Hartley council discusses snowy sidewalks

The City of Hartley's willingness to enforce ordinances was called into question during Monday's council meeting.

Resident Tim Hilbert was in attendance to complain about snow-covered sidewalks, which he believed are a big problem in town. He claimed it's nearly impossible to walk a single block during the winter without running into a sidewalk that isn't scooped.

"Nobody [scoops] because you don't enforce it," Hilbert said. "As a city council, do you think it's acceptable? I can't even go to the post office and bank without slipping and sliding."

Property owners have 48 hours to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks after precipitation has stopped. If they don't, the city has the authority to do it for them at a cost of $150 per property owner.

City Administrator Erica Haack asserted that the sidewalk ordinance is being enforced and officials are trying to keep up to the best of their abilities. If a city staff member personally observes or receives a complaint about uncleared sidewalks, the complaint is verified. If it's determined the sidewalk does need to be cleared, City Hall contacts the owner or tenant or posts notice on their property indicating that they need to remove the snow, or the city may do so at a cost.

Haack explained the city is not obligated under the ordinance to notify property owners before their sidewalks are cleared.

"We prefer that property owners clear their own, as they are responsible under city ordinances for their general sidewalk maintenance," she said after the meeting. "If the owners don't clear them within the timeframe allowed, we make the determination whether we will have city crew clean them and charge accordingly."

Hilbert still believed the city wasn't doing enough to enforce the ordinance. Council Member Roxann Swanson said it wasn't as easy as it may seem, because repeat offenders won't pay the $150 charge no matter how many times their sidewalks are cleared.

"We can assess and assess and assess, but we're not going to get it back," Swanson said. "We understand the problem. The problem is dealing with the problem."

Superintendent of Public Works Jaron Benz said sidewalk issues exist every winter, but they've been exacerbated this year due to high snowfall totals.

"Every community deals with the same thing," he said. "Laziness abounds."

Swanson proposed that the council budget money for sidewalk snow removal next year. The sidewalk committee comprised of Swanson and Council Member Ron Hengeveld will meet with Haack to brainstorm solutions to the problem.