Politics & Government

Discussion: How Has Your Neighborhood Handled Snow and Ice on Sidewalks?

Mayor Ed Kelley asked residents at Monday's council meeting to work together to help solve the icy sidewalk problem

As Mayor Ed Kelley said at , we live in Cleveland. Winters mean more snow and ice than close neighbors like Columbus. 

Although many believe this is a freakish, brutal winter, Alex Mannarino, the city's public works director, said Cleveland Heights averages 70 inches or more a year. So far this year, the skies have dumped more than 50 inches of snow on the city, and , closing schools in the area.

Temperatures have not warmed up enough to melt what the storms left behind, so sidewalks across the city are still encased in ice. 

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And many have seen people walking in the streets instead of the sidewalks. On Cedar. On Monticello. On busy streets across Cleveland like East 55th. 

Residents approached  

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One resident said students at walk to and from school in the busy main streets because they are clear, and she's concerned about their safety.

Another said that though people have received the fliers the city sends out to residents who don't comply with the ordinance to clear the sidewalks, people still have not shoveled. 

City Manager Robert Downey said the city has had people walk door to door with fliers to ask them to comply and sent thousands of e-mails. Residents, commercial districts and the city are responsible for the sidewalks they abut, he said. 

He said he'd work to get the sidewalks around Monticello cleared. 

But enforcing the ordinance is a manpower issue, as much of the city does not abide by the rule. And it's a manpower and a safety issue when it comes to trying to shovel thick ice and inches of heavy snow in frigid weather. 

"I challenge our youth groups and our youth in the community, our church groups, and our street associations to band together in the next six or seven weeks to figure out ways to attack the sidewalk problem. We're not going to solve all of the problems, but I think it would be a good opportunity for some of our youth to make  some money, and to help with this issue," Kelley said. "But I also want to challenge our schools private, public and parochial, our religious institutions and our commercial areas to also make sure their sidewalks are clear and manageable."

What are your ideas for tackling the icy, snowy sidewalk problem? Has your neighborhood come up with a solution to make sure the sidewalks stay clear? 


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