10.3. PRSR 02 12 2003 11
ilkSNOWMOBILE SEASON: •.•. * MAILBOX
WHAT You NEED To KNOW * REPLACEMENT POLICY
Earlier this year,the Ramsey City Council considered Mailboxes installed and maintained to City
making changes to the Recreational Vehicle ordinance which U.S.Post Office regulations which are damaged
regulates the operation of snowmobiles and other recreational as a result of direct contact by City snow removal
vehicles in the City of Ramsey. The Council did not approve any equipment will be temporarily repaired within 48
of the proposed changes to the current Recreational Vehicle hours of receiving notification of such damage. If
ordinance. The following information should help you understand the mailbox cannot be temporarily repaired, a
the current city ordinances and state laws that regulate the portablemailboxwillbesetinplacesomailservice
operation of snowmobiles and other recreational vehicles in the will be continued. The City will replace the damaged
City of Ramsey. mailbox structure the following spring with a
WHEN CAN WE SNOWMOBILE? standard No. 1 black, white, or silver mailbox
• Between the hours of 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM Sunday mounted on 4-by 4-inch treated post.
through Thursday. Residents whose mailboxes are knocked
• Between the hours of 8:00 AM Friday to 1:00 AM down as a result of direct contact by City snow
Saturday.
• Between the hours of 8:00 AM Saturday to 1:00 AM removal equipment may request$75 allowances,
Sunday. if they so choose,to replace the mailbox structures
• One half-hour after sunset to one half-hour before themselves, relieving the City of any further
sunrise you MUST operate your snowmobile in the obligation. In such cases, the City will provide
same direction as traffic flow. € portable,temporary mailboxes until the following
WHERE CAN WE SNOWMOBILE? : spring.
• You can snowmobile on your own property. Mailboxes,which are not installed to City
• On the property of another person if you have IN and U.S.Post Office regulations,or are damaged
YOUR POSSESSION written permission of the due to snow deposited from plows(versus being
owner of that land. hit by City snow removal equipment),will not be
• On the land of a person who has clearly visible signs replaced. The City is not responsible for damage
allowing snowmobiles. to media or paper boxes and will not repair them.
• You can operate on public trails that are designated
by the City Council. Ramsey has NONE of these
trails in the City limits.
• Right-hand portion of roadway in MUSA area.
z �: >
• On lakes that are subject to the City's jurisdiction. •
The only lake of this type in Ramsey is Emerald Pond.
• On the right-of-ways of State Trunk Highways and
County State Aid roads. SNOWBIRDS GET
• On the right-of-ways of City streets in NON-MUSA
AREAS. TAGGED AND TOWED
WHERE IS IT ILLEGAL TO SNOWMOBILE? Remember not to park your motor vehicle
• On someone's land without his or her permission. on any City street during a snowfall,or afterwards,
• City Parks. You may operate on the water of Emerald until it is plowed. Vehicles parked along the road-
Pond but NOT in the park area.
• Railroad right-of--ways. way cause the snowplows to go around them,leav-
• Golf Courses. ing unplowed areas. They also present a danger
• School grounds. to plow drivers when visibility is poor. These
• Tree Nurseries or planted areas. "snowbirds"are tagged and towed at the owner's
• In the median or area between opposing lanes of expense! Save yourself money and aggravation
traffic. while you help us provide for safe and efficient
Continued on Page 14 snowplowing services.
Forgiveness is a gift of high value. Yet its cost is nothing.-Betty Smith
14
SNOWMOBILE ARTICLE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 1 COMMUNITY
• On the right-of ways of City streets INSIDE the MUSA area. ACTIVITY SIGN
WHO CAN OPERATE A SNOWMOBILE?
• People who are 18 or older. Effective 10/01/1998,persons who were 1 If you are interested in renting
born after December 31, 1976, must possess a snowmobile safety i space on the Community Activities sign
certificate. This is true even if the person is over 18. i at the Ramsey Municipal Center,
• A person who is at least 14 but younger than 18 may operate a 4 please call Kathy Schmitz at 763-433-
snowmobile if they have a valid safety certificate IN THEIR 9844.
POSSESSION.
• A person younger than 14 may NOT operate a snowmobile on any
street in the City of Ramsey. RECREATIONAL FIRES
WHAT EOUIPMENT IS REOUIRED ON A SNOWMOBILE? MUST BE 5O'
• Brakes to stop and control the movement of the snowobile.
• A"dead man throttle". FROM STRUCTURES
• A headlight of sufficient intensity to reveal people or objects at a
distance of 100 feet. Be sure to follow the City's
• At least one red taillight. burning regulations if winter inspires
• 16 square inches of reflective material in front of the handle bars. you to have a recreational fire.
• The muffler must be in working order and not modified at all. A recreational fire is an area
• If towing people or things you must use a rigid tow bar. of no more than three feet in diameter
Although a landowner maintains the road right-of-way, they are or nine square feet. It must be located
publicly owned. Therefore, landowners CANNOT place barricades, at least 50 feet from any structure or
fences, posts, or other objects, including snow piles, in the right-of-way. j vehicle. Burning barrels are prohibited.
'they place such items in the right-of-way they are subject to civil liability I Use only dry, clean wood.
.n the event these items cause injury or damage to a vehicle. i Plywood,chipboard and other products
Please contact the Ramsey Police Department for a full copy of the containing resins or glues are strictly
snowmobile ordinances at (763) 427-6812. The map below depicts the MUSA prohibited. Painted and preservative-
and non-MUSA areas of the City-areas below the black line are MUSA,above i treated wood scraps can give off toxic
the black line are non-MUSA. smoke. Don't inhale! Running grass
i fires are prohibited,except for prairie
ATE M5111 1 restoration. Burning leaves,grass and
iiiiii debri s is also prohibited.11111
Recreational burning is
' allowed only between the hours of 6
` p.m.and 6 a.m. Fires must be attended
by an adult at all times until completely
41 extinguished. A garden hose connected is
a ' to water should be nearby. Violations
IF lb. �� can be subject to a citation, including
an extinguishment charges of $250 per
MI �� _ .� hour.
III = V Be respectful of weather
• ���'fu =_ �` ��' ` conditions, neighbors, burning bans,
.� � I and air quality so that nuisance,health
Rit ?,it I; or safety hazards will not be created.
��� y�V Open fires larger than three
\ feet in diameter require a permit which
M114114.14�� ��� �a1t can be obtained at City Hall. A
_' %�•L complete copy of Ramsey City
Ordinance #92-03, which regulates
burning,is also available at City Hall.
i
When you can't have what you want,it's time to start wanting what you have.-Kathleen A.Sutton