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Watch those snowy sidewalks |
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Wednesday, 27 February 2008 |
By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
 UNSAFE WALKS – City residents and tenants are reminded that there is an ordinance for them to remove snow and ice to keep the sidewalks in front of and abutting their premises free and safe for pedestrians. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
Without even thinking about it, you realize this is wrong and that in a fraction of a second it’s going to be “ouch time.”
Anybody that has taken this trip, and thanks to Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of gravity, knows what a shock it can be when you come back down to Mother Earth and come to an abrupt rest on your tail bone. There may be swear words involved.
Thankfully, if nothing is broken, you quickly look around to see if anyone was a witness to the short-lived airborne feat. Egos being the fragile thing that they are, you hope not.
Surprisingly this winter season, a quick check at the Pondera Medical Center ER and the clinic showed that no one has reported in due to tenant or homeowner neglect in failing to remove snow/ice from their sidewalks.
Nevertheless, that is not to say that some individuals have not taken an ill-fated short flight. It’s just lucky there have been no serious injuries.
Whether or not people realize it, the city has an ordinance concerning removal of snow and ice.
It notes that it is the duty of the owner or tenant of any premises within the city limits to keep the sidewalks, both in front of and abutting the premises free and safe for pedestrians.
They need to use all reasonable dispatch to remove snow, ice, slush, and for that matter, other threats, so there is safe foot travel, and to prevent the accumulation on sidewalks.
Sidewalks must be cleared by the owner or tenant from a night’s accumulation of snow and ice before 9 a.m. following the snow fall.
The city has the duty to notify a resident or tenant to remove snow and ice by certified mail and within 24 hours of receiving notification, to clear their walks.
Following that, the city has the right to remove snow and ice and then bill them the cost of removal, much like they may do for weed removal.
The best thing to do is to break out the snow shovel and get a little exercise. This is really a whole lot better than testing your home-owner insurance policy because someone slipped on the ice in front of your home.
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