OSKALOOSA — The third time was the charm for the Oskaloosa City Council to decide what to do about snow removal assessments.

At Monday’s regular city council meeting, the council unanimously voted to approve these assessments after discussing the matter at length during two previous council meetings.

“I voted against it the first time because there were some unclear facts,” explained City Councilman Tom Walling. “Being new on the council, I made a mistake. I should have tried to get it tabled until we worked it out.”

Walling said that after more evidence was revealed regarding the snow removal by city crews, it became clear residents actually had about two days to clear snow from their properties. The current ordinance only allows for a 24-hour period after a snow event for residents to clear snow from their walkways.

“I’m on the committee that’s looking at reviewing the snow ordinances and I mentioned that we need to go to 48 hours,” said Walling. “That is still in discussion.”

Before the approval to assess properties for snow removal came down, two residents took advantage of a public hearing on the snow removal assessments, which resulted from a snow event this past winter. First up was Charles Mick, 305 N. Third St., who requested his fine for the city’s removal of snow form his property be dismissed.

“I was shocked to receive a notice from the city that shoveled my walks,” said Mick to the city council.

Mick went on to explain that he has an individual who regularly clears the snow from his walkways during the winter months. He said this person arrived at his home to clear Mick’s walkways only to find it had already been done by the city.

Mick said it is difficult for him to keep up with the current ordinance through a winter with large amounts of snow, such as this past snowy season.

“There should be a little give and take on this,” said Mick. “It’s about impossible to keep up with that.”

Mick said he went so far as to contact then Community Improvement Officer Eric Dursky about the city’s snow removal of his property only to later find out Dursky had left the position.

“I think there might have been a little bit of mix up in the jurisdiction of who was to do this job at the time,” said Mick. “This may have had something to do with my walks being shoveled at maybe the wrong time.”

Sandra Bottenfield, representing the Oskaloosa Women’s Club, was also displeased with the city’s snow removal assessment on the club’s property at 701 First Ave. E.

“Since no one lives there, it’s very hard for us to keep it up,” explained Bottenfield.

Bottenfield said the Oskaloosa Women’s Club uses the services of Harris Van White to clear the snow and ice from their walkways during the winter months. She said Van White went to the law firm of Greg Life and obtained a letter that refers to the records he kept of his efforts to clear the snow from around the Oskaloosa Women’s Club building.

Bottenfield explained that the snowblower Van White used to clear the snow broke down the week of Dec. 7, 2009, and that he had cleared the property’s walkways “by hand” with another individual. She added, repair records and Van White’s own documentation of his snow removal efforts prove his attempt to clear the property’s walkways.

“He is very conscientious,” said Bottenfield of Van White.

Like Mick, Bottenfield requested the snow removal assessment made against the Oskaloosa Women’s Club property be dismissed. However, Bottenfield acknowledged what she believed the city council would go ahead with the assessment, as they would a few minutes later.

Before the city council voted, City Manager Michael Schrock Jr. presented the council with photos of the properties assessed for snow removal taken at the time of removal.

Walling said this photographic evidence was no different than that presented by Oskaloosa Police Chief John “Jake” McGee at a previous Oskaloosa City Council meeting.

In other business, the council:

• Heard a report on the proposed skate park from Mahaska Community Recreation Foundation Executive Director Sherry Vavra.

• Approved the second reading of an ordinance amending the provisions of Section 5.04.350 relative to persons under the legal age.

• Approved the second reading of an ordinance amending the provisions of Chapter 9.16 to adopt and incorporate by reference provisions of the Code of Iowa relative to drug paraphernalia.

• Approved the second reading of an ordinance amending the provisions of Chapter 10.08 to adopt and incorporate by reference provisions of the Code of Iowa relative to scheduled violation penalties.

•  Approved the second reading of an ordinance amending the provisions of Section 1.20.010 to increase the amount of the general penalty to comport with the Code of Iowa.

• Approved the July 1, 2010, insurance renewal proposal from Bearence Management Group.

• Approved change order No. 2 for U.S. Highway 63 north underpass.

• Approved pay request No. 4 for Peterson Contractors Inc. for the U.S. Highway 63 North underpass.

• Approved a resolution adopting a public records policy.

• Approved a resolution authorizing the use of public funds to aid economic development.

• Heard a report from City Manager Michael Schrock Jr. on upcoming city events.

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com