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The return of winter to the Ely area - and one more typical than the last one - has prompted city officials to issue a few reminders.
Snow removal and placement both were addressed during Tuesday’s council meeting, with police chief Chad Houde offering stern advice.
“It’s a friendly reminder about where you put your snow,” said Houde. “If it’s not on your own property don’t put it there. Don’t put it on the streets and don’t put it on city roads. Don’t put it in your neighbor’s yard.”
Police have dealt with some complaints in the wake of recent snowfalls.
“During our first larger snowfall we did have a business that pushed their snow onto the avenue,” said clerk-treasurer and operations director Harold Langowski. “They realized their error and did comply with the chief’s suggestion to push the snow back onto their property.”
Langowski asked residents also to avoid pushing snow onto sidewalks and moving snow that would “obscure fire hydrants.”
Langowski also noted that the city does “have some snow dumps where we allow contractors and homeowners to haul their snow there.”
The snow dumps are located at 3rd Ave. West and Pattison behind Grahek and Sibley apartments, 11th Ave. East and Main Street near the Rec Center and 10th Ave. East and Pattison.
“All we ask is some common sense,” said Langowski. “Don’t go and dump it at 11 at night or three in the morning when people are trying to sleep.”
City crews have begun to remove snow from downtown areas this week, although the extent of the work could depend on anticipated snowfall this past Thursday.
Houde noted that “after a year and a half, people may have forgot” about proper snow removal techniques.
If recent weeks are any indication, Ely area residents may get plenty of practice this season.
“We might get a winter like we had maybe not two years ago, but maybe a more typical winter,” said Langowski.
Houde also noted Tuesday that interviews for a vacant police officer position were set for later in the week and that “we hope to have a recommendation at the first meeting of the new year.”
