Snow brings shoveling duties for property owners

By MARGARET FOSMOE, Tribune Staff Writer

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Andrea Teeter and Scott Jester, both with the City's Solid Waste Division, clear sidewalk ramps downtown Tuesday in South Bend. The pair had been clearing city sidewalks since 6:30 am.

Andrea Teeter and Scott Jester, both with the City's Solid Waste Division, clear sidewalk ramps downtown Tuesday in South Bend. The pair had been clearing city sidewalks since 6:30 am. (Tribune Photo/ MARCUS MARTER)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Jan 14, 2009 at 8:22 AM EST

Story Updated: Jan 14, 2009 at 8:35 AM EST

SOUTH BEND — After a heavy snowfall, the sidewalks in South Bend are a portrait in contrasts.

Some stretches of sidewalk are promptly shoveled and salted, while others disappear entirely until spring or the next thaw. In some places, pedestrians struggle or give up and walk in the streets.

“They do a better job of clearing the sidewalks in Chicago,” said LeRoy Howard, of Chicago, who was trudging along Lafayette Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon.

South Bend has a city ordinance that requires property owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks within 24 hours after it has fallen.

If the snow or ice isn’t removed, the city may give the property owner or occupant 24 hours written notice. If it still isn’t removed, the city may remove the snow or ice and bill the property owner or occupant.

If the city does the work, the bill is a minimum of $86.50, said Catherine Toppel, director of Code Enforcement.

No one has been fined yet this winter. Before this past weekend, most snowfalls so far quickly melted, Toppel said.

By Tuesday afternoon, the snow had been cleared from most — but not all — sidewalks in the downtown area.

The sidewalk along Wayne Street north of the Sanctuary at Trinity Tower, a senior apartment building, was buried under snow. A block west on Wayne, no effort had been made to clear the walk near O’Sullivan’s Crossing tavern.

The snow was shoveled promptly from sidewalks on the north and west sides of Teachers Credit Union. However, there was no path for pedestrians on the Washington Street sidewalk by the TCU parking lot. In early afternoon, a Downtown South Bend crew was firing up a snow blower to clear a walk through that snow drift.

The public sidewalk adjacent to the Ampco System-run parking lot at Colfax Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard was buried under snow. A block north, the sidewalks around Taco Bell also were buried in snow.

City employees and DTSB workers had cleared the snow from sidewalks at many downtown intersections.

City officials realize some homeowners may be elderly or not physically able to complete snow removal, Toppel said. “That’s why we ask others to step up and help them out,” she said, referring to friends, relatives and neighbors.

Each year, there are some problems with homeowners near schools not shoveling sidewalks, which creates a hazard for children who have to walk to school, Toppel said. The blocks near Perley Primary Center on the city’s northeast side often are a problem, she said.

Mishawaka

In Mishawaka, sidewalks had been shoveled in front of most businesses during the day Tuesday. Snow had fallen again on some of those efforts but an effort had been made.

Mishawaka also has an ordinance requiring property owners to clear sidewalks after it snows.

Mayor Jeff Rea said he doesn’t think any downtown businesses have ever been fined for not removing snow. “We have an ordinance that says we can (fine people),” he said. “But we rarely fine anybody.”

He said the city’s code department would talk to owners of businesses where snow isn’t removed and tell them they need to do the work.

Staff writer Sue Lowe contributed to this report.

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