Veedo the remark was made as prisoners could do the job, as they need to pay back society I used .50 and hour as an example I do not know what they make in prison. And of course they would be watched as they are on chain gangs.

I feel compelled to comment on some of these replies. Inmate shoveling is a job, not mandatory or even voluntary, you have to apply just like any other job. The city must pay them a decent wage, I don't want a prisoner making 50 cents an hour anywhere near my home.
The city definitely needs to do better on clearing side streets. The city should be held financially responsible for inadequate snow removal, just like you and I are. That is what our tax dollars are for.
You should help your neighbors who are elderly and/or handicap with any chores that you can or feel comfortable with.
Finally, I'm for the use of private contractors. I live next to a house that is for sale and have contacted the realtor with a bid for my services. I think it is a competitive bid and far, far, far cheaper than a unionized city worker. I'm self employed (not in the lawn/snow removal field) and could really use the work.
If the city goes the private contractor route, I will be one of many inline with a far more competitive bid than the city could offer.

This is a transparent attempt to funnel money to private contractors. Give people a little time, especially in these days when many families are working 2 and even 3 minimum wage jobs. Take a poor person in this position, just trying to hold on to his house, and you can send them over the edge.

I do believe that the people that don't want to shovel their sidewalks in the first place are using the city's sometimes slow response to plowing streets as an excuse to not shovel, which is ridiculous.What about all the people that do live on streets that have the snow removed to the pavement that still won't shovel their sidewalks? I can guarantee these people are on here complaining about the city's poor plowing and their refusal to shovel until the city does their job.

Jnvlmom, I am not sure to many moms walk with strollers after a snow. The real point like it was already stated, is the City needs to do a better job of the streets because if a mom in a stroller is walking on a sidewalk and I cannot see her well I do not want to be the one to accidentally hurt someone.

If the city thinks it okay to drive and WALK on snow covered streets, because not every street has sidewalks.I will decide to shovel based on what the city does, if they don't plow my street then I won't shovel my sidewalk.

Napalm did you ever think that maybe they need to be cleared for the people who can't walk. Or moms with strollers?!

Put sidewalks everywhere in the city.

Paid for from the general fund...just like streets.

City should maintain and plow...from the general fund...just like streets.

Spikesmom – Before I even start, I want to let you know that my comment is directed toward you with the utmost sincerity. I don't think a lot of the posters here are complaining about shoveling sidewalks outright. I think they're just finding it hard to take direction from someone (in this case, the City of Janesville), who doesn't lead by example. They see the COJ not plowing, but asking that they keep sidewalks clear as hypocritical. While I agree, that if you are a homeowner and you have a sidewalk it is your job to clear it, I think enforcing a rule would go over much better if the COJ lead by example and kept the streets clean. It's true that these two things are not the same thing. But a good leader knows that they should lead by example and the COJ isn't leading by example.

truth...then shovel twice. Shoveling a sidewalk has nothing to do with when streets get plowed or whether or not the bottom of your driveway gets plowed in. It is the homeowner's responsibility to make sure the sidewalk is passable. Yes, it's also the city's responsibility to make sure city streets are passable, as well. Just because that doesn't always happen doesn't mean you get a free pass to not clear your sidewalk. This "the city doesn't do their job, so why should I" attitiude is really getting old. Shovel the stupid sidewalk or hire someone to do it for you.

MarshallCardinal3, I am glad to see someone who is younger adding a comment

My Street gets plowed last because its really small. sometimes my mom cant get out because they dont plow my street.and last year i missed 2 days of school beacuse they didnt plow our streetuntil about 2:50 pm both times.sidewalks should be shoveld because of mail people.and i just looks better.

"For all of you complaining about shoveling your driveway only to have it plowed back in...don't shovel your driveway until after your street is plowed" How does that work when the 6" snow fall stops at noon and your street doesn't get plowed until 9:30 at night. Are we then required to be locked in until then. Or what if the street doesn't get plowed at all? Can't have all that ice on the driveway and sidewalks. The standard should be 12 hours after your road is plowed, the sidewalk should be done. That way there is equal responsibility.

Right on loose357. Lets pay some out of state firm another few dozen thousand of our tax money to do a "study" on sidewalk shoveling. Certainly, they are a whole lot smarter than our city council ? Besides, the council is much too busy planning for tunnels, children's museums, ice arenas and other important ways to spend our tax dollars. While they are at it, lets give them another few hundred thousand for another study on reviving the downtown. After all, the many, many "studies" we paid for for in the past 35 years haven't helped, have they ?

Right, lets do a study on snow removal in other cities. Do you know how much this city spends on studies. It is rediculous. We are not talking about a sidewalk that didnt get shoveled right away we are refering to the ones that after 6-12 inches of snow still havent removed it after a week has gone by then the city warns them and by the time something gets done the snow has been packed into ice. We have two houses on racine st. that never clear their snow and my daughter has to walk through it on her way home from school. It gets very dangerous sometimes.

I could be wrong, but the last time I inquired about using criminals and delinquents to do some of the work around the county I was told that it was against the UNION rules. "having a non-union worker" doing work that is for the union worker is what starts grievances....blah blah blah...

I think it's a great idea to have some of the huber inmates shovel sidewalks while supervised and have the hours spent count toward paying off their bill.

I do not understand why they could not, just pay them what they would make in prison what .50 an hr and put it towards their bill. My understanding is a lot are still in because they cannot pay their bill to get out.

I was under the assumption that inmates are being charged for their "stay" at the jail. If this is the case why would they work and have to pay? I'm not taking any position, but just wondering if an inmate doesn't have a job, can they be forced to work for the city to pay back Janesville for their "accomodations"?

I agree people who are unable to shovel should be able to get on a list and have the inmates do it under supervision of course, as we do not want them alone.

br549- I agree with you and will probably be slammed for doing so. There is a great source of labor wasting away in our county jail; most perfectly capable of earning their keep in our jail. There are a lot of jobs they could do for the city and county if people would just get over it and DO IT, our county would be better for having done so. There is no good reason why the inmates should not work in this capacity. And don't tell me I'm racist, either (note my user name).

The answer is not as easy as simply chosing one of the options provided. The current plan isn't working, so maybe observing successful snow removal programs in other cities would be a good place to start, and not by asking what we think.

Why do you have to check and notify homeowners? They know it's snowed...They know they are required to remove it...

I'd eliminate notification. Save the money on payroll and stamps and get people doing something more productive.

I'd pick a window after the snow fall and then any complaints after that get a ticket. If my car is in the street and it snows and I'm not home and they come through with the plow I get ticketed. It doesn't matter to them that I was away/at work/still asleep.

Sidewalks can be the same. The ticket money can help cover the salt budget and get another plow or two on the roads.

As for elderly and unable...They too still have the responsibility to make arrangements for their removal. We drive over 20 minutes to shovel my grandparents driveway. The family pitches in and takes turns...and when it's bad the neighbor helps out. There are options.

For all of you complaining about shoveling your driveway only to have it plowed back in...don't shovel your driveway until after your street is plowed. The driveway has nothing to do with the sidewalk being cleared in a timely matter. I get my sidewalk done right away but I always leave the bottom of the driveway until after the plow goes by. Why do it twice? And you people need to stop whining about the lack of street plowing. Yes, it could be better, but you are still a homeowner with the responsibility of shoveling your sidewalk. If you don't like that rule, move to where there aren't sidewalks. We know that there are plenty of those areas in Janesville!

I agree with melstew47..where is our compassion? we need to help our neighbors when we know they are struggling, especially the senior citizens...we seem to be so quick to judge everyone all the time even if we don't know the situation

if it snows, you know you need to shovel,so it should be done,as soon as youre able,you shouldnt have to be told or warned by the city.contracting with private workers might give a few people some work which is a good idea,but it might cost the city to much money,an then maybe not.for those who cant get out an shovel,we as neighbors need to get out and help them,we dont have sidewalks or neighbors on my side of the street,but my husband would gladly get out there and help anyone of our neighbors across the street.everyone complains every winter,but yet no one wants to help those in need of it,come on we need to pull together.

gram2-RIGHT ON!!! And if that weren't enough, the Post Office gives you a warning if it isn't cleared, they won't deliver your mail!!

What if there are monetary fines to the city for leaving some streets unplowed for days after a snowfall?
If the city if so quick to impose their fines for unshoveled sidewalks maybe the city should also give back some money to citizens along some streets which get little or no prompt plowing?

I think that the city's priority should be plowing the streets. Many times I have shoveled right away and the plow has come through later and filled my sidewalk with more snow than it began with. Why should we have to shovel 2-3 times to clean up the mess that the city leaves? Also, if the city plowed the streets decent and in a timely fashion people could walk in the street if necessary. There are a lot of people unable to shovel and can't afford to pay someone to do it. Have some compassion for them. Why not have inmates shovel?

I do understand the intent of the city with reagards to snowy sidewalks, but I would like to know a little more about the options available to people. My husband is the shoveler at our house, and he frequently gets called into work at odd hours. There have been times that he cannot get the shoveling done right away. I am unable to do the shoveling myself. Now what??? I think that more information is need about the subject, ie. how long is 'too long' for a sidewalk to go unshoveled? how much is 'too much' snow on a sidewalk?