Uncertainty about cost kept Clarkston City Council from making a decision on sidewalk snow removal, Oct.22.
“My opinion, I don’t think it should be done,” said DPW manager Jason Miller about an idea for the city to plow sidewalks at no charge to residents for a year. “It would open up can of worms if you ask me.”
Plowing sidewalks this year but not the year after would confuse residents, he said.
The city calculated the cost of enforcing an ordinance for residents to shovel their sidewalks, and came up with $4,500 to the city.
Costs would include wages for a code enforcement officer and administrative hours.
Plowing the sidewalks would cost from $5,000-$12,000, Miller said.
“If all the snow falls at night, it would be tons of overtime ? it could jump from $5,000 to $12,000 like that,” he said.
The council postponed the decision on sidewalk snow removal until its Oct. 27 meeting.
This past August, City Council held a public hearing regarding a Special Assessment District (SAD), to charge each resident $65 for the city to shovel sidewalks.
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A project to extend the sidewalk on the west side of Main Street from Miller Road north to the city limits is off the table for now.
A resident owning the property decided not to provide the right of way for the project, said City Manager Carol Eberhardt
City Council had approved up to $20,000 for the work. Council voted 6-0 at its Oct. 22 meeting to put the money back in the reserve fund for capital improvements.
? Phil Custodio