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Photo: Downtown piles of snow

By Howard B. Owens

It's an annual complaint from downtown merchants -- piles of snow that mound up between roadside parking and the sidewalk on Main Street. The snow, merchants say, discourages foot traffic into their stores.

This morning, one merchant made an effort to open a little walk way through the snow after a loader closed it with a pile of ice. The merchant said he couldn't even budge the ice block that fell onto the sidewalk.

City Manager Jason Molino said it's cost prohibitive to remove the mounds after every snowstorm, but the city does schedule a time for removal as resources permit.

Molino said there was a full city crew on last night plowing and salting, so the city is down to about half staff for today.

"Everything will be removed," Molino said, "but it depends on when we have the manpower."

Because of the heavy traffic on Main Street and the equipment needed for the removal, it can only be done at night, Molino said.

George Richardson

My wife bought me a weed burning flame thrower that hooks up to a five gallon propane tank. For a hundred gallons of propane you guys could get rid of this mess in short order and a bunch of people could have a lot of fun melting snow with a two foot long roaring flame. Google it.

Feb 3, 2011, 12:39pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

I will agree with the store owners on this..One big issue i have when making a right on red the snow piles are so high you can't see on coming traffic,that alone should make the city speed up the procesess.It is a big safety issue..

Feb 3, 2011, 1:45pm Permalink
Deb Wagner

What about these sidewalks? I live on Grandview and they been around once this year. I feel sorry for the poor mailman that has to walk threw the snow and the elder people. If you go to any other town they keep there sidewalks plowed. I no you are supposed to take care of the walks in front of your house but when you are older the city should take care of them. I can remember when the sidewalk plow would be around all the time and now you never see them.

Feb 3, 2011, 6:35pm Permalink
RICHARD L. HALE

The business owners should do what I see alot of homeowners doing, throw the snow back out into the street. I thought there was a law or something against doing that.....

Feb 4, 2011, 12:55am Permalink

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