Don’t get caught with your shovel down

With the white stuff most assuredly on its way soon, it’s time to dust off those city ordinances regarding snow removal.

In the city of Sparta, snow and ice must be removed by the owner or occupant of buildings with public sidewalks within 24 hours after the snow stops falling. Removal must include the full width of the sidewalk.

On corner lots, the plow bank should be removed for a width of no less than 5 feet.

In the event of melting snow refreezing on sidewalks, the resulting ice must be removed within 24 hours of forming.

And don’t think about moving that snow into the street, alley, neighboring sidewalks or other rights-of-way. Though there’s no specific fine attached for that, repeat offenders might wind up in hot water with the city.

Failing to comply with snow and ice removal requirements could bring about hefty monetary charges: The city could remove your snow for you at a minimum cost of $75, or actual time and material costs, whichever is greater. The city may, but is not required to, inform when a violation and city action will be taken.

The fines levied would appear as a special charge added to a property tax bill.

If you’re in repeated violation after verbal or written warning from the public works department or a police officer, you face more fines. After three violations in one winter, a $100 fine could be imposed on top of the initial fines.

“There are groups of individuals in our community who rely on sidewalks and crosswalks to be mobile, including children, people with disabilities and seniors,” according to a notice the city prints each year in the Monroe County Herald.

In the city of Tomah, residents also need to remove snow and ice within 24 hours but will be given a written notice posted on the property allowing an extra 24 hours. But after that, if the city needs to remove the snow and ice, there will be a minimum $100 charge, again assessed to the building’s property taxes.

The city is responsible for snow and ice removal from sidewalks more than 25 feet from the lot line of an adjacent property.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to remove snow and ice from handicap ramps as well as the sidewalk. The radius must be clear from the sidewalk to the street, according to Tomah’s city ordinance.

Any depositing of snow into public rights-of-way will result in a citation or it will be removed by the city and billed to the property owner.