Snow removal at issue
By MICHAEL ANICH/The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - The city wants to crack down on people shoveling or snowblowing into city streets.
In his liaison report to the Common Council Monday night at City Hall, 2nd Ward Councilman J. Christopher Foss noted it's against the law for residents to shovel or snowblow into city streets.
"The snow in the roads has become a real problem in the city," Mayor Sarah J. Slingerland said.
She said the city needs to regulate such activity.
"It's just dangerous and creates huge problems for the plows," the mayor said.
Officials said the city should encourage more media attention on the issue, but beyond that, 1st Ward Councilwoman Cynthia Lakata said the city should "ticket some people" to get the message across to residents.
Police Chief Gregory Horning said police responded to a call of someone blowing snow into the street near the old Lee Dyeing plant, and the situation was rectified.
"If our guys see it, they stop and tell the people," Horning said.
The police chief said there is also a problem with people pushing snow out of driveways and across streets.
"That's done all over the city by a lot of people," Horning said.
City Engineer Charles Kortz said excess snow and ice can cause mechanical problems for Department of Public Works plows.
Slingerland said one snow- removal trip around the city costs $4,300 - $2,500 for manpower and $1,800 for salt and sand.
Foss said city crews have completed leaf collection, and the yard waste deposit site is closed until spring. Sand barrels are being filled and work is ongoing to clean some sewers with a sewer jet.
