No "snowpocalypse," but Ann Arbor residents still shoveling their way out of driveways and sidewalks
Ann Arbor resident Dene Eavy runs his snowblower to clear out his driveway Wednesday morning.
. Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Although the predicted blizzard failed to materialize, a winter storm dumped about six inches of snow on the Ann Arbor area between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning
Early Wednesday, snow removal crews began working on clearing area roadways so automobiles could safely traverse the winter wonderland.
But, some of the real sweat and hard work would come from area residents clearing off the sidewalks in front of their residences as the sounds of shovels hitting cement echoed throughout the city.
Landlord Michael Bielby shovels out his property after a winter storm in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Feb. 2, 2011.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
“It’s been okay, the problem is it keeps blowing back on top of you once you shovel it off,” he said.”
The city of Ann Arbor requires that property owners remove snow and ice accumulation of more than one inch from sidewalks and ramps leading to crosswalks in the 24 hours following the end of a storm.
If property owners don’t remove the snow and ice, the city can ticket the offending party, clear the sidewalk on their own time and bill the property owner for the cost.
During winter months, the city of Ann Arbor provides residents with up to one five-gallon bucket’s worth of a sand and salt mixture per visit to the city’s maintenance yard, 721 Main St. Residents are responsible for bringing their own shovel and bucket and the material is only intended for residents, not private contractors.
Despite city officials urging residents to avoid parking on the city’s streets during the storm, Williams was struggling to find space to dump the shoveled snow with parked cars so close to his driveway.
As he shoveled out his driveway, he occasionally walked halfway up or down to toss the snow into a place where the snow wouldn’t pile up on the already plowed-in cars in the street.
“It’s one of those things, what do you do?” he said. “If you come across snow in your own driveway, do you shovel it right on the car that’s parallel parked on the road?”
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com.
Comments
RDanzer
Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
I think an amendment should be added to that 24 hour rule: The city cannot hand out any tickets until all city owned sidewalks are clear. In our neighbor, the biggest offender for not clearing the walks is the city - all the walks in front of the parks are full of snow.
Bill
Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 1:35 p.m.
Tom, I think that's a bit of generalization. A lot of property owners are either too old, weak, or infirm to shovel their sidewalks. So, I would cut them some slack. However, in my area at least, you can always spot a rental because they NEVER shovel and in most cases the tenants don't care. Let's try to be a bit understanding given the conditions of or elderly neighbors.
Philip Santini
Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:03 p.m.
While I understand that the city snowplows can't avoid blocking driveways with plowed snow, do they have to go so fast while plowing that snow is hurled over extensions and onto freshly-shovelled sidewalks??? To report uncleared sidewalks, city residents can call Community Standards at 994-1788.
Bill
Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 1:36 p.m.
Hey Philip, can we also call this number of plows bury our sidewalks?
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 5:29 a.m.
I remember the days when Ann Arbor used to run sidewalk sweepers. It was a ridiculous amount of money per snowfall, though, so hardly anyone paid for it. But it was quite the racket. You had to shovel quickly, before the sweepers came by your home. If they beat you there, they had their blades raised, and would compact the snow on your sidewalk so thoroughly that shoveling was almost pointless.
uabchris
Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
Yea Tom, Seems like we have a lot of lazy people these days. A majority of the OWS has been unshoveled all season, not just this week! Rentals seem to be the highest offenders. If the city REALLY wanted to increase revenue they would enforce the city ord. At the end of the day its not about ticketing offenders though, its about having commom courtesy for your neighbors!
Tom Joad
Thu, Feb 3, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.
It's a lot easier to shovel it before everyone tramples on it and it turns to ice. Homeowners are responsible for shoveling the sidewalk in front of their homes but the lazy ones just let pedestrians compact it and it turns to ice or a lawsuit waiting to happen.