Snow means joy for skiers, but it inspires dread in a whole other segment of the Salt Lake population. These residents may find themselves effectively snowed in — in the middle of Salt Lake City, Kristi Johnson, director of the county's LifeCare program, says.
"We have a lot of frail people who call us to say, 'I can't get out to my doctor appointment,' " Johnson said, so snow pileups in driveways or walkways can create "a life-or-death situation for some."
LifeCare, a division of Salt Lake County Aging Services, provides free snow removal for 300 households. Those elderly or disabled residents have been lucky enough to land on Johnson's active list, so after every snowstorm a county worker or volunteer pays a visit with a shovel or a snowblower. But another 75 households are on LifeCare's waiting list, Johnson said, and she takes three or four calls a week from others who need help. Many callers don't have family members living nearby. And neighbors may have offered to clear a path — but for a price.
"Sometimes they've asked a kid to (shovel the walkway), and the kid took 10 minutes and wanted $20," she said.
Most cities in the valley require residents to clear the sidewalks fronting their homes within 24 hours after the end of a snowstorm. "It's only enforced on a complaint basis," said Salt Lake Public Services Director Rick Graham, but by mid-November he had already received a few such complaints and issued four citations.
First-time delinquent snow-shovelers are fined $75, but Graham would rather not resort to such penalties.
"Within the community, we have a lot of wonderful people in church groups and Scout groups," he said. "There's a network out there. If we can just reach the right people, we can work on this problem, or even make it go away."
In past years Graham has rallied community councils around the snow-removal cause, encouraging the groups' leaders to promote a simple idea: helping a neighbor. Besides, shoveling a block of sidewalk packs benefits for the worker. The exercise can preclude a session inside the gym and give people the kind of workout many of them can use between holiday feasts.
This year, Graham has yet to call his list of community council chairmen. But a couple of them told the Deseret News they're already preparing for what is forecast to be an especially snowy winter.
"We passed out fliers in the neighborhood, asking people if they needed help (shoveling snow), or if they would be willing to help others," said Rich Osguthorpe, chairman of the Lower Foothill Community Council. It turned out that 15 residents needed a hand and 20 others volunteered to go on snow patrol, and "we matched them up," he said. "The neighborhood has banded together."
Sugar House Community Council chairman Ty McCartney, newly elected to the Utah House of Representatives, was eager to do the same. "I'll bring it up at our next meeting," he promised. The Sugar House Community Council meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month; the next meeting will be Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Forest Dale golf course clubhouse, 2375 S. 900 East.
Clearly, snow removal isn't a problem requiring an in-depth needs-assessment study nor a multi-step remediation program. It does call for old-fashioned neighborliness, said Johnson of LifeCare.
"I would encourage kids who're looking for something to do to consider shoveling a neighbor's walk for them," she said. "It just takes a few minutes." And anyone who wants to go a little farther and volunteer to help other elderly residents of the county — while getting some exercise — is urged to call LifeCare at 978-2452.
E-MAIL: durbani@desnews.com