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c'mon people what since does this whole rant make? <br><br>If you really need someone to clear your sidewalks i'll do it free of charge. No need to take up our valuable time of our police force. Just give me a call.<br><br>I'm in the phone book.<br><br>matt decker<br><br><br><br>> Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 19:36:25 -0800<br>> From: kcraine@verizon.net<br>> To: janesta@gmail.com<br>> CC: vision2020@moscow.com<br>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Snow on sidewalks .. the good news and the bad news...<br>> <br>> Moscow City Code defines ice or snow on the sidewalk as a nuisance, <br>> period. Property owners have 24 hours to clear sidewalks adjacent to <br>> their property AFTER being given notice, either in writing or by <br>> having it posted on the property. After the 24 hours, the City can <br>> issue a citation and/or clear the sidewalks and bill the property <br>> owner. Out of courtesy, the City allows 24 hours for clearing before <br>> starting the enforcement clock. Unfortunately, issuing notice depends <br>> on public complaints against an address and the City may not follow <br>> through once the time is up.<br>> <br>> There is a myth in this town that small amounts of snow will melt off <br>> so people don't need to bother shoveling unless there are inches on a <br>> sidewalk. Wrong. In our climate, even a skiff of packed snow turns <br>> into deadly ice before nature does the clearing. Last winter, we had <br>> about an inch of snow one day, less than an inch two days later. It <br>> took twenty-two (22) days for the resulting packed ice to melt off. <br>> Sidewalks that were cleared before they became packed were clear and <br>> dry for that period.<br>> <br>> The only environmentally sensitive solution to this problem is a <br>> shovel. The only humane solution to ice is chemicals. Whatever is <br>> necessary should be used because broken bones should not be <br>> acceptable in a community that brags about being "pedestrian friendly".<br>> <br>> What can you do to make Moscow's winter sidewalks safe? Take a moment <br>> to shove snow off the sidewalk where it crosses your driveway before <br>> you leave in the morning. Shovel the entire walk (edge to edge and to <br>> the surface) as soon as you can. Point out to merchants that if they <br>> want business, customers need to be able to reach their store. Report <br>> uncleared sidewalks to the City (882-COPS). Volunteer to help someone <br>> who can't clear their sidewalks.<br>> <br>> Sidewalks are part of the public right-of-way. Those who allow ice <br>> and snow build up are obstructing everyone's right to use those <br>> paths. That is not going to change unless the public insists on it.<br>> <br>> <br>> Kit Craine<br>> <br>> On Jan 21, 2008, at 6:21 PM, Janesta wrote:<br>> <br>> > You know the old saying... Do you want the bad news, or good news <br>> > first?<br>> ><br>> > The good news<br>> > I want to compliment the City of Moscow and Palouse Clearwater <br>> > Environmental Institute in creating the "Snow Patrol". It is <br>> > fantastic to witness the care and concern put forth for community <br>> > members who are unable to clear their sidewalk due to age, or <br>> > disability. GOOD JOB!!! If you need assistance, call 882-1444, and <br>> > ask for Courtney Rush, or click on this link... http://pcei.org/ <br>> > VolunteerSnow.htm . Regardless if it is snow removal, supplying <br>> > food shelters with fresh produce, or caring for our environment, <br>> > PCEI is there. Thank you so much!<br>> ><br>> > Now, for the bad news. It always seems to be kind of long, doesn't it?<br>> ><br>> > Attempting to walk and shop downtown is a risky feat if you are <br>> > healthy. Imagine if you are disabled, or elderly? A person using a <br>> > wheelchair can't even GO downtown this time of year! There are many <br>> > of us with hidden disabilities who must use extreme caution as well .<br>> ><br>> > When my knees were replaced eight years ago, I was advised by my <br>> > orthopedic surgeon if I were to fall and break my leg, it would <br>> > probably be in the middle of my shin, or above my knee, each place, <br>> > (much more than you probably want to know about me!) where four <br>> > screws are embedded in bone. I could very well lose my leg, or <br>> > legs, as the case may be. That statement from him has sobered me to <br>> > any thoughts of peaceful walks almost anywhere around town, but <br>> > especially, in my beloved downtown Moscow.<br>> ><br>> > Last Thursday, for the first time in six weeks, I decided to go <br>> > downtown shopping. I was very discouraged by the state of some of <br>> > the sidewalks. Moscow had not received snow for several days, yet, <br>> > many of the businesses still had an accumulated a mixture of snow, <br>> > and dangerous ice on the ground with NO WHERE to walk that was <br>> > clear. This includes the walkway in front of the fountain in <br>> > Friendship Square, which at the time, only had a two foot pathway.<br>> ><br>> > Many years ago, while working as an advocate at Disability Action <br>> > Center, I spoke with Police Chief Weaver regarding our snow removal <br>> > ordinance. At that time, he stated the problem lies with <br>> > enforcement. There are no specifics that state what time the snow <br>> > needs to be removed by, nor what part of the sidewalk the business <br>> > owner is responsible for, or how wide of a swath should be <br>> > shoveled. Also, the policy stated once warned about snow removal, a <br>> > business has 24 hours to respond. What is with Moscow and these <br>> > hour requirements, such as the noise and dog barking law? If <br>> > something needs to be taken care of, it needs to be dealt with <br>> > ASAP! At one business I spoke with, I was advised they were only <br>> > responsible for an area four feet from the building. What about the <br>> > other four to six feet on to the curb? Who is responsible for that? <br>> > Who is responsible for the area on the corner of Main and 6th, Main <br>> > and 5th? Who is responsible sidewalks in front of a vacant <br>> > building? If a lawsuit is filed, who pays? Would it be me, the <br>> > taxpayer? Because the policy as it is written is so vague?? I <br>> > guarantee you, if someone is seriously injured due to the choice of <br>> > a business or the city to ignore this problem, someone will be sued.<br>> ><br>> > In the heat of summer, almost six months ago, I addressed the <br>> > Mayor, and Moscow City Council about concerns regarding our <br>> > disabled, and elderly community members, and the manner in which <br>> > the snow removal policy was written and enforced. At that time, I <br>> > was advised by Mayor Cheney the issue of changing the ordinance had <br>> > been in, I believe it was, an employee committee for the previous <br>> > 6-8 months. Personally, I am not sure why it takes so long to <br>> > change a snow removal policy. Do what I did, Google other cities in <br>> > Idaho, see what they are doing. Coeur d' Alene has an excellent <br>> > policy stating a time frame for removal of snow, the fine to be <br>> > issued if the policy is not followed. Also, if the fine isn't paid, <br>> > a lien will be placed on the property owner's taxes.<br>> ><br>> > I recall early last fall when there was discussion of moving <br>> > Farmer's Market to Main Street, and closing Main for a few hours <br>> > Saturday mornings... The businesses downtown were very much against <br>> > this idea, as they were concerned about parking, and losing <br>> > customers. Where is that same concern for their customers now?<br>> ><br>> > I hope this ordinance is addressed by the City Council soon. It <br>> > would be a shame for someone to be injured.<br>> ><br>> > Please call the Moscow Police Department at 882-5551 with your <br>> > concerns.<br>> ><br>> > Thank you for listening to my rant.<br>> ><br>> > Janesta Carcich<br>> ><br>> ><br>> > Below are the basics from both Moscow, and Coeur d' Alene's websites.<br>> ><br>> > From the City of Moscow website.<br>> ><br>> > http://www.moscow.id.us/Police/Snow%20Removal/Snow%20removal.htm<br>> ><br>> > It shall be the duty of every owner of any land, building, or lot <br>> > within the City to remove snow and/or ice from adjacent sidewalks <br>> > to permit the safe pedestrian passage upon said sidewalks bordering <br>> > said property and to abate the nuisance set forth in this Chapter. <br>> > This duty applies to natural snowfall; it does not extend to snow <br>> > displaced onto sidewalks by City snowplows after an owner has <br>> > removed natural snowfall.<br>> ><br>> ><br>> ><br>> > Coeur d' Alene<br>> ><br>> > http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/ID/Coeur%20dAlene/index.htm<br>> ><br>> > "Every owner or occupant of any house or other building, or of any <br>> > vacant lot or block, and every person having charge of any church, <br>> > jail or public building within the municipal limits, shall, during <br>> > the winter season and during the time snow continues on the ground, <br>> > by nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. on every day after a snowfall, and <br>> > whenever necessary, clear the sidewalks in front of such lot or <br>> > block, from snow and ice, and shall keep them conveniently free <br>> > there from during the day, or shall, in case the snow and ice so <br>> > congealed that it cannot be removed without injury to the sidewalk, <br>> > cause the snow and ice to be strewed with ashes or sand. Every <br>> > owner or occupant shall at all times keep such sidewalk clear and <br>> > free from all filth, dirt or other obstructions or encumbrances so <br>> > as to allow citizens to use the sidewalks in an easy and commodious <br>> > manner."<br>> ><br>> > =======================================================<br>> > List services made available by First Step Internet,<br>> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<br>> > http://www.fsr.net<br>> > mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> > =======================================================<br>> <br>> =======================================================<br>> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br>> http://www.fsr.net <br>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> =======================================================<br><br /><hr />Climb to the top of the charts! Play the word scramble challenge with star power. <a href='http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx?icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_jan' target='_new'>Play now!</a></body>
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