Snow removal deadline extends to Thursday

Jonathan Herzenstein clears snow from a car lot after a winter storm, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, in Bedford, Ohio. A winter storm system blamed for three deaths in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions spread a hazardous mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain thr Tony Dejak, The Associated Press

AP

Jonathan Herzenstein clears snow from a car lot after a winter storm, Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, in Bedford, Ohio. A winter storm system blamed for three deaths in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions spread a hazardous mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain thr Tony Dejak, The Associated Press

By Erica Magda

The city will begin issuing work orders to Champaign property owners who have not removed snow from their sidewalks by 8 a.m. Thursday morning.

The snow removal ordinance, which initially called for residents to remove snow by Wednesday at 8 a.m., was extended due the large number of people who didn’t shovel.

“We found an awful lot of people who have done nothing and an awful lot saying that they knew nothing about (the ordinance),” said Susan Salzman, Champaign’s property maintenance supervisor in the neighborhood service department.

Salzman said that the city has contacted more than 40 businesses and individuals today who have not yet complied with the ordinance.

Champaign property owners must clear 48-inches of snow, or the width of the sidewalk. Corner properties must clear the snow to the street, Salzman said.

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According to Salzman, tomorrow the city will hire a private contractor, which will cost property owners a $100 administration fee on top of the abatement.

“This is the fist time and a lot of people don’t know (how it works) and for some reason or another the word didn’t get out as well as we hoped.” she said. “It’s rough. It’s something new for everybody.”

Click here to go to the Champaign department’s web site for a snow removal map.