Sioux Falls code enforcement’s motto, “Do as we say, not as we do.”
Bumpy and icy neighborhood side streets have some people in Sioux Falls concerned about snow removal policies.
After our weekend snow storm, city plows cleared off main and secondary streets, but officials only clear off residential streets when there is a snow alert.
That’s an issue for some homeowners and it has to do with shoveling. They want to know why the city doesn’t have to plow some of these streets, but they’ll get fined for not shoveling their sidewalks. People are out chipping away at thick ice and shoveling that wet snow.
According to a city release, you have until 2 p.m. Tuesday to clean and clear your sidewalks, or you’ll have to pay for it. The people we talked to wonder why the city doesn’t follow these rules when it comes to clearing all of our streets.
Some streets are slick and bumpy; many of them have deep ruts at the intersections. All of this could make for a dangerous drive.
I was smart and scooped that greasy crap Sunday night before it turned into a sheet of ice. Besides if it stays warm over the next couple of days, the ice will be gone in no time. But, hey if you live on ‘Mayoral’ St. Charles Lane, where the mayor lives, you get a nice chemical sprayed down for you because it is a ‘secondary’ snow route and the only route coming out of that development*. Well guess what, I live on a street that is a deadend on either end and I have to drive on a different street to get over to Cliff Avenue. and usually I have to plow my car thru a gigantic ridge of snow and ice to get onto Cliff (something that could be eliminated with snowgates). The mayor is slowly separating the working class from the ruling class in Sioux Falls. If you belong to the ruling class you get icemelt on your street, you can blab at meetings as long as you want about needing a TIF or an indoor pool. If you belong to the working class they intimidate you with code enforcement violations (that you are not legally obligated to pay) and stifle your free speech rights while disregarding your petitions.
*Rumor has it that St. Charles Lane has also been resurfaced TWICE since Huether has been mayor. I do know another media source in SFÂ has tried to obtain those records from Public Works, but has been unsuccessful thus far.
Have you driven by some of the City buildings? I went by two parks today and the sidewalks around them are still completely covered in ice.
They should take care of their own property before sending out threats.
Councilor Entenman also lives on St. Charles Lane.
TP – They always claim ‘state property’. I like how the media pushes their mighty ‘code enforcement’ agenda, because golly gee, those poor fixed income retirees need to be out chopping ice all day. Don’t get me wrong, you should keep the sidewalks clear, but let the sun do it’s job a few days before cracking down on people like they are snow removal criminals. You know contractors are salivating at the fact they get to go around and salt the crap out of these ‘violators’ sidewalks. I don’t understand how we don’t have any money to put down chemical but we are planning a $20 million dollar indoor pool and building an entertainment facility we don’t need.
I see they had a change of heart:
http://www.keloland.com/videoarchive/?videofile=130212badstreets12
Notice what Mallory says in the story (trouble getting thru intersections). Gee, if we had snowgates they would clear intersections.
Correct, they can give you citations but you don’t have to pay. They do not conform with SD civil procedures. Courts dismiss their case. If they clean your walk and send you a bill, don’t pay. They can’t use a court for a judgement. Keep in mind any fee/fine you pay the city is either an admission of guilt or agreeing to their terms. If you add on to your house, do it without permits. If they cite you to trim trees, ignore them but do it in a few years when they’re no longer involved. We should be good neighbors but protest city monarchy.
Speaking of Keloland, how did they manage to scoop you on this story or did I miss it?
http://www.keloland.com/newsdetail.cfm/sioux-falls-man-takes-aim-at-sioux-city-traffic-cameras/?id=143793
I also noticed that the 26th & I-229 corridor study includes some options that take a lot of properties in that region (www.26thstreetcorridorstudy.com). One interchange option takes several houses in the Riverdale neighborhood; one 26th & Southeastern option takes some businesses along Southeastern.
I guess the mantra is “Gut the older neighborhoods so that people living out by Dalwey can get to work 45 seconds faster!” One option is also to raise up 26th and Southeastern into a mini-freeway-style interchange with a bridge over the RR tracks. That sure would improve the commute for someone who lives around, say, St Charles Lane!
Tom – Cheryl Rath caught that months ago.
Sy – Dan did tell me about the ticket, but I don’t care about Sioux City. Plus, it is nice to see KELO give dan some camera time, it’s too bad he couldn’t get in a plug about public testimony.
I really don’t consider plowing the streets the same thing as removing snow and ice from the sidewalk – and honestly I’d rather have them NOT plow all the streets when we have just a bit of snow because not only does it save money on plowing, it is much easier on the streets themselves.
I will agree that the city should clear the sidewalks around their own property before sending out violations for others though… that is only fair. However, in most cases violations are in response to a citizen complaint and I think the first notice gives the property owner time to address it, so maybe the first step here is to call the city enforcement office and complain about the ice on the steps of city hall.
As far as ‘state property’ that applies to the sidewalks on state roads such as 12th street. The state should clear the sidewalks so I’m not going to fault the city for not doing so. Also they do deserve some credit as I saw plows on West avenue cleaning the snow from the sidewalks when it would have been much easier to tell the homeowners that it was their responsibility.
So not everyone who collects a city paycheck is out to screw people over.
Now about that 26th interchange, even the state DOT office said several of the options mentioned by the consultant who did the study weren’t exactly feasible. There are several options that don’t involve removal of homes or businesses all of which would improve that area. Let’s not be quite so cynical to think the state DOT is somehow in bed with our Mayor – that is just silly.
Truth be told the one item that appeared to be of the biggest concern was the new interchange might make it impossible for Westbound traffic to turn into that Greenhouse or the day camp (due to a median). At least they are taking that in to consideration – although in the end it may not matter since traffic flow generally takes priority over access to private driveways.
But Craig, no money is supposed to be spent outside of downtown. Haven’t you read that memo here? 🙂
Seriously, that interchange has been outdated for at least two decades. There are limited ways to get to that side of town, and I do anything possible to avoid that bridge.
As I recall the greenhouse moved from the old location to the current one due to the city needing to change 14th street. Isn’t it ironic no matter which option is implemented, they get screwed over again.
I was reading the questionnaires and noticed they don’t ask the same or similar questions. Notice how they seem to be tilting the discussion in the questions?
Snowgates, snow removal, snow snow snow…what do you expect you live in South Dakota. Get outside, shovel your sidewalks and stop complaining, or move to Florida. #getoverit #smalltownproblems
I saw a city employee clearing the sidewalk at the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum yesterday. City Park on County Land with daily traffic of 1-4 people this time of year.
Foot – sounds appropriate, the city spending taxdollars on the minority, that is what they are good at.
Not sure if you saw the press conference with Galyn Huber on AL’s Lalley’s Laugh-in program, but Galyn did say they drop chemical on the secondary routes using discretion. Funny how they used that ‘discreation’ on St. Charles Lane. LOL.
Being a nonSF resident, Dawley Farm communter who will get to work 45 seconds sooner, living in the Bermuda Triangle that will never be annexed into the city with city all around me, I am amazed at the amount of taxpayer money spent on Parks. I like it as long as you guys like spending your tax money that way.
I think some would be amazed that SF maintains City Parks not on city land that are 12 miles apart.
I support the interchange option that doesn’t take any property, and converts it into a diamond (option 4 I think?). Removing those huge NB ramps would open up a lot of land for potential redevelopment, too. It’s the hot mess at 26th & Southeastern that I think is crazy – raising the intersection several feet, bridges over the RR tracks, tunnels for Southeastern through traffic, frontage roads taking out businesses.
Craig, your comment about traffic flow vs. access is the real heart of the matter. 26th Street here is a STROAD – too much traffic and lanes to function effectively as a street, too much access to function effectively as a road.
I here you Tom. Perhaps the day will come when the city will finally buy up that row of houses on the North side of 26th at least down to Cliff, but the cost might offset the benefits.
Too bad nobody has a handy tunnel boring machine they could loan us!
I suppose now we will start hearing comments from people saying “those Eastsiders knew what they were getting when they bought out there – so too bad”… which is right in line with the complaints about the Westsiders who were asking for a 26th st exit off of I-29.
All I can say is if I had a time machine I’d go back to 1950 and slap a few city planners.
With unlimited funds, I think the elevated highway is a great option. Think of west Dodge St in Omaha. Commuter traffic zooming by on high and local traffic below. On that street you can zoom into Omaha from the burbs. I would extend the elevated highway to Cleveland. The problem on the east side unlike the west side is rail traffic on 26th. And my understanding is this will only get to be more of an issue.
Getting rid of the traffic issues surrouding the I229 exchange and the railroad, you really don’t need to worry about 26th st west of there. If they want to make 2 lanes into town in the morning and two lane out of town in the evening, great. We really do not have a crisis traffic problem out on the east side of town.
I know we do not have unlimited funds, but in 2050 they may say the same things we are saying now — slap us up beside the head for not doing anything.
Is what you say about not having to pay snow removal fines also true for fines for not cutting down weeds? I have a passive aggressive neighbor who turned me in for having a small patch- about 10 – of weeds on my property off the alley last summer. I got a letter in June from the city & promptly mowed. I was working between 65 & 70 hrs/wk at the time and didn’t go back there to even know. Nothing else grew, so I had no reason to think about it. Long about October, I got a bill for $50 stating tne city mowed down the weeds in Sept. The city only sends out one letter a year as a “courtesy”. I paid the fine of $50. Would the city not have been able to do anything had I not paid it?