Village responds to snowmobile complaints
Police vow to crack down on culprits riding over yards
Thursday, February 8, 2007
EAST GALESBURG - Village officials intend to penalize snowmobilers who have been joyriding through East Galesburg in the wake of Tuesday's snowfall.Police chief Keith Nothom said he's received multiple complaints about snowmobiles traveling on village streets and crossing private yards and driveways.
"Most of them have been noise complaints," Nothom said.
A snowmobile drove through a flower bed outside the Village Hall and caused damage to several other yards, Village President Mike Bartlett said.
"Snowmobiles are not allowed to ride in town," Bartlett said. "We're going to be cracking down and they could face fines."
Bartlett said the village has permitted residents to drive snowmobiles on village streets in emergency situations due to weather conditions, but riding for recreation in yards and streets will not be tolerated.
"This is about respecting people's property," Bartlett said.
In early December, when the area received more than 10 inches of snow, Nothom cited an East Galesburg resident for driving a snowmobile in town. He and Bartlett said they believe the culprits snowmobiling in town this week were not village residents.
"It's been an ongoing problem but this is the first I've heard of people coming in from out of town to do it here," Nothom said. "If they are doing this on other people's property, it is a violation."
Bartlett told village trustees Wednesday the Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the village for 75 percent of the more than $3,700 in snow removal costs accrued during December's storm.
In other business, the board:
- Discussed the possibility of buying a used vehicle to be used by village employees and as a back-up squad car for the police department.
- Heard a complaint from resident Carl Colwell regarding a neighbor's four large dogs. Colwell said the owners do not clean up after the dogs and the odor is a nuisance. "It's been worse than having a horse living behind me," he said.
