> I too will be unable to attend the meeting as I'll be out of the
> country, but I wish someone would address the conditions of the
> sidewalks in front of the businesses on main street. It looks like a
> slum and takes all the pleasure out of walking there. You'd think the
> merchants would take more pride in the appearance of their businesses
> and make them attractive as possible in order to attract more customers.
> Tim
Friday morning, 5-23-97
The Vision2020 list seems to be used increasingly as a forum, so I'll
throw a little bit into the fire, prior to the 5-27 forum. We can discuss
theese ideas virtually as well as really, anyway. (Think about those
words!)
Digging deeply into my cerebral cells, I recall testimony during City P&Z
and City Council meetings regarding Main Street sidewalks and planter
boxes.
Initially after downtown rejuvenation efforts, many business
owners/managers were enthusiastic and did maintain their street-side
premises. But (then) recently purcha$ed and planted trees were broken
off, beverage containers and other debris were left in sidewalk planters,
and so on. Some gave up in frustration and disgust.
You can guess, of course, to whom the fingers were pointed (not
necessarily middle ones): the evening, especially Friday and Saturday
night, revellers.
Now to sidewalk snow removal ...
I find removal of snow very frustrating. I have about 110 feet of
sidewalk in front of my house, immediately contiguous with the curb.
My neighborhood has sidewalks only on my side of the street.
This means that City plows have no storage space for plowed snow on my
side. The other side of the street is the one with driveup mailboxes.
Therefore, the snow is plowed to my side and must be stored in parking
spaces on the street, or lopped onto my sidewalk, often after I already
have cleared it once. Oh, you say, why don't I then move the snow onto my
lawn? Because I dislike a layer of crushed basalt chips immersed among
the blades of grass when Spring's melt reveals them!
More on snow ... Perhaps more to the point of frustration is this: Why do
owners of undeveloped or agricultural land get off the hook of snow
removal and weed control?
Until recently, for two decades or more, the 1000' or so of sidewalk
immediately west of me on Indian Hills Drive has had no houses. The
sidewalks go unplowed along the undeveloped lot spaces. So why should I
be motivated to clear mine, only to have walker/runners forced back into
the street as they proceed west? Why aren't the non-resident land owners
(developers) forced to come in and clear the snow after each new snowfall,
as well?
And now another "venting", since it is flowing so deliciously .... dirt
and mud on City streets.
Why are developers/builders permitted to "crud"-up the streets with the
mud which cakes on the tires of trucks and other vehicles involved in
development of raw land into subdivisions, and then building of new homes?
I dislike driving my car over it, and have to be extra careful when riding
my skinny-tired road-bike over the debris.
On the other hand, I don't see how it is practical to clean truck tires
each time they emerge from a field of mud, with every delivery and dumping
of crushed rock or concrete, but it surely does create a helluva mess! I
regard it much as a child being permitted to play out in the mud and then
walking through the kitchen and living room in muddy shoes.
How about each project cleaning the streets in the several block area
affected at least once each day, with a street sweeper?
Well, I have work to do, so good luck at the forum next week!
Sam Scripter
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Danahy [SMTP:JDANAHY@turbonet.com]
> Sent: Thursday, May 22, 1997 9:43 PM
> To: Moscow Vision 2020
> Subject: public forum on safe streets etc.
>
> Unfortunately, I will be at the MHS Awards the night of the forum. However
> I would like someone to address the deplorable conditions of city sidewalks
> during winter. I have heard that there is a law on the books requiring
> owners to remove snow and ice within a reasonable length of time. There
> are many civic minded owners who do this regularly. There are also many
> who feel it is not needed because the sun will eventually melt it off
> anyway. (some of the latter are local public officials)
> The questions I would like answered are:
> Who is responsible? Home Owner? Renter? Out of town owner? Landlord?
> Why can't the law be enforced without an individual having to make
> specific complaints?
> I find it amazing that local citizens will walk down the middle of a street
> to avoid an icy sidewalk.
>
> John Danahy
> jdanahy@turbonet.com
>
>
----------------------------------------------------
scripter@mines.uidaho.edu ;-) (Sam M W Scripter)
MoscowSam/GeoSam/PiperSam/RiderSam/SamTheHam/SamIam!
----------------------------------------------------