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HAMILTON COUNTY ADOPT-A-MEDIAN PROVISIONS/GUIDELINES May 24, 2010 The purpose of the Hamilton County Adopt-A-Median Program is to improve the maintenance and aesthetics of County Highway medians through the involvement of civic minded businesses and organizations willing to “adopt” a median(s). Keeping the medians well maintained and/or beautified through additional landscaping will not only improve roadway aesthetics but will help establish a sense of community pride and contribute to the overall quality of life for Hamilton County residents. An acknowledgement sign is an integral part of the median sponsorship program. The objective is to publicly recognize and credit sponsors (adopter) for their contribution to the program. In exchange for adopting a median, Hamilton County will place a sign(s) recognizing the business or organization for their volunteer efforts. Hamilton County will determine the number and placement of the sign(s) recognizing the “adopting” business/organization. Only signs provided by the County are permitted on medians. No Adopter is to place its own sign on the median. PROVISIONS & GUIDELINES • As a minimum service, the adopting business/organization shall keep the median mowed and free of debris and weeds. • If Adopter wishes to beautify the median in addition to keeping it mown and free of litter, the Adopter shall submit a landscape plan. The plan need not be a finished drawing but must be sufficiently detailed to present the plan, including the types of plants and locations they are intended to be placed. This plan will be reviewed by the County Highway Dept. The Adopters plan must be approved before the Adopter begins improvements. • Special attention should be given to not placing any plants where lines of sight for motorists would be impaired. No planting shall be ---PAGE BREAK--- allowed to overhang the curb; i.e., all plantings must be kept within the median and shall not encroach on the traveled roadway. It is highly recommended that all plant material be native, hearty and drought tolerant. • All costs and expenses, which may be incurred in landscaping and maintaining the median, shall be borne by the adopting business/organization. • No non-organic decorations such as flags, garden decorations, or art/sculptures will be allowed in the medians. • All labor and materials associated with the beautification and maintenance of the median(s) are the sole responsibility of the Adopter. • Organizations/businesses can, and are encouraged to, hire a professional landscaping company to maintain their adopted median. The Hamilton County Highway Dept. must approve the company prior to working on the medians. ADOPTER RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Secure landscape plan approval/permits related to planting and working in the County right-of-way. 2. Cut the grass on a regular basis, keeping the grass in the median(s) at or under a height of five inches. Perform broadleaf weed treatment and fertilization as needed. 3. Keep any shrubs pruned and neatly trimmed. Make sure any plant/flower beds are regularly mulched (dark brown in color), weeded and watered. 4. Inspect/remove weeds, debris and litter on a regular basis. At a minimum, four litter pickup times per year should be scheduled ---PAGE BREAK--- with at least one pickup during the months of March and October. Litter and debris pickup should be done just prior to mowing. 5. Repair, remove or replace, at Adopters expense, any damaged or destroyed median plantings, including existing grass and trees. 6. Provide one contact person who shall be responsible for coordinating the work and providing coordination with other members of the organization 7. Abide by all safety guidelines. 8. Each member of the group is required to wear a fluorescent green safety vest the entire time they are present on the County right-of- way. 9. Members shall not participate while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. 10. Group members shall be age 18 or older. TERMINATION/TERMS OF AGREEMENT • If, in the judgment of the County, it is found that the Adopter is not meeting the term and conditions of this agreement, the County may terminate this agreement and remove all signage. • Agreement signed prior to October 1st shall remain in effect until December 31st of the year signed, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the term of this Agreement. Agreements signed after October 1st shall remain in effect until December 31 of the following year, unless terminated in accordance with this Agreement. The Adopter will be contacted in October of each year regarding renewal of the Agreement. • The County will continue mowing the median(s) until the recognition sign is posted. Once the sign is posted, the Adopter shall begin its responsibilities. ---PAGE BREAK--- • The Adopter agrees to release the County from any liability arising hereunder. The attached liability waiver form must be completed prior to commencing work in the median. • Adopter has the right to terminate this Agreement with 30 days notice in writing to the Hamilton County Highway Department. • The Hamilton County Highway Dept. will loan prewarning signs, cones and safety vests, if requested. The applicant shall notify the County Highway Department at least three working days in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made for pickup. Items shall be returned after each session. Prewarning signs, cones, and safety vests will be the responsibility of the landscape company should the Adopter choose to subcontract the work. • No lanes of traffic are to be blocked or diverted unless approved by the Hamilton County Highway Department. • In exchange for adopting a median, Hamilton County will place a sign(s) recognizing the organization for their volunteer efforts, Hamilton County will determine the number and placement of the text sign(s). Organizations wishing to display their logo on the sign will incur a $100 fee due at time of signing of the agreement. Only signs provided by the County are permitted on the median. The Adopter shall not place any signs, advertisements, etc. within the median. • The sign will not be larger than 18 inches high by 24 inches wide. The post will be dark brown. The sign background will be dark brown. The trim and letters will be white. The bottom of the sign will be approximately 12 inches from the ground. ---PAGE BREAK--- HAMILTON COUNTY ADOPT-A-MEDIAN PROGRAM AGREEMENT WHEREAS, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners recognize the need and desirability of well landscaped, litter free highway medians; and WHEREAS, the Adopt-A-Median Program has been established for civic minded volunteer organizations as well as commercial and other private enterprises to contribute toward the effort of maintaining well landscaped, litter free highways: and WHEREAS, the applicant, being aware of the hazardous nature of the work to be performed, will save and hold harmless the members of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, Hamilton County Highway Department, and Hamilton County, individually and in their official capacities from any and all liabilities and claims for damages by persons working on the program. THEREFORE, the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners as the adopting organization for the median located along and and FURTHERMORE, the accepts responsibility for landscaping, maintenance and litter pickup on this median and promoting a clean, well maintained landscape for the period and ending also agree to abide by the attached provisions and guidelines. NOW, THEREFORE, In consideration of the above Premises, this agreement is entered into this the Adopter Approval: Printed Adopting Organization Contact information: Organization Adopting Median: Adopt-A-Median sign to read as: (Business or Sponsor name, keep as short as possible, Hamilton County may amend to conform to sign size) ---PAGE BREAK--- Adopter Contact (Printed): Adopter Address and Zip Code: Phone Number: Fax Number: Email Address: Cell Number: Approved: Hamilton County Board of Commissioners Attest: Hamilton County Auditor ---PAGE BREAK--- SAFETY GUIDELINES It is recommended that orange traffic cones be placed on the median curb to assist in alerting motorist of the presence of work being done in the median. It is recommended that prewarning construction signs be placed along the roadway preceding the median work area. Work during daylight hours. Work during times of lower traffic volumes. Access to a first aid kit must be readily available. Workers are to wear a fluorescent green safety vest and are encouraged to wear light colored clothing for increased visibility. One person should be designated crew leader to ensure safety guidelines are followed by everyone. Be alert and use common sense at all times. Avoid the use of headsets. Avoid overexertion and have plenty of water available on hot, humid days. Sunscreen lotion is recommended for sunny days. All workers and equipment shall be in or on the median. No lanes of traffic are to be blocked or diverted unless approved by the Hamilton County Highway Dept. Avoid standing or walking along the roadway. Make sure proper tools are made available Face oncoming traffic as much as possible Do not back tools, arms, legs or yourself into traffic Caution, many trucks have large mirrors that might hang over the median. ---PAGE BREAK--- HAMILTON COUNTY ADOPT-A-MEDIAN PROGRAM PROVISIONS/GUIDELINES/AGREEMENT May 24, 2010 Approval of the Hamilton County Adopt-A-Median Program: Approved: Hamilton County Board of Commissioners Hamilton County Auditor ---PAGE BREAK--- Release of Liability The undersigned hereby releases and agrees to hold harmless the Board of Commissioners of Hamilton County, Hamilton County, Indiana, including all officials, councils, agents, employees, or any acting through them from all liability, claims, or damages arising out of the accident or injury resulting to the undersigned arising out of participation in the Adopt-A-Median Program.. Each of the undersigned acknowledge that the Adopt-A-Median Program will involve working within the medians of Hamilton County roadways and agree to follow the rules, guidelines and provisions of the Program, including wearing of safety vests. Participate Name (Printed) Participate Name (Printed) Signature Signature Participate Name (Printed) Participate Name (Printed) Signature Signature Participate Name (Printed) Participate Name (Printed) Signature Signature Participate Name (Printed) Participate Name (Printed) Signature Signature Participate Name (Printed) Participate Name (Printed) Signature Signature ---PAGE BREAK--- The undersigned acknowledges that he/she personally witnessed the above signatures to this Release of Liability. Name: