s first tree inventory in 2011 and this marks the second complete inventory.

This document reports the findings of the 2019 inventory and makes specific, prioritized recommendations for managing the urban forest resource beginning in 2019 and establishes a routine schedule of maintenance activities beginning in 2022 based upon inventory findings, current staffing, budgets, EAB concerns and tree circumstances.

Contents

Urban Forestry Plan and Tree Inventory Analysis

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