State Highway 39 in Gary-New Duluth, known as McCuen Street, was totally rebuilt by the state in 2019, with beautiful eight-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides for the first four blocks. We attended the preconstruction meeting with the state to ensure the sidewalks would go against the curb for ease of snow removal. Plow drivers could just drop their wings on the sidewalks and clear the walkways as they went by.
The sidewalks weren’t cleared last winter. Inquiring about this with the state, we received a copy of the construction agreement with the city. It clearly states in paragraph 3.3 that upon construction completion, the city is responsible for sidewalk maintenance, including snow and ice removal.
When we brought this to the city’s attention, we received a very frustrating and disappointing response. The city said it was upholding its agreement with the state by enforcing the city’s sidewalk snow-removal ordinance, which assigns responsibility to the owners of abutting properties. The city gave us the web address for turning in neighbors who don’t comply.
We believe it’s outrageous that the city can assign responsibility to the homeowners, most of whom are seniors along this street, and has the ability to fine those who don’t comply. We see this as another example of government “do-as-I-say-and-not-as-I-do” logic.
The city currently is supposed to maintain sidewalks along Trinity Road, lower Piedmont Avenue, Mesaba Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue from Gary-New Duluth to the I-35 freeway entrance, under a similar agreement with the state. Why doesn’t the city lead by example on the sidewalk ordinance by taking responsibility, by contract, for snow removal along these state highway routes? If these other sidewalks are being done by the city, why are citizens along McCuen Street treated differently and, in our opinion, unfairly?
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Kevin and Shirley McConnell
Duluth
