Are we clearing sidewalks well enough?
I was surprised to hear several snowblowers in my neighborhood Sunday morning. It seemed like a little overkill, after less than an inch of snow fell overnight. At least those homeowners were clearing their walks. Here we are, more than 72 hours later, and a handful of homeowners on my dog walk are still waiting for the sun to melt that snow.
It doesn’t bother me too much. However, if I were using a wheelchair to get around, or an elderly person who was a little unsteady on my feet, I would be perturbed.
A Janesville city ordinance requires homeowners to clear their sidewalks within 12 hours of a snowfall. And, as a Sound Off caller in today’s Gazette points out, those living on corners also are responsible for clearing those ramps leading to the street. Trouble is, after the one big snowstorm we’ve had this winter, many such ramps remained clogged for weeks—until last week’s thaw—with chunks of icy snow left by plows. While some homeowners might complain that those chunks were too hard to shovel out, you didn’t see the ends of driveways left uncleared.
In 2010, the city council changed its noncompliance plans. Now, if someone complains about your sidewalk (call 608-755-3110 to do so), a city inspector will knock and, if no one answers, leave a door-hanger notice. A city crew will arrive the next day. The minimum cost of having that crew clear your walkways is $124. That would buy a lot of private shoveling help.
we’ve had a lack of snow so far this winter. That won’t bode well for farm fields left dry from last year’s drought, or trees or shrubs or the soil moisture in gardens. We are, however, only in mid-January. Lots of snow could still fall before the tulips return.
How well have folks shoveled their walks in your neck of Wisconsin?
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
Jan 21, 2013 at 5:19 a.m.
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I can't worry about removing snow - Greg has me too concerned about those nasty litter-bugs.
Jan 21, 2013 at 12:34 a.m.
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kawisixer01....in case you didn't realize it... a city sidewalk is not a recreation trail.
Jan 20, 2013 at 8:58 p.m.
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Wow..this is news?...Janesville must be a super boring city....
Jan 20, 2013 at 12:07 p.m.
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Happy, As a mt biker, skier and participant in many other activities outside I expect a certain amount of "nature". The trails in the woods by my house, the city owns but a few of us in the area have built the trails, I don't expect the city or the residents to take care of it. The users should. I am going outside to recreate, I expect a certain amount of limbs on the trail an such that I as a user will have to clear and maintain. If I want a perfectly maintained sporting facility I pay for it, I go to a trail club property, a gym, or a ski resort where I pay money to use facilities that are well maintained. You are basically recreating for free on others property, if you are that concerned perhaps you should take up some of the maintenance. To me all the things you speak about are part of recreating outside.
Jan 19, 2013 at 7:40 p.m.
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Why waste the energy shoveling .25 inches of snow when mother nature cleared it all out yesterday and today?
Jan 19, 2013 at 4:05 p.m.
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As a runner sidewalks in Janesville are a joke, Un-shoveled, blocked by vehicles, limbs hit your face and dangerous with heaves and dips from water lines.
If I left my car sideways in the roadway, so passing motorists would have to go into lawns, it would be towed in minutes yet cars block sidewalks all the time.
The city is forcing homeowners to spend millions putting in sidewalks now the city needs to enforce keeping them open like a roadway.
Jan 19, 2013 at 9:39 a.m.
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We are guilty. We did not shovel the 1" last time. If a wheelchair cannot get through and inch you have bigger problem than an inch of snow! It wasn't icey either.
hg- it is the property owners job to clear fire hydrants or the nice neightbor you are because the owner wont. If their ever is a fire you will be glad you did.
BTW- it is winter. Nobody can clear ever inch of snow or ice. Be careful and watch where you walk. Get those things for the bottoms of your shoes if you are going to walk someplace where there will be snow or ice. They work awesome!
Stop blaming everybody else and do something about it. It is winter people!
macdaddy- I like it. If they dont plow we dont shovel ;)
We don't move show in our drive very often.
Jan 18, 2013 at 11:31 p.m.
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Some are never happy and always looking to stir the pot. So many other serious issues with the economy and GM leaving Janesville. Get a little dusting and voila...the sidewalk police are out in full force.
Jan 17, 2013 at 6:23 p.m.
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Nonprofiter, I would be happy to help clear your walkways. Just send me a message and we can discuss.
Jan 17, 2013 at 4:05 p.m.
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"Who is responsible for the fire hydrants being kept clear so they can be accessed in an emergency?"-from a post
I don't know. I would think a more appropriate question might be, "Who would benefit from the fire hydrants being kept clear so they can be accessed in an emergency?"-
Jan 17, 2013 at 3:02 p.m.
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Many business do not shovel/snow blow sidewalks or their parking lots either.
Sigma40: I do expect snow, but I also expect home owners and busniess owners to shovel/snow blow their sidewalks and parking lots. It's a safety cancern for many people.
Jan 17, 2013 at 12:28 p.m.
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If you are out walking in this winter wonderland, you should expect to step on snow.
Jan 17, 2013 at 11:57 a.m.
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What about vacant businesses/lots? Who is responsible for clearing those sidewalks? The City?
Seems that the city property has some of the most poorly-cleared sidewalks.
Jan 17, 2013 at 11:28 a.m.
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I'm with Macdaddy...... When I see a plow on my street, I'll clear my sidewalk.....
Jan 17, 2013 at 11:20 a.m.
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Has anyone actually went to Burger King off Milton Avenue? Their parking lot is nothing but ice. There has or ever is any salt thrown down. I asked the manager Tuesday night about this problem and they informed me that they have a contract with a guy out of Northern IL and if there is not 6 inches or more he won't come plow or salt (isn't worth his time and money). This was confirmed by the district manager whom misled me over the phone that she didn't know about the problem, and during the conversation slipped and stated the 6 inch rule that he had told her that day. They are paying him to have an exclusive contract for all 3 or 4 of her stores. That should be a fine or two. We won't be going over to that restaurant anymore!!
Jan 17, 2013 at 9:34 a.m.
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Shouldn't the rule be if not enough snow for the city to clear streets than not enough for me to clear a sidewalk I never asked for or wanted in the first place but am obligated to pay for and maintain????
Yes I'm still a little perturbed I had to install a sidewalk I never use and was a huge reason I bought this house when looking.
Jan 17, 2013 at 8:19 a.m.
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I walk a lot for exercise and to save gas. It's hit or miss on shoveled/snow blown sidewalks and street corners. Sometimes, I walk along the street curb because of this. I would love it if more people took the time to shovel/snow blow their sidewalks and street corners.
Jan 17, 2013 at 5:10 a.m.
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Who is responsible for the fire hydrants being kept clear so they can be accessed in an emergency? I have shoveled the one out that is across the street and on the corner (not even on my property) only to have the plow truck come by and bury it again. I think if the city is going to bury them then they need to get out there and clear them. Do I keep my walk and driveway clear from end to end and side to side? Yes right down to the concrete. And so do my nieghbors. And yes we help each other out also. Kind of an unspoken, unwritten, agreement of kindness.
Jan 17, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.
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That doesn't surprise me at all sigma
Jan 16, 2013 at 2:19 p.m.
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I didnt even notice it snowed enough to do anything. I didnt touch my sidewalks.
Jan 16, 2013 at 1:36 p.m.
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Snow shoveling help is one offering of Senior Services of Rock County, who can be contacted here:
http://www.seniorservicesrock.com/
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Other persons with appropriate disability eligibility may be able to get assistance through the Long Term Support division of Rock County Human Services:
http://www.co.rock.wi.us/human-svcs-long...
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Personally, I've seen people who do lazy, half competent shoveling jobs, but at least they try. The ones I don't understand are those who a) do a great job no their sidewalks but do nothing about the ramps or the plow chunks, making the sidewalk clearing sort of pointless, or b) who add insult to injury by doing a 100% perfect job on the *part of the sidewalk they personally use*, say to get to their driveway, and then leave snow and ice on the rest of the walk for the public to navigate. That's just being a jerk.
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Also, there's a driveway around me that's sort of on a hill, and I wish the people who live there would "get" that clearing the driveway would mean they can drive up it without sliding around and spinning their tires. I have the blessing of listening to that for weeks after a snowfall.
Jan 16, 2013 at 12:34 p.m.
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I was told I should not shovel/snowblow due to some chronic medical issues. I contacted several local vendors this year and got precious little response...The concept of "private shoveling help" is great, but not so much in practice.
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