Ramsey Resident - 2000 - January/February

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ACCESSORY STRUCTURES/ UTILITY SHEDS There are rules and regulations regarding where you may build a structure on your property and how big it can be. Buildings less then 120 square feet do not require a building permit but still must meet certain regulations. All other structures require a building permit. All structures are to be placed in the side or rear yard of the property and must meet certain setbacks. The setbacks depend on which zoning district you are in. Please call City Hall at 427 -1410 BEFORE you begin construction to confirm setbacks and other regulations. RECREATIONAL FIRES MUST BE 50' FROM STRUCTURES Be sure to follow the City's burning regulations if winter inspires you to have a recreational fire. A recreational fire is an area of no more than three feet in diameter or nine square feet. It must be located at least 50 feet from any structure or vehicle. Burning barrels are prohibited. Use only dry, clean wood. Plywood, chipboard and other products containing resins or glues are strictly prohibited. Painted and preservative- treated wood scraps can give off toxic smoke. Don't inhale! Running grass fires are prohibited, except for prairie restoration. Burning leaves, grass and debris is also prohibited. Recreational burning is allowed only between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Fires must be attended by an adult at all times until completely extinguished. A garden hose connected to water should be nearby. Violations can be subject to a citation, including extinguishment charges of $250 per hour. Be respectful of weather conditions, neighbors, burning bans, and air quality so that nuisance, health or safety hazards will not be created. Open fires larger than three feet in diameter require a permit which can be obtained at City Hall. A complete copy of Ramsey City Ordinance #92 -03, which regulates burning, is also available at City Hall. T Have the courage to act instead of react. — Earlene Larson Jenks SNOWPLOWING The winter season is fast approaching and we all know what that means - Snowplowing! The Public Works Department is responsible for clearing all city streets and municipal parking lots. This equates to over 300 lane miles of roads. The Public Works Department makes every attempt to avoid damage, but because of the conditions encountered during plowing and the size of the equipment used, it is sometimes difficult to judge where the edge of the pavement ends, and where the grass begins. The City retains an easement on the edge of the road for snow storage purposes. When sod is damaged due to plowing in this easement it will be repaired, in the spring, with black dirt and grass seed. Irrigation systems, landscaping and plant materials placed in the City's easement will not be repaired and are the responsibility of the homeowner. Several things can be done to diminish the chance of damage to the easement near your home. 1) Place wooden lathe every 20 to 30 feet along the boulevard to mark the road edge. 2) Pay special attention when staking corners and radiuses, as they are difficult to judge after a snowfall 3) Check the condition of your mailbox. Is the main post rotted? Is the box itself firmly secured to the post? Make repairs now before the weather turns cold and the ground is frozen. (Note: For safety reasons, use only wooden lathe to mark the edge of the easement, and then only drive them into the ground about 6 inches because of utility lines. The lathe will break after a couple of plowing operations, but will have served its purpose by helping to establish the curb line. Please do not use metal fence posts. If you have any questions about snowplowing, please call Ramsey Public Works at (612) 427 -8254 SNOWBIRDS Basically, this means don't park your motor vehicle on any City street during a snowfall, or afterwards, until it is plowed. There are a thousand excuses for leaving your vehicle parked along the roadway and causing the plows to go around it. None of them are valid. We will tag and tow! Thank you for your cooperation in helping us provide for safe and efficient snowplowing services.