You
can get compensation
By
Will Collette
I
was very proud of my custom-designed, “plow-proof” mailbox built and designed by Mike DiRobbio. After years of trashed mailboxes, finally I had one that
would survive. In fact, it even made it through Winter Storm Nemo last year.
But
this year’s series of storms, particularly the ones over the past week, were
too much for even a “plow-proof” design. Our mailbox was trashed on Monday, as
were lots of others all along Route One.
Wednesday’s
storm added more busted up mailboxes, although a quick temporary repair job by
Mike DiRobbio held up during that storm. Our next door
neighbor lost a box on Wednesday.
Route One now looks like the RIDOT plow guys caught Olympic fever and
decided to play snowplow giant slalom, using mailboxes as the ski course gates.
If you’ve ever seen slalom, you know those gates take a beating.
However, if
you live on a state roadway, like Route One, that is maintained by RIDOT and
you lose your mailbox, you can get some compensation.
 |
| My mailbox survived Nemo without a scratch. |
I’m
committed to keeping Mike DiRobbio’s creation, even though we discovered its
vulnerability, so I’m going to go for the $50 reimbursement.
The vulnerability to my mailbox set-up is torque when the crossbar gets hit, either by the plow blade (which is hard to do, since the box is set back) or a ton of heavy, wet snow. The crossbar twists and twists the post holding up the whole box. On Monday, that torque split the post right up the middle.
The vulnerability to my mailbox set-up is torque when the crossbar gets hit, either by the plow blade (which is hard to do, since the box is set back) or a ton of heavy, wet snow. The crossbar twists and twists the post holding up the whole box. On Monday, that torque split the post right up the middle.
Mike
is working on a replacement post and is also thinking about ways to provide it
with some flex so it doesn’t get wrecked again.
If
you want to talk to Mike about getting your own specially designed mailbox,
give him a call at 714-5016 or 315-2448.
So,
if you have had mailbox damage from RIDOT plowing, here’s what you do to get
compensation.
Write
a letter to RIDOT describing what happened. Just the facts…the date, the nature
of the damage, etc. Make sure you include your name and address. I suggest
adding a phone number and e-mail, just in case there’s a question. I will be
including a couple of my photos, the ones that you can see gracing this
article.
If
you intend to replace or repair the mailbox yourself, say so in your letter and
include your receipt for your costs. If you want the RIDOT free replacement
mailbox, say so although if that’s your choice, you may want to call so you can
get the ball rolling more quickly.
The
very helpful RIDOT person I spoke to is Arlene Nelson at 734-4842.
Send
your letter and receipt to:
RIDOT
360
Linden Avenue
Warwick,
RI 02888
ATTN:
Mailbox claims
If
this doesn’t work out, contact Rep. Donna Walsh at 523-2199 or e-mail her at rep-walsh@rilin.state.ri.us. Since Donna has been voted out, try Rep. Flip Filippi, if you can find him.