MONROE - Plow crews will be approaching snow at a different angle on the city's downtown Square.
The Board of Public Works on Monday approved having the Street Department plow snow toward the inner circle, especially on Fridays and weekends, to leave parking available along business fronts.
Several downtown business owners attended the board's meeting to ask whether the city could stop plowing snow toward the perimeters of the Square, a practice they said hindered customers.
"I see people jumping those snow piles," said Duke (Robert) Goetz, owner of the Goetz theater.
Goetz said downtown businesses have to compete with the west side, where businesses have their own parking lots, and favored having the snow pushed toward the inner circle.
Thurston Hanson, alderman for the downtown Ward 7, asked during a meeting Jan. 20 that the issue be placed on the next agenda, after he received calls from business owners about the problem of city crews leaving the snow piles over the weekend.
City crews plow the Square whenever it snows and removes the piles the next day. But city policy is to leave the snow, if it is a weekend, until Monday, to cut overtime costs.
"This (policy) makes no sense, because it hurts businesses," Hanson said Monday.
Hanson said one businessman reported business was down 50 percent on a weekend after snow was "pushed up against the outer rim next to businesses."
Part of the business decline can be attributed to the slower economy, but another reason could be that customers couldn't get to the businesses, Hanson said.
"If they can't get to the businesses, why plow at all?" he asked.
Board member Charles Schuringa said that business going out of town also means tax dollars leaving.
Member Dan Henke said crews do cut pathways to the sidewalks, and when he was on the Square during the weekend, saw at least two cuts were made on each side.
"They were pretty decent to do that on a Friday; it's not all the city crews' fault," he said.
Shifting crews' schedules to allow for compensation time rather than overtime was determined to be an unsatisfactory solution.
"We can't just move hours because of union contracts," Mark Coplien, board vice-president, said. Coplien also said crews can work only eight hours a day before overtime rates kick in.
Overtime has used 20 percent of the street maintenance budget already this winter, according to Director of Public Works Kelly Finkenbinder.
Green County Clerk Mike Doyle said snow could be pushed toward the inner rings on weekends because the courthouse is closed.
"We don't care at the courthouse," he said.
Street Department Supervisor Tom Boll said the change may cause a "time factor on Monday" when piles are picked up.
"Once you've done it three times, or six times, after that maybe you can find a way to do it easier," Coplien said.
Alderman Neal Hunter voted no on the motion. Keith Ingwell was absent.
The Board of Public Works on Monday approved having the Street Department plow snow toward the inner circle, especially on Fridays and weekends, to leave parking available along business fronts.
Several downtown business owners attended the board's meeting to ask whether the city could stop plowing snow toward the perimeters of the Square, a practice they said hindered customers.
"I see people jumping those snow piles," said Duke (Robert) Goetz, owner of the Goetz theater.
Goetz said downtown businesses have to compete with the west side, where businesses have their own parking lots, and favored having the snow pushed toward the inner circle.
Thurston Hanson, alderman for the downtown Ward 7, asked during a meeting Jan. 20 that the issue be placed on the next agenda, after he received calls from business owners about the problem of city crews leaving the snow piles over the weekend.
City crews plow the Square whenever it snows and removes the piles the next day. But city policy is to leave the snow, if it is a weekend, until Monday, to cut overtime costs.
"This (policy) makes no sense, because it hurts businesses," Hanson said Monday.
Hanson said one businessman reported business was down 50 percent on a weekend after snow was "pushed up against the outer rim next to businesses."
Part of the business decline can be attributed to the slower economy, but another reason could be that customers couldn't get to the businesses, Hanson said.
"If they can't get to the businesses, why plow at all?" he asked.
Board member Charles Schuringa said that business going out of town also means tax dollars leaving.
Member Dan Henke said crews do cut pathways to the sidewalks, and when he was on the Square during the weekend, saw at least two cuts were made on each side.
"They were pretty decent to do that on a Friday; it's not all the city crews' fault," he said.
Shifting crews' schedules to allow for compensation time rather than overtime was determined to be an unsatisfactory solution.
"We can't just move hours because of union contracts," Mark Coplien, board vice-president, said. Coplien also said crews can work only eight hours a day before overtime rates kick in.
Overtime has used 20 percent of the street maintenance budget already this winter, according to Director of Public Works Kelly Finkenbinder.
Green County Clerk Mike Doyle said snow could be pushed toward the inner rings on weekends because the courthouse is closed.
"We don't care at the courthouse," he said.
Street Department Supervisor Tom Boll said the change may cause a "time factor on Monday" when piles are picked up.
"Once you've done it three times, or six times, after that maybe you can find a way to do it easier," Coplien said.
Alderman Neal Hunter voted no on the motion. Keith Ingwell was absent.