The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 3

the Journal Times, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1985 Racine, Wis. 3A SHnoveDBimg tio be fOekibDe can't leave the city without hiring a sidewalk baby southside III1 rrs4? r) By Scan P. Devlin Journal Times RACINE Racine's snow shoveling ordinance won't be changed, but flexibility in enforcement may offer relief to those who can't clear sidewalks immediately after a storm. A southside man who complained to aldermen about new laws calling for fines for homeowners who fail to shovel sidewalks, Tuesday asked a city, council committee to change the ordinances.

The policy calls for citations of property owners if the city gets a complaint about an unshoveled sidewalk and it is determined a walk hasn't been shoveled within 24 hours after a snowfall. The maximum fine would be $38.50, but the property owner also would face the possible cost of paying for the city to clear the sidewalk. Because he is away from his home frequently on business trips, the man registering the complaint didn't want to be identified, but he said the city's policy is discriminatory against senior citizens and anyone who must leave their homes for 24 hours or more. He asked members of the public safety and buildings committee to modify the ordinance to allow 48 hours to shovel a sidewalk, and to require warnings in person or by certified mail. "Technically, you can't leave the city without hiring a sidewalk baby sitter," the man said.

"It's not fair to punish someone who goes out of town." He also said the way the ordinance is written, it doesn't deal with the amount of snow on a sidewalk, just the average amount reported to have fallen on Racine. Hiring someone to do the shoveling doesn't, work, he said. "It's tough enough to get your own kid to shovel snow, let alone someone who does it only when it's a snap. They only stop when there is three or less inches and than they want enough money for a 30-minute job to retire for the winter." But City Attorney Joseph Boyle said the laws will not be harshly enforced: "I have talked with the chief of police and made the determination that I won't prosecute -unless over 2 inches of snow is on a sidewalk. "Also, if a citation is issued, the people from the public works qe-partment are going to inspect and it the sidewalk is shoveled or being, shoveled, we reserve the right to dismiss the complaint." Police Lt.

Daniel Petersen said police will not be issuing citations in every case: "If we can't make contact with the property owner, we won't issue a citation. We will contact the public works department, tell them what the situation is and they can refer it to the city Boyle said most of the concerns of those who must leave town are addressed by the procedures which will be used, while maintaining a strong ordinance to deal with habitual offenders. "Though Boyle and most committee members said a change in the time limit from 24 hours to 48 hours would be a good idea, no changes were recommended. Alderman Joseph Light said the 24-hour deadline starts after a snowstorm has ended, not when it begins, so a property owner doesn't have to shovel continuously through a storm. Charles S.

Vallone, Journal Timet Ony ruobe remained after the rear of a building at 232 Main St. collapsed Tuesday IBwIdSing collapse studied Witness reports children 'tussling' Jensen said Azarian had taken out permits to do electrical and plumbing work, and for the installation of three furnaces at a cost of $4,200. He said Azarian reported doing $3,000 worth of work to build a store front and the plumbing project was estimated to cost $6,000. City Assessor Mary Reavey said the building and land would be worth about $50,000 on the open market; the building alone about $42,000. Bjelajac said he wasn't sure what a fair settlement would be, but planned to talk with the contractor' and its insurance company.

He said the contractor and the city would be named defendants if Azarian needs to file a lawsuit. Bjelajac said he hoped that wouldn't be necessary. City Attorney Joseph Boyle said he didn't think the city would be held liable, and thinks a settlement will be arranged between Azarian, Associated Industrial Contractors and its insurance company. Azarian, who took photographs of the damages Tuesday and took other contractors to the site to look at the building, said everything is in the hands of my attorney. I'm just a boy by the side." Azarian said he might be able to use the still-standing front of the building, but "it depends on whether it's structurally sound." His plans for the building are on hold, he said: "I'm in shock.

Here a building I had been working on is just shot." By Gary Metro Journal Times RACINE City officials, attorneys, a contractor and a businessman today said they're deciding what to do about the partial collapse of a downtown building Tuesday. More than half of a century-old brick building at 232 Main St. is a jumbled pile of bricks, wood, glass and metal. Nobody was hurt by the collapse of the two-, story building, next to a $1.5 million parking ramp project at State and Main streets. David Azarian, owner of the building, said it was lucky his partner was late for work Tuesday at the Main Street General Store at 302 Main St.

If Mary Kaprelian, the partner, had been on schedule, Azarian would have been doing restoration work inside the building, he said. "Quite honestly, I would have been there. I would have been exactly where it fell," he said. "Obviously I didn't expect It." A neighbor told him of the collapse, Azarian said, when he rushed into the General Store and said, "Thank God you're alive." Azarian said his attorney, John Bjelajac, is trying to find out what caused the collapse and determine how he should be compensated. "I'm not happy," Azarian said.

"It didn't fall down by Bjelajac and city officials said construction work on the 220-staIl parking ramp probably caused the collapse. The contractor, however, said care was taken to prevent damaging Azarian's building, and the building's foundations and footings were constructed more than 100 years ago. George Sealer, president of Associated Industrial Contractors of Racine, said the foundation of Azarian's building had been reinforced before excavation began. He said he didn't know what caused the collapse. Seater said the collapse was "amazing" because excavation near the building was only four feet deep.

Excavation next to buildings between Azarian's and the ramp project reached 16 feet deep, he said, but those buildings still are standing. Seater said the project superintendent saw the wall bulge and watched as the rear of the building suddenly collapsed. Seater sard every precaution had been taken to prevent damage, but, "I guess we're going to get the blame for it." Commissioner of Public Works Fred Larson and acting Chief Building Inspector Robert Jensen said construction work might have caused the collapse. The age of the building may have contributed, they said. Azarian said his attorney would seek a settlement, and said he'd done a lot of work inside the building.

He said two upstairs apartments were nearly complete, except for dry walling, and he'd considered moving the General Store into the building. DotteiriiOTni Ihairlboir awtdhioirotty set up cused in the slaying had been found delinquent in a jury trial. Her testimony was taken from that trial. The grandmother had stated that Wilson had a "slight bruise" on his jaw when she saw him at 8 p.m. that night.

Wilson said she thought her. grandson was asleep when she discovered his body in a garden behind her Town of Beloit home on the morning of July 27. Then "I saw he was hurt. At first I thought he might have been alive, but then I went off screaming and crying," she said. The boy's mother, Tenna Woodson, said that she was about to knock on the door of the family of the 11 -year-old Beloit girl now on trial when she heard a scream.

She said it was her mother who had just found the lifeless body of her Woodson testified on Tuesday that the first thing she did upon seeing her son's body was to reach down and touch his hip. i "I just couldn't believe it was. him," she said, her voice shaking. Woodson was the seventh witness called by the state in the Rock County Juvenile Court trial that began Monday. Under questioning by Assistant District Attorney Stephen Carpenter, Woodson said her son had ridden his bicycle to his grandmother's house in the Town of Beloit July 26 to play with the children in; that neighborhood.

She said he often spent his days with Wilson because there were no children his age in his own neighborhood. His playmates included' the three children accused in the-case, she said. JANESVILLE (AP) Three children were seen "tussling" in the yard of an 11-year-old girl on the night she allegedly helped kill Anthony Darnell Wilson, 9, a witness testified today. Joyce Haynes, Beloit, said she saw the children shortly after 9:10 p.m. July 26 as she drove to pick up her daughter from work.

"They were children and they were playing, tussling, 'do you give' or in that order," Haynes said. She said one of the children had long hair and one of them was sitting atop another who was lying on the ground. Three juveniles the girl and two boys, 14 and 11 have been accused of participating in the July 26 murder. The older boy was found guilty of delinquency Sept. 26 and ordered confined to the state's Ethan Allen School at Wales for at least one year.

The jury trial, before Circuit Judge Mark J. Farnum, is to determine whether the girl is in need of protection and services. She could be confined to a juvenile treatment facility if the jury decides she participated in the slaying. Earlier today, the jury in the i Rock County Juvenile Court trial heard testimony taken from the boy's grandmother before her death. Circuit Judge Mark J.

Farnum allowed Assistant District Attorney Stephen Carpenter to read Hattie Mae Wilson's testimony from a previous trial, despite defense attorney A. Henry Hempe's objection that he had not had a chance to question the witness. Wilson died after suffering a stroke on Sept. 26 just minutes after hearing that a 14-year-old boy ac By Mike Hill Journal Times IVES GROVE As expected, the" county board Tuesday set up an interim harbor authority and began the process of leasing boat slips more than a year from being built. The board agreed to lease slips on a long-term basis at the proposed county marina and OK'd its first customer, Texas-based Rand Corp.

Rand which is to build lakefront condominiums, will get up to 12a of the marina's 1,000 slips for a 20-year period at a cost to be determined. Supervisor Lucille Sheahan opposed the leasing policy, saying, "I have a little problem' promising slips when we don't have our money (from grants)." The interim harbor authority and what's now called a "harbor regulations officer" were esta-. blished to restrict harbor areas during construction next year. The board also approved a resolution saying the county will borrow $2.7 million of the $3.7 million needed to construct harbor confinement and causeway Federal officials required that resolution so the county project could qualify for a $1 million Development Administration grant. Hartwell Smiley, County Board finance committee chairman, assured the board that the $2.7 million will be included in a $4.5 million bond issue not added to it.

"This board will have the actual decision when it comes down to bonding," Smiley said. Then he got a laugh when he said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." The board also: SET A POLICY for paying fees to real estate agents who help sell county property. The fees would be 3 percent of the first $250,000 purchase price and 2 percent for the rest. An agent would need a written agreement with the county before acting on the county's behalf, AGREED TO CONTINUE paying nonrepresented county employees' share of Wiscon sin Retirement System contributions, which have increased 1 percent for 1986. The county-paid employees' portion will be 6 percent instead of 5 percent this year.

Some county officials said non-represented employees should, get the extra benefit since county unions have gotten it through bargaining. But Supervisor David Retzinger said the county board should save money by not providing the increase. "We come up with resolutions to spend money and we just rush them through," Retzinger said. POSTPONED action on proposed increases for private sewer system fees after supervisors questioned whether the public was aware of the changes. A public hearing may be held.

APPROVED 1986-87 contracts for High Ridge Health Care Center nurses, sheriff's department command staff, courthouse employees and county office workers. Pay increases range from 2 to 3 percent. Hearing set on Graft's senior busing appeal 4 By Marcia Nickow Journal Times In most cases, the distance of the Jelco terminal won't matter, because the bus service will require 24-hour notice, Wildes WATERFORD Bus driver Cathy board planned to have appeal hearings Thursday in Racine, but the county board voted Tuesday to "invite" the board to meet in Burlington so concerned residents might attend. Appeals board member Catherine Mcintosh said the hearing shouldn't be open to the public because "We don't want a bunch of fighting and bickering. We just want the facta.

But, Supervisor David Yanny said the public should be allowed to attend the meeting because tax dollars are involved. County Board Chairman Hubert Braun later said he doesn't see bow the meeting can be closed. Cutler said he wasn't trying to save money by switching to Jelco, but to make the best use of $54,000 in federal, state and county funds budgeted for western Racine County specialized transportation services next year. "My senior citizens think an awful lot of me, and they're upset," said Smetana, 47, a Burlington resident Graf said people who have emergency transportation needs can better rely on his company, and he employs people from western Racine County. Cutler said a three-member panel will hear the appeal and make a recommendation to County Executive Leonard Ziolkowski.

Meanwhile, Elmer Eppers, president of the Western Racine County Commission on -Aging, said the commission has sent a letter to county board supervisors, asking that they "correct this foolish mistake" and make sure Graf Bus Co. gets the contract again. David Wildes, assistant manager for Jeko at 8030 Washington Ave said he thinks the firm can do as good a job as Graf and would shoot for better. He said it plans to install a Waterford phone line and has ordered two new diesei-powered buses to help service the west end. Wildes Mid Jelco drivers, like Grsf drivers, provide "door-through-door service" and assist with packages.

Inc. of Racine. Smetana works for Graf Bus Co. here, which has had the contract for a decade. She said she gives rides to about 28 people a day.

County Health and Human Services Director Ira Cutler said 1986 contracts for specialized transportation services both in western and In eastern Racine County recently were awarded to Jelco. Jelco has provided the services in the eastern section for three years, and Cutler said ft was given the western section well because tt asked for $27.50 an hour, compared to Grafs bid of $28.50 an hour. A third bidder. Goodwill Industries, asked for $29.36 an hour. Robert Graf, owner of Graf Bus said he's appealing the contract award, believing his Waterford-based firm can better serve people living west of I-M than a Racine company.

"It's kind of a sentimental thing with us," Graf said. A recently appointed county appeals Smetana says she's taken senior citizens in western Racine County to doctors, grocery stores and other places for 10 years, and her passengers are "like a family to me." She says she helps them walk, carries their packages and treats them like they are her mothers and fathers. "She's been so faithful and so accommodating," said rider Ruth Royer, 72, of Burlington. "She's not going to let us slip on the ice or anything." Clarence Trimberger, 78, also a Burlington resident, said Smetana is special in my book." Some of Smetana 's riders say they fear they'll lose the quality bus service they now receive the 19M county contract for specialised transportation services for the elderly and handicapped in the weetem -pert of toe county goes to Jelco Wlscoasia Graf said his company also asks 24-hour notice except in emergency cases, but often accommodates people who forget to call ahead. a In the case of both companies; fares are 50 cents for one-way trips, and the service is available from 9 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Racine resident John Kauth is also appealing Jelco 's specialized transportation contract for the eastern half of the county. Kauth, a paraplegic, said he can better understand the needs of the disabled and provide less costly service than Jelco. County officials have said Kauth didn't get the contract partly because bis proposed transportation company isnt set up and therefore has no track record..