CRYSTAL FALLS—A proposal to change Ordinance 2.19 regarding the removal of snow from public sidewalks on Superior Avenue was table for review following a public hearing by the Crystal Falls City Council on Monday, April 14.

The ordinance reads: “Property owners must remove snow and ice within 72 hours of its accumulation.” The proposal would change it to within 24 hours of a snowfall. Fines would remain the same, $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second offense and $250 for third and repeated offenses.

The council received several letters against the proposal, and many business owners who were also against the change attended the hearing.

Randy Hegstrom said business owners are already paying higher taxes and higher utilities to the city.

“The city has a loader taking one pass along the sidewalks,” he said. “Why not two passes, and then shovel and salt the sidewalks? The businesses are struggling and it would be a nice gesture by the city to help us.”

Marv Hill noted the VFW post has the longest sidewalk downtown, plus a pocket park to clear of snow.

“So if you want us to do it we will, but it’s going to take longer than 24 hours.”

Emil Bicigo said the city owns the sidewalks, so shouldn’t the city take care of them?

Duane Lortie asked why, when the main street was re-done, the light poles were put in the middle of the sidewalks instead of near the buildings. The city used to plow the sidewalks and then the business owners could clear the rest. Now the poles are just obstacles, he said, noting a woman opened her car door into a pole.

City Manager Charles Nordeman explained, “When the project was planned a year and a half ago, the state selected U.P. Engineers & Architects for the engineering work. They were under contract with MDOT, not with the city.

“As planning progressed, they had meetings with the city and the Downtown Development Authority. And it was determined early on that most of the DDA members didn’t want the light standards next to the buildings, but out by the street for aesthetic value.

“The DDA felt they would look better,” he said, “but the city crews were against it from the start.

“We thought we had it taken care of with the engineering firm and chose the equipment that would work. We told the engineers three times how much clearance we needed and we bought the equipment. At the construction phase, the engineers made a mistake and told MDOT less than what we needed. Any liability is with the engineering firm.

“Understand,” Nordeman stressed, “they were under contract with MDOT, not with us. We explained to the engineers where we wanted them, we bought the equipment based on that, and they made the error. Had the lights been put where we asked, there wouldn’t be a problem today.

“The lights are where they are, and there’s nothing we can do about it now. The DDA was adamant the lights be out by the street and those members at the April 14 DDA meeting agreed to take care of the sidewalks in front of their buildings. The issue is with those not taking care of their sidewalks, letting them get icy and melt down the street.”

One of the city’s main issues, agreed Mayor Janet Hendrickson, is pedestrian safety.

“We feel better having them cleared in 24 hours, before they can turn into ice.”

Hegstrom thought city employees have plenty of time to clear the sidewalks, and business owners are already paying taxes for those services.

Hendrickson reminded the audience that the crews must plow the main streets, side streets and alleys. She commended them for the tremendous job they did during the past few snowstorms, saying they shouldn’t have to clear the sidewalks, too.

Councilor Mark Valesano noted, “There were some good points made. It’s worse on the south side with no sunshine, so maybe the crews could spend a little more time and make a second pass there. But there will still be snow that needs to be removed.”

He suggested a time limit of 48 hours instead of 24.

“The city invested a lot of money on the new street and half of our year is winter,” he said. “We need to work toward some solution and some compromise.”

Street Department Foreman Kelly Stankewicz said the new equipment doesn’t fit between the light poles and buildings on the north side of the street, so they can only plow the areas between the poles. However, crews could take a second swipe on the south side to clean them better.

When asked about buying a smaller piece of equipment, Stankewicz said the city could buy a smaller machine, but then it would be dedicated to snow removal.

“We wanted one with attachments, like a stump grinder and sweeper,” Nordeman explained.

Councilor Edna Heikkinen thought 24 hours was fine except following weekend storms.

“We have the streetscape project completed,” she said. “It’s no good to look back at what was done, but better to look forward and how to take care of it. But the fines are excessive.”

Nordeman appealed to the practicality of the situation.

“Say it’s 24 hours,” he began, “but we have a Friday night snowstorm. I don’t think we’d actively fine them if they waited, but come Monday morning it better be cleared. It’s the absentee owners that should be fined, and if we do it, they’ll find someone to clear their sidewalks.”

A committee comprised of Stankewicz, Nordeman and Councilor Jack Bicigo will review the ordinance change and come back to the council with a recommendation.