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phone calls consisted of such things as snow in front of mailboxes, snow in driveways, drifting <br />snow, roads not plowed, etc. <br /> <br />Case #2: <br /> <br />Distribution of Wooden Lathes to Residents and Prohibiting the Placement <br />of Metal Poles During Snowplow Season <br /> <br />Public Works Supervisor Riemer stated that the Public Works Department would like to <br />introduce a new program that would give residents wooden lathes to properly mark the edge of <br />their easements during the snowplowing season. The intent of the program would be to reduce <br />the amount of damage caused by snowplows contacting the easement early in the plowing <br />season, which in turn would reduce the amount of labor and materials spend on turf repair. The <br />City would provide four or five wooden lathes per homeowner to install. Proper placement <br />would be spaced every twenty to thirty feet along the easement to help plow drivers identify the <br />edge of the road, early in the season. Eventually, the lathes will break off, but will have served <br />its purpose establishing the curb line. Currently some residents are using metal fence posts to <br />mark the edge of the road and this causes several problems, such as striking a buried utility line, <br />danger to motorists and snowmobilers if they were to slide into one of those posts and finally <br />they prove to be a hindrance to snow removal crews when pushing snow back to provide room <br />for visibility. The City of Andover presently uses this program and has great success during the <br />snowplow season. The cost for the program in Andover is $800 per season. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if residents place metal stakes within the City of Ramsey <br />right of way would staff have the authority to remove them. <br /> <br />Director of Public Works Kapler replied yes. <br /> <br />Councilmember Anderson stated that staff expressed concern about driving metal posts into the <br />ground without having the yard marked for utilities, but wooden lathes would have to be driven <br />into the ground as well. <br /> <br />Public Works Supervisor Reimer replied that the wooden lathes would not have to be driven <br />down as far. <br /> <br />Motion by Mayor Gamec, seconded by Councilmember Anderson, to recommend that the City <br />Council draft a policy prohibiting the use of metal stakes or metal fence posts in the road right- <br />of-way and the ability for City staff to remove them, with staff reviewing liability issues with the <br />City Attorney. <br /> <br />Further discussion: Councilmember Anderson stated that she felt that there would need to be an <br />education process for the residents. Director of Public Works Kapler replied that he did not think <br />that anyone on Public Works staff felt that there would not be a need for education. The first <br />year staff would be out talking to residents discussing the pros and cons of using the wooden <br />lathes. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that people like to place reflective posts at the end of <br />the driveways, especially out in the rural parts of the City, and would like to see that they still be <br />allowed to do that because it can become a safety issue. Public Works Supervisor Reimer replied <br /> <br />Public Works Committee/April 17, 2001 <br /> Page 3 of 9 <br /> <br /> <br />