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Residents and council raise urgent school-sidewalk, snow-removal and crosswalk concerns
Summary
Bus drivers and parents told the council that an ice- and snow-clogged sidewalk near Mark Twain and the junior high created safety risks for students and crossing guards; council discussed property-owner responsibility and possible city action on targeted sections.
Public comment at the Rolla City Council meeting centered on a short stretch of sidewalk near the middle school and Mark Twain Elementary that residents say remains ice-covered after storms and endangers students who walk to school.
Debbie Dalton, who identified herself as a bus driver for Rolla Public Schools, told the council she had photographs showing “so much ice and snow” on a narrow sidewalk segment that children could not walk safely. “These kids need to be protected,” Dalton said. She reported that the section near the Mark Twain driveway and a stop sign was still icy days after a storm and that the overgrown bushes and narrow width made walking hazardous.
David (last name not specified), who also said he drives a bus and helps operate a clothing trailer for outreach, described piles of plowed snow obstructing crosswalks and said school crossing staff had to shovel to make crossings usable. “The crossing guards almost couldn't do their job because the pile of plowed snow in the crosswalk ... was in the way,” he said, and urged the city to address plow-pile cleanup.
Council members and staff discussed legal responsibility and practical options. One councilmember said state law and city practice generally assign sidewalk snow-removal responsibility to adjacent property owners but that the council could choose to accept responsibility for specific stretches of sidewalk. “There are risks in doing that, because once you commit to doing it, you have to do it all the way,” a councilmember said, but added the council could review high-priority areas near schools.
Staff said the city posts notice signs at subject properties and that it would coordinate with schools to identify high-priority locations and investigate options including targeted city service or pursuing grants for safer sidewalks. Council members noted widening sidewalks would be costly and could require property acquisition or narrowing streets, but that grants for safe routes to schools might apply.
Council asked staff to follow up with the school district and public works on the specific site so the council can consider next steps.
