SNOW SHOVELING IS PROPERTY OWNERS’ RESPONSIBILITY. This week’s significant snowfall has the Goshen Street Department off to a running start for the winter season. Residents’ cooperation and patience is appreciated. Some cities have ordinances requiring property owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks. Goshen doesn’t but relies on residents to do it voluntarily. With many more students walking to school following the change in Goshen Community School’s transportation policy, timely snow removal is an urgent safety issue, particularly within one mile of elementary schools, and the middle and high schools. The Goshen Parks & Recreation Department clears the section of the Maple City Greenway bike and pedestrian path to Goshen Middle School after only 1” of accumulation—along Plymouth Avenue from Third Street to Indiana Avenue and along Indiana Avenue from Lincoln Avenue to the Middle School. A 2” accumulation triggers Parks staff to remove snow from all other trails (13.9 miles long). Removal begins at 7 a.m. for overnight snowfalls (earlier if an unusually large amount of snow has fallen), and, if snow falls during the school day, removal will take place prior to dismissal. Trails are de-iced in the event of sleet or freezing rain. Sidewalk snow and ice removal allows pedestrians to walk in safe areas rather than being forced to walk in the street. This is critical for students and also benefits mail and newspaper carriers, emergency crews and deliveries, pedestrians and cyclists, and people of all ages who walk for exercise and health. If rental property sidewalks are not cleared of snow, neighbors should contact the landlord or rental management firm regularly until sidewalks are cleared. Residents can be helpful to those around them by simply being aware of how they dispose of the white stuff. Snow is to be blown or shoveled to the sides of cleared areas (grassy areas) and not in the streets. Putting snow accumulation back into the street causes a continuous clean up in neighborhoods by the Street Department, not allowing them to proceed to alleys and parking areas. The return of snow to the street is also a safety issue as drivers may hit the new, loose snow and veer into lawns or oncoming traffic. Regularly clear a path to your mailbox and utility meter. The shoveling and uncovering of fire hydrants may save a neighbor’s life by having it clean when emergency staff arrives, so firefighters need not remove snow before fire hoses can be affixed. The exception to snow removal is catch basins. Do not remove snow from catch basins unless temperatures are above freezing. To do so in below-freezing weather may cause water in the catch basins to freeze. Trash is to be placed within five-feet of the street or alley but not in the street or alley—to prevent snow plows from hitting bags and spilling the contents. Bags must also be uncovered from snow and not at the top of huge mounds of snow. Trash is allowed to be placed out as early as 6:00 p.m. the night before the day of collection. However, when new snow is falling it is advantageous to not put the trash out until collection day, before 7:00 a.m. to be sure bags can be seen by rubbish crews. Wherever possible cars and trucks should not be parked on streets or in alleys so that the Street Department may plow to the curb. Vehicles should be parked in garages and drives where ever possible, not in yards. This allows crews to clear routes more completely and more quickly. Landlords should be in touch with their renters to see that they have been cooperative in this matter. Mayor Kauffman stated, “The Street Department crew always does an exceptional job of handling snow removal. They have worked at night, and for as long as 16 hours straight. I applaud them! The continued cooperation of residents is imperative as crews push snow back to make space for future snowfall. Most residents have always risen to the occasion, and I anticipate their usual good work.” And last, but definitely not least, slow down while driving! Common sense dictates this to be able to negotiate turns and stop in time for the unexpected. Roads may have snow pack, even after plowing. Major streets are sanded and salted more liberally than neighborhood and side streets. Mid-blocks on these streets get less sand/salt than intersections and their approaches. Beware: You can be ticketed for driving too fast for conditions, even if you’re not exceeding the posted limit. Thank you in advance for your help in getting us all through the next few brutal winter months!
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 19:20:11 +0000
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