Thursday night’s snowfall triggered the first enactment of Champaign’s new snow removal ordinance.

According to the city’s Web site, Director of Public Works Dennis Schmidt made the announcement that, because at least two inches of snow accumulated, property owners in Campustown and downtown areas must clear a 48-inch path in their sidewalks by Wednesday at 6 a.m.

Although Schmidt made the announcement Friday afternoon, the 48 hours allotted to the property owners by the ordinance will not start being counted until Monday at 6 a.m.

Sidewalks not cleared by that time could be cleared by the city at the owner’s expense.

The City Council approved the ordinance on Oct. 16, but this is the first time it has been put into practice.

Previously, Champaign and Urbana were the only two Big Ten cities without such an ordinance. Urbana still does not have the ordinance.

For more information, visit www.ci.champaign.il.us.