City plans heavier enforcement of sidewalk shoveling

By: John Ramos

Date:

June 12, 2020

One of many planning efforts interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic has been the City of Duluth’s o...

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John Ramos

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4 COMMENTS

Linda June 13, 2020 At 8:43 am

So, what I can see is that the city administration(s) will be covidily non-compliant in the snow removal or/and owner compliance response. In my opinion, city admins should demonstrate the highest degree of meeting obligation…setting an example of snow removal RESPONSE, which becomes benchmark in expectation to home owners and their responsibility. It should start at the top.

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- Mark Baker June 13, 2020 At 7:59 pm
  
  A good article, John. The enforcement of snow removal statutes in a northern city should have been figured out, like, maybe 50 years ago. I am thinking some of the ridiculous amounts of money for police and fire (nearly 50% of budget) could find their way into paying for keeping people safe for real. Last comment was uncalled for. WWID is more than Alice, but she is fierce in her advocacy for people who walk, bike and use transit. I will also be out observing non-compliance to snow removal rules. Please join us!
  
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- Denette June 13, 2020 At 8:16 pm
  
  Yes, Linda. I agree. If the city has any hope to have residents comply with sidewalk clearing the city has to lead the effort with streets where there is no boulevard. I foresee a lot of finger-pointing this winter.
  
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Wayne L. Lundquist November 12, 2020 At 8:01 pm

Having found this article late in the year, I must comment on the lack of initiative by the city to help citizens with snow removal. I presented to my councilman and the city administrator tools that would help alleviate some snow removal from driveways. A company called Henke manufactures a drop blade for plows that would carry the snow past the driveways but was told that the city would not consider it. I also presented a company called SnowDragon that manufactures snow melting equipment the could be used to alleviate the snow piles on down town streets. That unit could melt 70 tons of snow per hour and requires only 1 operator. the melted snow passes through a sedimentary system to remove trash and then discharges the water into the storm drains. That water is cleaner that letting the snow melt naturally and carry the trash into the storm drains. I have monitored from the window of my office, city crews spend most of a day on 6th ave. west from first street to second street grading, snowblowing into trucks and hauling the snow to a distant dump cite . This idea was also rejected without a reasonable explanation.

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