Slush Fun

The latest snow/rain/ice storm has added greatly to the woes of pedestrians, especially at street corners. It is actually no fun to pick one's way over slush and now large puddles caused by Friday's above-freezing temperatures.

Thanks to property owners who cleared their sidewalks and fie on the others who made walking a bit more of an adventure than pedestrians, especially those of a certain age, bargained for on trips to the stores at Park & Seventh. I'm sure the downtown and many other locales had similar challenges.

Here's what the Municipal Code has to say about snow and ice on sidewalks:

Sec. 13:7-1. Obligation to remove snow and ice.

The owner or tenant of lands abutting or bordering upon the sidewalks of public streets shall remove all snow and ice from that part of any paved sidewalk lying in front of his respective premises within twelve (12) hours of daylight after the snow and ice has fallen or formed thereon.

(R.O. 1957, 14:7-1, as amended Apr. 17, 1961)

The Code states that the city can remove snow and ice if necessary and place a lien for the cost on a property, though I don't know how feasible that is when the Public Works Division has its hands full cleaning municipal parking lots and sidewalks. Certainly if a couple of examples were made and publicized, scofflaw property owners might try to comply in order to avoid having liens placed on their buildings.

More snow is expected today. Responsible property owners will no doubt clear it away and the heedless ones will just let another layer accumulate. Time to set an example?

--Bernice

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