Snowy walks could become “nuisance” in La Crosse

Routinely failing to shovel snow off your sidewalk could be classified as a nuisance by the city of La Crosse.  

A city council committee has voted to include snowy walks among chronic nuisance behaviors, including leaving too much garbage outside a house and failing to cut the grass. 

Judiciary committee chair Andrea Richmond says City Hall should give homeowners more warning about the snow before sending in a crew to shovel, and leaving the citizen with a bill.

“Why not make the phone call?” asked Richmond. “I don’t believe the inspection department has done a good enough job in following through on some of the complaints.”  

Over the last month, a few property owners in La Crosse have appealed bills they received from the city for not shoveling sidewalks on time, including a Rose Street business owner who was sent a $1400 bill after the city shoveled the walk in front of the business.  

Council member Gary Padesky says some relief is needed for pedestrians.

“There are people in wheelchairs, there are people in little mopeds, there are people with mobility issues like myself, that they need clean sidewalks,” said Padesky.

In other winter-related business, the committee approved a change in the alternate-side parking ordinance, authorizing police to decide when the odd-even parking will begin for the winter. The parking plan would begin once La Crosse gets its first 2-inch snowfall on or after November 15th.

The current parking rule expires for the season on March 15th.