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Frankenmuth News
Serving Frankenmuth Since 1906
Vol. 119 No. 32 In our 119th year!
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
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City residents, band together to keep neighborhood sidewalks clear
By Bridget Smith,
City Manager
Any day I look out my window at the City office I see at least a couple of people walking. This is true even in the winter. The past few months haven’t produced many heavy snow days, but there has been a few. Aside from the obvious clues, it is easy to tell when there’s been a heavy snow because that’s when I see people walking in the street. Historically the City has always relied on a good neighbor policy where residents cleared their walks of snow in a reasonable amount of time because they knew there were neighbors who would use them.
The City ordinance does not speak to clearing snow from sidewalks specifically. Over the years there has been discussion of whether or not we should amend the City’s ordinance to establish a rule like in other communities – where residents and businesses would have so many hours after a snowfall to shovel their walks. But with each rule comes enforcement. If someone doesn’t clear the snow, that means the City spends resources to physically inspect property after each snow fall, clear the snow and then send a bill. What happens when the reason the snow isn’t cleared is because the person is sick or out of town or can’t physically do it?
That’s where the good neighbor policy has always been preferred. In a town of 5,000 people, we should be able to look out for each other and not rely on government to enforce a rule that is as simple as making sure your neighbor can safely walk in front of your home. And when your neighbor can’t, perhaps the collective community can........
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