Tahoe City business owners to weigh in on snow removal
News News | May 7, 2009
Kyle Magin
Sierra Sun
TAHOE CITY " Since the traditional snow storage area may disappear next winter in place of a new fire station, Tahoe City business owners recently received a letter asking for input on a list of options.
In a letter dated April 22 from the Tahoe City Downtown Association, business owners were told the Association would be taking the lead for the town's upcoming snow removal and storage problems, since the North Tahoe Fire Protection District plans to build its new station on the Tahoe City Public Utility District parcel of land where snow is currently stored.
Justin Broglio, executive director of the Association, said the organization was looking into grant funds to fund a soil study on the current site to see what effects meltoff has on the area.
He also said the Tahoe City Downtown Association hopes to hold a public meeting at some point to discuss options for business owners.
Several sites have been identified for possible snow storage, Broglio said, all within the current haul zone.
Dave Wilderotter, chair of the Downtown Association's board and owner of Tahoe Dave's, said it was important to find a new spot for snow storage given the lack of a permanent place historically.
"We've never identified a great spot and haven't had one for about 20 years," Wilderotter said.
The current site is across from the Tahoe City PUD office at 221 Fairway Drive and if all goes according to plan, said North Tahoe Fire Protection District Chief Duane Whitelaw, will house the fire district's new Station 51. If the permitting process goes smoothly Whitelaw said he anticipates breaking ground on the roughly $13 million facility on May 1, 2010.
Traffic concerns and a need for more space to house fire equipment are two of the reasons Whitelaw said the current station, near the Wye in Tahoe City, needs to be relocated.