When it comes to plowing snowy sidewalks on private property, city officials have taken an ‘all or nothing? approach.
‘This is unacceptable, we’ve beat this horse to death,? said Councilman Charles Inabnit at the Jan. 25 meeting. ‘This year we shouldn’t be discussing what it takes to get a sidewalk cleaned.?
City officials directed City Manager Dennis Ritter to ask Department of Public Works Supervisor Bob Pursley to look into what it would take to do all the city sidewalks at the Jan. 11 meeting.
Pursley responded in a letter to the council they could do all the city sidewalks in six hours, but they would need to purchase a 47-inch snow blower at a cost of $21,800, which is currently not available in the budget. He was afraid the current 54-inch wide plow blade would ‘catch too much grass.?
‘However, I think we should be able to do Miller Road, Waldon Road, and M-15 from the Plum house to North Middle Lake Road, which the council discussed at the last meeting,? Pursley said.
The council voted unanimous, no private property is done by the DPW with the exception of Miller Road, north of the Millpond.
Inabnit said they couldn’t be selective.
‘If you want to do it, we’ve got to do everybody, I said that when we had the DPW stop doing all those areas (two years ago) because it wasn’t fair to the rest of the taxpayers,? he said. ‘I mean you can’t be selective like that when you’re a government.?
Not only was Inabnit upset about selective sidewalks, but selective code enforcement as it pertains to residents having to clean their sidewalks.
?’Why do we even bother,? is the feeling I’m getting anymore,? he said. ‘We passed an ordinance and we don’t enforce it, there is no reason to pass anymore as far as I’m concerned if that’s the way we’re going to enforce the ones we have.?
Councilman Stephen Hargis also felt property owners should ‘own up to their responsibility.?
Ritter sent letters out to property owners in early winter reminding them to clear their sidewalks.
‘The council has instructed me write warning letters if it’s not cleared within in 24 hours – as long as it’s over two inches,? he said. ‘They were emphatic about making sure that gets done and it will get done, that’s to say if it’s not complied with at that point in time they will be issued a citation.?
Ritter noted the city overall has had ‘major compliance? with the ordinance.
‘I’ve had a couple council members tell me that this is the best year they’ve seen with compliance,? he said. ‘I’m pleased by that and I think it reflects on the community overall, interest and concern for their city, we’ll do what we’ll have to do to keep it safe for everybody.?
Councilman James Brueck said he thought they ‘took the right course of action.?
‘We’ve talked about it enough, I think the public understands and have been very cooperative too,? he said. ‘Where I walk around I’ve seen much improvement from previous years.?
‘We finally got some clarity as to what the expectations are and what money there is to do it,? said Mayor Stephen Arkwright.