MONROE - Winter is just getting started, and already the accummulated snowfall is "knee high to a puppy dog," said Jerry Ellefson, superintendent at the Monroe wastewater treatment plant.
In this case, it's a St. Bernard puppy, he said.
Joe Solawetz keeps track of the WWTP snowfall statistics. "Snow on the ground" was measured at 15 inches at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, he said.
But nobody likes puppy dogs going on his lawn, nor when someone blows or shovels their snow into his yard.
Blowing snow onto a neighbor's yard is a definite violation of city code, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said.
Ordinance 11-1-10 (B), drafted in November 2003, was intended to deal with the growing problem of people blowing grass clippings or leaves onto others' property, but snow and ice were included.
A snow removal dispute comes up once or twice a season, Kelley said.
Police officers first try to referee the dispute between neighbors.
"And usually, we have an alternative for where to put the snow," he said.
If they don't quit after being notified of the problem, Kelley said that is considered an intentional annoyance of a neighbor.
"And that we deal with in other ways," he said. "But once they know that, that usually takes care of it."
Some situations make snow removal harder.
"Where we run into problems is when neighbors share a driveway," Kelley said.
And while the terrace is public property, sometimes too much snow at the end of a driveway creates a hazard to see over.
Kelley said the best way to handle a potential winter neighborhood problem is "to go over and ask the neighbor if you can put it in front of their house."
And Kelley said it helps to be a good neighbor and clear some of their sidewalks or driveway, too.
It's also a good idea to be aware of the law. Jeff Rogers 12/23/08
Tere Dunlap 12/23/08 City of Monroe City Code Sec.11-1-10: SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE:
(A) Every person shall remove all snow, ice, dirt, rubbish or refuse material from the sidewalk in front of or immediately adjacent to the premises owned or occupied by him.
1. Removal of snow, ice, dirt, rubbish or refuse material shall be completed within a reasonable time after the accumulation of such materials on the sidewalk.
2. Ice or snow that cannot be removed shall be sprinkled with ashes, sand, salt or other substance to allow safe pedestrian use.
3. If the person responsible for removal of materials from the sidewalk fails to remove such materials within a reasonable time, the city shall be entitled to remove such material from the sidewalk. Costs incurred by the city shall be billed to the owner of the property to which the sidewalk adjoins. If such costs are not paid, such charges shall be entered on the tax roll as a special tax against the property, and shall be collected as other taxes upon real estate. (12-17-1991)
(B) Unless otherwise permitted by law, no person shall cause to be deposited any snow, slush, ice, dirt, debris, rubbish or refuse material of any type or nature, on or upon any public or private property not owned or occupied by such person or without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof.
1. This subsection (B) shall not apply to city employees or other agents of the city acting within the scope of their duties.
2. This subsection (B) shall not prevent the deposit of snow and ice from a private residence upon the terrace immediately adjoining the sidewalk of such private residence.
3. Snow, slush, ice, dirt, debris, rubbish or refuse material of any type or nature, deposited in violation of this subsection (B) is declared to be a public nuisance and in addition to any penalty provided, the city may abate the public nuisance by removing any snow, slush, ice, dirt, debris, rubbish or refuse material of whatever type or nature, and cause the cost of the removal to be charged to the person who deposited or caused the deposit in violation of this subsection (B). If such costs are not paid, such charges shall be entered on the tax roll as a special tax against the property, and shall be collected as other taxes upon real estate. (11-18-2003)
(C) In addition to any charges for services made under this section, any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to a class 5 forfeiture. A separate offense exists each calendar day during which a violation occurs or continues. (12-17-1991)
In this case, it's a St. Bernard puppy, he said.
Joe Solawetz keeps track of the WWTP snowfall statistics. "Snow on the ground" was measured at 15 inches at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, he said.
But nobody likes puppy dogs going on his lawn, nor when someone blows or shovels their snow into his yard.
Blowing snow onto a neighbor's yard is a definite violation of city code, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said.
Ordinance 11-1-10 (B), drafted in November 2003, was intended to deal with the growing problem of people blowing grass clippings or leaves onto others' property, but snow and ice were included.
A snow removal dispute comes up once or twice a season, Kelley said.
Police officers first try to referee the dispute between neighbors.
"And usually, we have an alternative for where to put the snow," he said.
If they don't quit after being notified of the problem, Kelley said that is considered an intentional annoyance of a neighbor.
"And that we deal with in other ways," he said. "But once they know that, that usually takes care of it."
Some situations make snow removal harder.
"Where we run into problems is when neighbors share a driveway," Kelley said.
And while the terrace is public property, sometimes too much snow at the end of a driveway creates a hazard to see over.
Kelley said the best way to handle a potential winter neighborhood problem is "to go over and ask the neighbor if you can put it in front of their house."
And Kelley said it helps to be a good neighbor and clear some of their sidewalks or driveway, too.
It's also a good idea to be aware of the law. Jeff Rogers 12/23/08
Tere Dunlap 12/23/08 City of Monroe City Code Sec.11-1-10: SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE:
(A) Every person shall remove all snow, ice, dirt, rubbish or refuse material from the sidewalk in front of or immediately adjacent to the premises owned or occupied by him.
1. Removal of snow, ice, dirt, rubbish or refuse material shall be completed within a reasonable time after the accumulation of such materials on the sidewalk.
2. Ice or snow that cannot be removed shall be sprinkled with ashes, sand, salt or other substance to allow safe pedestrian use.
3. If the person responsible for removal of materials from the sidewalk fails to remove such materials within a reasonable time, the city shall be entitled to remove such material from the sidewalk. Costs incurred by the city shall be billed to the owner of the property to which the sidewalk adjoins. If such costs are not paid, such charges shall be entered on the tax roll as a special tax against the property, and shall be collected as other taxes upon real estate. (12-17-1991)
(B) Unless otherwise permitted by law, no person shall cause to be deposited any snow, slush, ice, dirt, debris, rubbish or refuse material of any type or nature, on or upon any public or private property not owned or occupied by such person or without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof.
1. This subsection (B) shall not apply to city employees or other agents of the city acting within the scope of their duties.
2. This subsection (B) shall not prevent the deposit of snow and ice from a private residence upon the terrace immediately adjoining the sidewalk of such private residence.
3. Snow, slush, ice, dirt, debris, rubbish or refuse material of any type or nature, deposited in violation of this subsection (B) is declared to be a public nuisance and in addition to any penalty provided, the city may abate the public nuisance by removing any snow, slush, ice, dirt, debris, rubbish or refuse material of whatever type or nature, and cause the cost of the removal to be charged to the person who deposited or caused the deposit in violation of this subsection (B). If such costs are not paid, such charges shall be entered on the tax roll as a special tax against the property, and shall be collected as other taxes upon real estate. (11-18-2003)
(C) In addition to any charges for services made under this section, any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to a class 5 forfeiture. A separate offense exists each calendar day during which a violation occurs or continues. (12-17-1991)