CEDAR RAPIDS- Street crews in Cedar Rapids getting ready to battle the first real snowfall of winter expected Friday have some added chores this season.

In addition to plowing hundreds of miles of city streets, the same workers must also shovel sidewalks in front of city-owned residential properties.  Those properties in the flood zone of 2008, that have completed the buyout process, now number more than 200.  Public Works managers expect that number to swell to 400 plus by the end of winter.

The city expects homeowners to clear a path in front of their homes when it snows.  And the same rules apply if it’s city-owned property.

In recent weeks, streets crews have begun marking the site of former homes now owned by the city.  They’re erecting metal poles tipped with reflective pink paint.  Craig Hanson, Cedar Rapids Public Works Maintenance Manager, said the idea of marking the new city-owned property is to insure crews know where they have to clear sidewalks as well as plow streets.

Hanson said the city has sidewalk plows that can be used in some areas.  But some sidewalks are too narrow and workers will have to use the same tool as many homeowners—shovels and snow blowers.

“Our crews have been increased by two people via the flood fund.  But other than that, it’s an intense effort we’ll be targeting this winter and it’ll be a new challenge,” Hanson said.

Hanson said the city has closed entire stretches of sidewalk in some of the hardest hit areas of the flood zone.  Those areas marked with “sidewalk closed” signs won’t get cleared of snow until the sidewalk in front of every other city-owned lot is cleared first.

As for city streets, Hanson said the city has a plentiful supply of salt and sand entering the winter season.  He is changing one policy when it comes to melting snow and ice on the roads.  About ten years ago, Cedar Rapids crews routinely added calcium chloride to salt to enable it to keep melting snow at lower temperatures.  That tactic was abandoned for awhile due to budget constraints.

Hanson said he has the money now and the calcium chloride will be used again on Cedar Rapids streets