Sean Hayford O’Leary

1500 St. Olaf Avenue West

Northfield MN 55057-1574

Northfield Amcon
109 North Water Street
Northfield MN 55057-2121

08 March 2011

To whom it may concern:

I am deeply concerned about the placement of the plowed snow from your parking lot. I was
recently bicycling on Water Street/Hwy 3, and had to dodge some pedestrians walking in the
bike lane (with their backs to traffic). They were walking in the bike lane, presumably, because
the sidewalk adjacent to your gas station is completely impassable due to plowed snow.

Northfield City Code Sec 70-2, states (http://bit.ly/fbvNpT):

Clean walks required. The owner or occupant of any real property within the city limits shall clean
the sidewalks abutting the real property of snow and loose or melting ice within 12 hours after
such snow or ice has ceased to be deposited; shall not place any rubbish, soil, brush, building
materials, or other obstacles to pedestrian travel on such sidewalks; and shall remove any such
obstacles found or placed thereon as soon as reasonably possible.

Because Water St/Hwy 3 is also a state highway, your current practice of plowing your parking
lot snow onto the sidewalk is also in violation of state law. Minnesota 160.2715 states (https://
www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=160.2715):
(a) Except for the actions of the road authorities, their agents, employees, contractors, and utilities
in carrying out their duties imposed by law or contract, and except as herein provided, it shall be
unlawful to:
(1) obstruct any highway or deposit snow or ice thereon;
(2) plow or perform any other detrimental operation within the road right-of-way except in the
preparation of the land for planting permanent vegetative cover or as authorized under section
160.232;

I realize you are a local gas station and probably have limited resources, but the sidewalk in front
of your business must be kept clear all winter. That sidewalk is an important route to downtown
for St. Olaf students, since many prefer to cross Hwy 3 at the W 2nd Street light, rather than
cross at St. Olaf Avenue.

I understand that it may be difficult to clear the icy block that currently obstructs the sidewalk,
and it will soon melt. However, I will report this matter to the City if you fail to clear your walk
again next year.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sean Hayford O’Leary