Oskaloosa City Council defeats 3rd reading of snow ordinance

Oskaloosa Iowa City Council Chambers

The Oskaloosa City Council defeated the 3rd reading of a resolution amending our snow removal ordinance to allow residents to have 48 hours to remove snow from their sidewalks. According to city council procedure, this means that the proposed change to the ordinance was defeated and will not be voted on again. The move comes after several tied votes and two 4-3 votes on the previous readings. Council member Doug Yates changed his vote this time after he said he had received numerous phone calls in favor of 24 hours.

Council member Lori Smith defended her vote in favor of the proposed change “I am against just changing it to 48 hours however I am voting yes because of the city’s plan to be more proactive” At the onset of the meeting, several persons spoke, including Sophomore Bob Leonard “If we approve the addition of 24 hrs to the current snow removal time then we might as well let people have their lawn grow to 2 feet before we take any action. This (the snow ordinance) is just making the lazy lazier and the irresponsible more irresponsible.”  “I don’t see why we are wasting our time still discussing this issue because, to me, the choice was clear to me from day one.” Leonard also said. The city’s snow ordinance will remain at its current state due to tonight’s vote. In other news, the city council:

• appointed Randall Davis to the Housing Trust Fund Committee to fill an unexpired term ending January 31, 2011
• approved the 2010 street finance report
• renewed the Edmundson Golf Course PGA Professional’s contract
• approved a contract with Shankster Masonry to repair the public library’s roof
• received an annual report from the municipal housing agency
• received the fiscal year 2010 report from City Clerk Amy Miller