Mandan to Recognize Businesses for Winter Decorating & Snow Shoveling

Shoveling sidewalks outside merchant doorways and looking festive for the holidays is good for business. In Mandan, it could also mean winning awards again this winter.

For the second year in a row, City leaders are offering opportunities for businesses to win two types of awards, one for being best at clearing snow and another for businesses and commercial property owners who decorate their buildings. Winners will receive traveling awards along with a special business feature on Made in Mandan social media.

Last year Mane Expressions won both awards. The goal of these contests is to improve Mandan’s sparkle, accessibility and pedestrian-friendliness during the cold season.

Winter Decorating Award. Businesses and commercial property owners are encouraged to decorate their building exteriors and interior spaces visible from the outside (storefronts, windows, parking lots, etc.) and keep them decorated through the month of January. Decorating can be lit or unlit, festive, fun or elegant. Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 31, with public voting to occur in January. 

Golden Shovel Award. The business voted to be keeping adjacent sidewalks clear of snow and ice will win Mandan’s golden shovel traveling award. Nominees will be welcomed through Feb. 1, 2024, with public voting to occur the following month. Local ordinance requires property owners to clean sidewalks of snow and ice within 24 hours of accumulation. Failure to do so can result in the City hiring a contractor for the job and billing the cost to the property owner. The minimum fee is $50 per occurrence plus the cost of services.

Winners will be recognized at meetings of the Mandan City Commission in 2024.

 

SNOW REMOVAL REMINDERS

  1. Property owners must clear sidewalks on or along lots or parcels of land of snow and ice within 24 hours of accumulation. The City encourages property owners to shovel throughout snowstorms to maintain accessibility to properties. 
  2. Where sidewalks run across alleys or other public ways, adjacent property owners are responsible to clear snow and ice half the distance across the alley or public way, or to street’s gutter line/the curb. This includes keeping corner sidewalks, ramps and curb extensions clear of ice and snow. 
  3. For properties in the downtown core with buildings constructed lot line to lot line, snow from sidewalks may be placed in the adjacent parking lane for the City to haul out, generally 1-2 days after a snowfall of 4 inches or more.
  4. Failure keep sidewalks free of snow and ice can result in the City hiring a contractor for the job and billing the cost to the property owner. The minimum fee is $50 per occurrence plus the cost of services ($15 plus an additional $1 per foot beyond distances of 50 feet).
  5. Concerns may be submitted online.

 For details, see municipal code chapter 16-2-1.