The Town of Winamac is looking to step up its snow and ice removal efforts in and around the Town Park. Park Board President Courtney Poor raised the issue during last week’s meeting, after hearing concerns about snow on the walkways leading to the park’s south entrance. “This person’s concern was that to get down to the park, to the trail, that she had to run down the middle of the county road because we have never cleared the sidewalk that comes off of the Washington Street Bridge, going down to the entrance of the park,” Poor said.
Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo said cleaning the sidewalk would be a bit tricky with the equipment he has now. “That could get sketchy in a hurry,” he said. “You know, I have a bucket on that tractor. You can only push it so far, and it’s either going to go back to the street – and the county’s going to put in back on the sidewalk – or you get a bucket full and you try to turn enough to put it over the edge.”
DeLorenzo explained that he doesn’t have an actual plow blade, just a homemade version that doesn’t work very well. But he said he could get a new 72-inch blade for the front of the tractor for $2,200. He said that could be used for snow removal in various parts of the park, such as the walking trails, driveways, and parking lots.
As for the sidewalk leading to the south entrance of the park, DeLorenzo was unsure if it actually belongs to the town or the county. Poor suggested finding that out for sure, before making any decisions about snow removal there. “I don’t know the difference between the lease of or an easement for the sidewalk given to the town and it’s county,” Poor said. “You’ve got to find out whose sidewalk it is because within the town proper, inside the city limits, you do clean your sidewalk or you can be fined.”
In the meantime, board members recommended that DeLorenzo proceed with the purchase of a new snow plow blade for the tractor.
