Snow berming unpopular

Businesses and city leaders don’t much like the idea of berming snow in the middle of U.S. Highway 2 in the winter. The Columbia Falls City Council Monday night held a public hearing on the matter and no one spoke in favor of the measure.

Earlier this year, the Montana Department of Transportation proposed it would temporarily berm snow in the turn lane of the busy highway, but in exchange, the city would have to enforce its snow ordinance on the adjacent sidewalks.

The city hasn’t been enforcing its snow ordinance on Highway 2 because the snow, once its been plowed up onto the sidewalks from the road, often turns to rock.

The problem was particularly acute last winter, which saw double the snow of a normal winter.

But two business owners both questioned the safety of such a measure and Columbia Falls Police Chief Clint Peters concurred.

Laurie Panasuk, owner of Laurie’s Deli, said the Fourth Avenue Intersection is dangerous as it is. Adding a berm, even temporarily, would make it worse.

Ray Negron also wasn’t in favor of berming. He noted berming would hurt business, because westbound traffic wouldn’t be able to turn into his coffee shop.

With a berm of snow in the middle of a five-lane highway, Peters envisioned the police force would end up going to a lot of accidents.

“This terrifies me as far as safety goes,” Peters said.

Berming would also disrupt traffic flow.

The city also proposed a special fee to clear sidewalks. That was more of a split decision on the public’s part, with Negron opposing it, but Panasuk saying it would be OK, if the fee were reasonable.

Negron said he already plows the sidewalk on his own.

But after the hearing, councilman Mike Shepard noted the businesses are already paying street assessment fees, even though they fronted a state highway. Other councilmembers said they heard from other businesses who also opposed the additional fee.

In the end, mayor Don Barnhart suggested that the city simply wait until the state rebuilds the highway this summer and see how next winter goes. The state plans on moving the light poles out of the sidewalks, so plowing them should be easier.

Council will vote on the matter at its next meeting.