City: sidewalks must be cleared by Friday
By Brandi Makuski
City officials are asking all residents to complete clearing snow from sidewalks by Friday morning.
Mayor Mike Wiza said the city will allow extra time for snow clearance due to the excessive snowfall from the weekend. Under city ordinance, property owners are required to remove snow within 24 hours.
A reported 20.7 inches fell April 13-15, according to the National Weather Service, with up to four more inches on the way Wednesday.
“In recognition of this, the city has been giving property owners extra time to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property and will not begin actively enforcing sidewalk snow removal until 8 a.m., Friday, April 20,” Wiza said by email.
After that time, Wiza said, the city will hire a contractor to clear the snow at the expense of the property owner.
“Enforcement will begin in the areas of highest foot traffic within the city, such as around UWSP, major corridors, and business districts,” he added.
Even Stevens Point firefighters were busy on Tuesday with snow removal activities, clearing heavy snow from around fire hydrants.
“We’re helping out the water department and clearing those fire hydrants for when that emergency happens,” SPFD Capt. J.B. Moody said on April 17.
Wiza said any resident who feels they’ve been presented with an “unreasonable burden” by snow plowing activities along their street should call the city’s Neighborhood Improvement Office at 715.346.1554 before the Friday, 8 a.m. deadline.