Get Informed about Brodhead’s Winter Ordinances
Another winter is come upon us. Once again we will be dealing with snow and ice. I would like to take a few minutes to explain Brodhead’s winter parking and sidewalk snow removal ordinances.
Let’s start with sidewalks. Yes, even in the winter people do use sidewalks. And a safe sidewalk is even more important in the winter. Walking in the street with snow piled on the sides and icy spots on the street make it very dangerous for pedestrians. Whenever possible, pedestrians should use sidewalks. So if you have a sidewalk along your property it is important that you keep it as safe as possible for pedestrians. City ordinance 6-2-7 (a),(b) require that all snow and ice be removed for the width of the sidewalk within 24 hours after a storm ends. If after 24 hours the snow is not removed or ice not removed or treated with sand/salt, the Public Works Department is required to, without notice, remove the snow and remove or treat the ice with a fee charged to the abutting property owner. That fee is $150.00. Did you see that you will not be given a notice? We just show up and clean off the walk. Now we are not going to stand there with a watch and time the 24 hours. But three days after a storm is not a reasonable time. And a path down the middle of the sidewalk is not sufficient. It must be cleaned of for the width of the sidewalk. At corners it must be cleaned off to the street.
We do make mistakes when plowing and occasionally throw an unreasonable amount of snow up onto a sidewalk or push the snow at the corner up to the end of the sidewalk making it very difficult to remove. If this happens, please call us so we can help get it removed.
Now, some things to remember about winter parking. Brodhead’s ordinance 10-1-27 (a) restricts parking in the business district from December 1st thru March 15th between the hours of 2:30 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. even if it never snows.
If it snows 2” or more, you are required to have all vehicles off of city streets and alleys until they have been completely plowed. This is important as having to plow around vehicles and coming back to clean up after they are moved costs the city more time and money.
One other note. It is against city ordinance to shovel, throw, blow or push snow onto city streets. That also costs the city more time and money when we have to go back to clean it up.
If you have any questions about parking or sidewalk snow removal, please call us at 897-4384.
It is our hope that by working together, we will all have a pleasant and safe winter.
Brodhead Public Works Department
