According to a report from Mat-Su Borough Manager Mike Brown, 688 snow-related complaints were filed last winter. Only one case was escalated to code compliance after multiple violation notices were issued to the homeowner.
Homeowners are not permitted to shovel snow into the roadway. First offenses result in a letter and a flier outlining proper snow removal procedures and relevant Borough code. A second offense results in a right-of-way inspector visit. Once two notices have been issued, the Borough can open a code compliance case, which can lead to a citation.
Of the 688 complaints, 645 received a first notice. Only 22 received a second notice, which counts as a final warning. One case resulted in escalation to code compliance after multiple notices.
Snow removal contractors under the Borough’s updated contracts must comply with new rules. New road contracts for the greater Talkeetna and Willow Road Service Areas, or RSAs, were approved in April. The contracts are for one year with the option for two one-year extensions. Both contracts include a no-berm policy, meaning the contractor cannot leave snow berms when plowing. Contractors also are trackable so Borough staff know what work is being completed and where.
With the snow season’s early start this year, homeowners and contractors will need to contend with where to put it all as winter wears on.
