§ 40-51. Snow and ice removal.

(a)

Removal from sidewalks. The owner, occupant or person in charge of any parcel or lot which fronts upon or abuts any sidewalk shall keep said sidewalk clear of all snow and ice. In the event of snow accumulating on said sidewalk due to natural means and/or by any other means, said sidewalks shall be cleared of all accumulated snow and/or ice within 48 hours from the time the snow ceases to accumulate on said sidewalk. In the event that ice has formed on any sidewalk in such a manner that it cannot be removed, the owner, occupant or person in charge of the parcel or lot which fronts upon or adjoins said sidewalk shall keep the sidewalk sprinkled with material to accelerate melting or prevent slipping.

(b)

Notice and removal of snow from sidewalks. If the owner, occupant or person in charge of any parcel or lot which fronts upon or adjoins any sidewalk shall fail to keep said sidewalk clear of snow and ice as set forth in Subsection (a) of this section, the Director of Public Works shall take the following action:

(1)

Hazardous conditions. If the Director of Public Works determines that the failure to remove the snow and ice from the sidewalk creates an immediate danger to the public health and/or safety, he shall cause the issuance of a written notice to the owner, occupant or person in charge of any parcel or lot directing that the snow and ice be removed immediately after the delivery of the notice. In the event the property owner, occupant or person in charge of said parcel or lot is unavailable to receive a written notice. The Director of Public Works shall cause all sidewalks which have not been cleaned or sprinkled in the manner heretofore to be cleaned or sprinkled upon default of the person whose duty it shall be to clean or sprinkle the same, and the cost thereof, shall be assessed as a special tax against the abutting property, which shall be collected in the same manner as other City taxes.

(2)

Snow and ice not to encroach. No person shall push, shove or in any way deposit any snow or ice onto any public streets, alley, sidewalk or public lands dedicated to public use. Snow from public sidewalks shall not be stored in any manner which will obstruct or limit vehicular or pedestrian vision, movement or access. The deposit of any snow or ice upon any sidewalk, alley or street, contrary to the provisions of this section, is a nuisance; and in addition to the penalty provided for violation of this section, the City may summarily remove and transport from the site any snow or ice so deposited and cause the cost of said removal to be charged to the owner of the property from which said snow or ice had been removed.

(c)

Enforcement. The Director of Public Works is hereby authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this section, including requesting the assistance of the Police Department.

(d)

Continued violations. Each 24-hour period where a violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense under this section for enforcement purposes. Repeated violations or subsequent additional accumulations of snow and/or ice shall not nullify any pending notice issued under this section.

(e)

Abatement after notice. Failure of the owner, occupant or person in charge of any parcel or lot to cause the removal of snow and/or ice within the time established under Subsection (b)(1) of this section after receiving a written notice shall result in the Director of Public Works causing the removal of said snow and/or ice.

(f)

Expense. An account of the expenses incurred by the City to abate the snow and/or ice hazard shall be kept and such expenses shall be charged to and paid by the parcel or lot owner. Notice of the bill for the removal of snow and/or ice shall be mailed to the last-known address of the owner of the parcel or lot and shall be payable within ten calendar days from the receipt thereof. Within 60 days after such costs and expenses are incurred and remain unpaid, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall enter those charges onto the tax roll as a special tax as provided by Wis. Stats. § 66.615(5).

(g)

Penalty. Snow and ice shall be removed within 48 hours, pursuant to the requirements of this section, after any storm; should said snow and ice fail to be removed, the City Police Department shall, in addition to possibly removing the snow pursuant to Subsection (f) of this section, issue a warning ticket. If snow and ice is not removed within 48 hours after receiving the warning ticket, the Police Department shall issue a citation with a penalty as prescribed in Section 1-17. Each day in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

(Code 1991, § 6-2-7)