Snow, Citation, and Parking Changes

 The Cascade City Council adopted Administrator Lisa Kotter’s suggestion that parking citations be increased 300% from the $5 they are now to $20. (Incidentally, there is only one local town with a $5 parking citation fee; most are $20.) Council defined a “snow emergency as 4 inches or more, discussed instituting a violation fee for them of $150 for the first citation, $200 for the second and $250 for the third. Until the ordinance is passed, it’s only a tow charge.

            When Kotter proposed that the current 48-hr window we have for sidewalk snow removal be cut in half, they went for that. Citizens will get a warning (a doorknob hanger) and have another 24 hours, a total of 48 before the city would remove the snow and assess your property tax. 

Councilwoman Oliphant pointed out that this might be a burden for the elderly and less well off, noting “we don’t have sidewalk.” Generally, Cascade’s older neighborhoods have sidewalk and newer ones don’t, creating an inequitable situation under which half the city has incurs the expense of snow, vegetation and obstruction removal etc. and the other half does not.

The administrator reiterated, “The goal is to affect change, not to increase revenue.” Someone might be forgiven for thinking it might be a 3^rd option.

Residents from the N.E. section of Tyler St. just beyond Main Street where there has been an incremental increase in traffic were invited to discuss solutions. Resident Ann Kurt noted she has lived at her present location for 40 years, asked why this has become a problem. Clearly, traffic to River Bend, including Martin semis, and both the size and frequency of industrial agricultural equipment (cattle transports and honey wagons) turning into a narrow street have created a potential hazard at the top of the hill, just across from the grade school.

However, those who precipitated the problem will not be required to remedy it: after a half hour’s discussion, the parking spaces on the west side of the street (along the Noonan residence) will be eliminated. Most of these changes will take publication and readings at coming meetings, but should be in place by the new year.

Council approved Tax Increment Payments to ROSO Properties, LLC, an agreement that was cut by the previous city administrator on the building rented by Butch & Frankies, for renovations that have already been done.