City fighting modern 'range war'

BAXTER - Baxter residents may want snowmobilers or their neighbors' vehicles to stay off their lawn, but they can no longer put up snow stakes or other obstructions in the road right-of-way.

The recent enforcement of an existing city ordinance has upset several residents. One Baxter homeowner spoke out against the policy at Tuesday's city council meeting. And Baxter Public Works Director Trevor Walter told the council he suspects he'll hear from a few additional residents who are upset about the ordinance.

At the Dec. 15 city council meeting, council members discussed the issue of stakes being placed in the street right-of-way to mark the edge of the pavement and sprinkler heads. Council members felt that these stakes placed by homeowners could become a hazard for the traveling public and asked that city staff enforce the Baxter ordinance that prohibits any obstructions in the right-of-way.

Letters went out to 44 Baxter homeowners on Jan. 8. The homeowners had until Jan. 15 to remove the stakes. If the stakes were not removed, the city would remove any remaining stakes starting Tuesday. Walter said he's received three letters from residents opposed to the policy and has spoken to at least a dozen of those residents who received letters.

Loren Kmett, who lives on the 14300 block of Cottage Grove Drive, addressed the council Tuesday about the ordinance. He said he takes pride in his lawn and places fiberglass snow stakes on his property so the city snowplows stop ripping up his lawn. He told the council that the thin, orange fiberglass poles bend easily and he doesn't consider them to be a public safety hazard.

"If people stay off my grass, they won't hit my poles," said Kmett. "The reasoning you gave is that it's a safety hazard. That doesn't hold water. It's not a safety issue whatsoever."

Baxter Mayor Darrel Olson told Kmett that the issue is more than about stakes. He said when the city gets large amounts of snow, snow plow drivers must dump that snow in the road right-of-ways. When residents stake off their lawns, Olson said it makes it challenging for snow plow operators to find places to dump the snow and are forced to dump snow in yards without those obstructions, thus distributing more snow in those yards.

"If our plow can't get it out there, our streets get narrower," said Olson.

Walter said at least six metro area cities do allow some snow staking by residents, either by having them purchase and use city-issued stakes or by allowing them to buy stakes that meet specific guidelines.

Walter said the issue will be brought before an upcoming utilities commission meeting.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.