City Council discusses changes in snow policy

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — Worthington residents can expect to see some minor changes come next winter, as City Council members have adopted the first reading of an amended snow policy at Monday’s meeting.

The majority of the changes pertain to verbiage, such as personnel titles.

The most notable amendment would be the ability to declare a snow emergency within the community.

The emergency would only be declared in the event that “the presence of snow, freezing rain, sleet or snowdrifts occurs upon the public right-of-way which is likely to create hazardous road conditions” that would hinder snow removal and movement between the fire, health or police departments or any other emergency traffic.

In the event of a snow emergency, the police department would have the authority to immediately cite and remove parked vehicles hampering snow removal.

This is a change to previous years, in which the state required law enforcement to wait for a 24-hour period before towing such vehicles.

Odd-even parking would still be in effect as in previous winters.

Council members will review the amended policy for an additional reading at its next meeting.

In other business, the council:

* Discussed a cooperative construction agreement between the city and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) regarding the Trunk Highway 59/60 Phase II construction project. The agreement would include the city’s portion of the project’s costs, such as utility relocations, future maintenance responsibilities and the city’s release of roadways and drainage facilities.

* Approved a petition to vacate portions of First Avenue and Ninth Street for the construction of the proposed fire hall. Ninth Street would be vacated from Second Avenue to First Avenue, while First Avenue would be vacated from Ninth Street to 10th Street.

The petition was signed by the owners of more than 50 percent of neighboring properties and within 300 feet from the right-of-way to be vacated.

* Approved the annual 2011 summer recreation fees for the city’s summer youth recreation and adult softball programs, which are managed by Worthington Area YMCA. The majority of the activities would see no increase in fees or a minimal increase.

* Approved a $5 increase the 2011 annual park concession and dock permits.

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