CEDAR RAPIDS - Are you ready to get out those shovels?
Last year the city had to clean about 150 sidewalks. They say that is twice as many as usual. With each walk, they charged the homeowner at least $150, the standard rate.
"The legal requirement is you have to maintain a sidewalk, it comes out of Iowa code, so this isn't a choice of the city, it's part of our state code," said Craig Hanson, Public Works Maintenance Mgr.
After dozens and dozens of phone calls, Craig Hanson decided to put together a list...Craig's list of sorts.
"The government is not always the cheapest way of doing everything in the world, what we want to do is connect those people who can do it at a lower cost, and do it," said Hanson.
Expecting the problem to be bigger this year, Andy LaBarge was the first to sign up with Helping Hands through the streets department.
He used to live in Time Check. Now LaBarge is offering to clean up sidewalks in that area for a small fee.
"People need help down there. What they don't need are little worries like this when they're facing great big things," said LaBarge.
The city isn't just looking for people who run a small business, they're especially looking for volunteers to pick up a shovel too. And this isn't just for flood victims, its for the whole city.
"The only thing you can really control in life is your response to the way things are. So, my response is I have equipment, I've got time, I go move snow," said LaBarge.
By the way, snow is in the forecast. The city is hoping to have the list finished by next week, and post it a week later.
Click here to get the information on how to either join the list, or get your hands on the list. - http://www.kcrg.com/news/entertainment/fossblog
Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com
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