Kent officials call snow piles a safety issue, look for solutions
After a snowstorm dumped nearly a foot and a half of snow on the region, Kent City Council voted to ask the city's administration to look into the issue of snow clearing, calling the matter a safety issue.
Councilwoman John Kuhar said the "terrible dumping" of snow "really put some bad conditions on the sidewalks." On East Main Street, he said, several businesses left a "six foot pile of snow" on the sidewalks.
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Councilwoman Heidi Shaffer-Bish said she noticed at least 6 people walking in Main Street recently because there was no other place to walk. She suggested that when that happens, the city could close a lane to traffic so pedestrians can use it.
"There's no place to walk," she said. "There's probably won't be any other place to walk for the next two weeks."
She made a motion to refer the issue of sidewalk safety after snow events to the city administration, and asked them to work with Franklin Township officials. Councilmen Garrett Ferrara and Roger Sidoti voted against the motion, while all other council members voted for it.
Councilman Robin Turner pointed out that the city has an ordinance that forbids businesses from blocking access to sidewalks. "It appears to me we're doing it," he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, high piles of snow prompted the city to announce a meter holiday, with free two-hour parking at downtown meters because of large snow piles that made it hard for motorists to access them.
"That snow we had over the weekend was probably the worst snow I've ever plowed," said Councilman Mike DeLeone, an employee of Franklin Township's road crew. "You can't sit back and two days after the event, criticize us for trying to solve this problem ... Give it a little time. It's been two days."
Ferrara suggested that the city would be better spent encouraging people to take the bus to avoid the snow. Shaffer-Bish later pointed out that pedestrians still need to walk to get to the bus stops.
"We're just spinning our wheels," Ferrara said. He said he disagreed with the idea to close a lane, because most motorist won't get the message that the lane is closed. "It's going to be like death race 2000, where people are just getting mowed down on the street," he said.
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at dsmith@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Kent council members say snow on sidewalks is a safety hazard
