City reminds residents to clear snow from sidewalks

The City of Sidney is reminding residents of a municipal ordinance requiring sidewalks to be cleared with 24 hours of a snow fall.

Joe Aikens, Sidney assistant police chief, said the reminder is being issued because of falls a few residents had last week while walking on sidewalks that hadn’t been cleared.

“When we start having people falling on the sidewalk, we try to big this to attention,” he said.

According to the ordinance, if snow is found on a sidewalk, the owner or occupant “contiguous to such sidewalk” shall be notified to clear the snow within one day from when the accumulation occurred.

If the owner or occupant can’t be located, or if the snow isn’t removed, the city will complete the task and bill the owner, according to the ordinance.

Aikens said police officers don’t actively go door-to-door looking for sidewalks that haven’t been cleared.

“We just want to help remind people and ask for voluntary compliance,” he said.

The ordinance has been on the books for years, he added.