Champaign cracks down on those who don’t shovel sidewalks

2 comments December 26th, 2008

I saw this story on the wire. It makes it seem like all Champaign homeowners need to start shoveling, but if you read the full story in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, you see it’s just for Campustown and downtown.

Do you agree with this approach? .

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — City officials in Champaign are delivering a serious winter message to residents: Clear the sidewalks by 3 p.m. or pay for it.

City Public Works Director Dennis Schmidt says property owners must remove ice and snow by Friday afternoon or the city will have to hire a contractor. The order this week gave residents 48 hours to clear sidewalks.

If it’s not done, the city will send the bill to property owners and add a $100 administrative fee. The rules come from an ordinance that went into effect last year.

A city spokeswoman says it’s for the safety of residents.