By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
The Burlington Common Council discussed a change in the city’s winter snow emergency policy Tuesday night, making it dovetail with reality.
“It changes nothing,” said Police Chief Peter Nimmer of the practical changes on residents in the proposed ordinance. The change simply allows either Mayor Bob Miller or City Administrator Kevin Lahner to declare a snow emergency on their own.
Under the current wording, the council should have been convened to declare a snow emergency – after the fact.
“It clears up the wording,” Lahner said.
Alderman Tom Vos joked about the absurdity of the former wording.
“It certainly makes sense to me that you don’t need the eight of us to give a blessing if there’s 18 inches of snow,” Vos said.
There will be no change to the winter parking regulations that restrict parking on streets between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. when three or more inches of snow falls.
Fox River Commission
The council unanimously approved the city joining the Southeast Wisconsin Fox River Commission.
Alderman Tom Preusker expressed some concerns before the vote, saying he didn’t want the city to be part of it if it’s not going to make the river more navigable. He didn’t want to see no wake zones and more boating regulations.
“If boats are going through there fast, there is a silt buildup,” Preusker said. Lahner said the group is promoting recreational use of the waterway.
Preusker also wanted to know what representation the city would have on the group’s board.
Lahner said that the city would not currently have a seat on that board, but felt the group would be willing to with the city on representation.
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