Dirty sidewalk? It may cost you in Edgerton
EDGERTON — The city of Edgerton is crafting an ordinance that would force property owners to keep their sidewalks free of litter or face fines up to $200.
The ordinance, which is being presented to the city council on Monday, is intended to curb what officials say is a growing problem of cigarette butts and other debris accumulating on downtown sidewalks, mostly outside of taverns.
The city has an ordinance that prohibits littering, but nothing on the books requires that sidewalks be cleaned.
A draft of the new ordinance shows it would require property owners or occupants in charge to sweep up and dispose of debris on sidewalks in front of their properties.
Owners in violation would face fines from $25 to $200, the draft ordinance shows.
Sidewalks downtown are city property, officials said.
Alderman Mark Wellnitz said he suggested that city staff craft an ordinance after he heard several complaints from residents about debris—mostly cigarette butts—piling up on sidewalks outside downtown businesses.
Wellnitz said the city would send businesses a warning notice before fining them.
"We're just trying to give the city the capability to say, ‘Hey, you need to get your area cleaned up a little better or we'll fine you,'" he said.
Wellnitz said complaints he's heard apply mainly to downtown taverns, where patrons smoke outside and then flick cigarettes on the sidewalk before going back in. He said the problem has gotten worse since the statewide smoking ban went into effect.
He said some businesses are better at keeping the sidewalks clean, but some businesses just sweep litter into the gutter. Under an existing city ordinance, that's not allowed.
On a recent Monday morning, a walk by a Gazette reporter in downtown Edgerton along Fulton Street and adjacent side streets revealed:
-- Several cigarette butts on the sidewalk outside taverns at 112, 116 and 124 W. Fulton St. and empty beer bottles along the sidewalk outside 116 W. Fulton St.
-- Dozens of cigarette butts stuck in drains around a tree outside a tavern at 13 Swift St.
-- Piles of cigarette butts and debris in the gutters along Fulton and Swift streets.
Barb Hemenway, a bartender at the Pit Stop on Swift Street, said the tavern has a smoking area out back with garbage receptacles for cigarettes. The tavern encourages smokers to go there instead of the front sidewalk.
Hemenway didn't know how dozens of cigarette butts were in the grates around a tree in front of the tavern.
"How do you know if it's our patrons or if it's other people walking by? And how can you control it?"
She said if a new ordinance went in place, the tavern would have to be sure to sweep its sidewalk more often.
Alderman Dave Thomas is concerned the ordinance could stir up trouble for businesses who have neighboring businesses whose patrons throw litter onto adjacent areas.
"It would be awfully hard to police," Thomas said.
Jun 1, 2012 at 1:55 p.m.
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Whatever happened to shop owners who would sweep up in front of their stores in the morning before opening up? I would think they would want to make the store look nice to attract customers. I am more willing to go into a place if its neat and clean looking. You don't need new ordinances, fines, etc. You just need common sense and responsibility-if its dirty clean it up.
Jun 1, 2012 at 8:28 a.m.
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I don't see why there has to be a new law written. Why not just tell the businesses they have to clean their sidewalks? I suspect they'll do it, but if they didn't, perhaps they could be threatened with losing their liquor license.
Jun 1, 2012 at 8:04 a.m.
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Carlitosway-your not giving smokers enough credit. The city thought smokers would know not to litter and would use a waste basket. Oh, wait, smokers have never quite figured that one out, before or after the smoking ban. They need to start fining the ignorant slobs that throw their cigarette butts on the ground.
Jun 1, 2012 at 6:36 a.m.
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“Hornet”, you are exactly on target! One motto I kept posted in my classroom for students to emulate: If It Is to Be, It Is Up to Me!
. . .
If Birdman was King of Rock County, I’d develop a work force comprised of the Chronic Welfare Recipients. Among that force would be folks who, daily, would walk the streets with small trash carts, broom and dust pan, and sweep cigarette butts and other litter from the sidewalks and street gutters. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
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We all have seen plenty of folks who are healthy enough to hold jobs of many descriptions, but whom decry many of those jobs as being too demeaning. Beneath their dignity. As if mooching aid, while healthy and fit IS dignified!
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Use men and women from the County Jail Huber Dorm. A couple of hours of broom time in morning or evening...Shazam! Situation improved.
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Hornet, in the meantime has reminded us of the solution. Thanks, Hornet!
Jun 1, 2012 at 6:22 a.m.
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So easy for every smoker to “field strip” the extinguished cigarette. Twist the filter off...paper and tobacco decompose. Put filter in tissue, thence to pocket. Or carry an unused Rx jar so you don’t gunk up your pocket or purse.
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Sooooo many types of small containers which could be used! C’mon folks, take control over this part of your habit, at least!
Jun 1, 2012 at 2:07 a.m.
May 31, 2012 at 10:40 p.m.
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It doesn't matter which of your guests tosses their cookies on your sofa...you're going to clean it, not say "It wasn't me. I'm don't have to clean it." Just clean up.
May 31, 2012 at 9:34 p.m.
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will the city get fines for not keeping their streets clean. Where did they think the cigarette butts would end up when the law was passed.
May 31, 2012 at 8:51 p.m.
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Smoking is a dirty, filthy, unhealthy habit. Even the smokers don't want to carry a cigarette butt around for proper disposal, they are so foul. Therefore, the butts get thrown on the ground.
I don't think it will hurt the storekeepers, tavern owners or managers to see that the sidewalk in front of their business gets cleaned once in a while. I think they will adjust and survive this.
May 31, 2012 at 8:23 p.m.
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So rather than enforce littering ordinances on uncaring, inconsiderate, and LAZY smokers the city is going after property owners???? If smokers start to get $200 fines every time they throw a butt out the car window or drop a butt on a sidewalk they might think twice about littering. Did I mention how lazy and inconsiderate many smokers are?? Lazy and inconsiderate AND lawbreaking. For the record; I support peoples right to pollute their own lungs. However, just because you are stupid enough to do so does not mean that you have the right to pollute everywhere else.
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