Snow-packed sidewalks form legal slippery slope

COEUR d'ALENE — All that snow has to go somewhere.

If you own a business or home in Coeur d'Alene, the law says that somewhere cannot be the sidewalk in front of your property.

Since Dec. 1, city officials and the Coeur d'Alene Police Department have received almost 50 reports from residents about sidewalks in the city that have not been cleared of snow, according to Deputy City Administrator Sam Taylor. Businesses and residents clearing snow from the sidewalks in front of their property is not only a way for them to comply with the laws in Coeur d'Alene, but a way to prevent public safety hazards as well.

"We want people to have access to the sidewalks," Taylor said. "They need these sidewalks free of snow and ice to safely get where they're going."

Taylor added some of the notable areas where officials have received numerous complaints are Appleway Avenue, Northwest Boulevard, Fourth Street, and Kathleen Avenue.

Each winter, Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Inspector Craig Etherton said, emergency personnel respond to numerous calls for assistance when people fall because of snow and ice. In many cases, he said, responding to assist the injured is difficult because firefighters and paramedics also have a hard time maneuvering.

That difficulty, Etherton added, is compounded when a sidewalk that has not been cleared of snow and ice forces a pedestrian to instead walk on the road.

"When a person chooses to walk in the roadway which is already narrowed by snowplow operations, to bypass an area of sidewalk which has not been shoveled, they are putting themselves in a dangerous situation," Etherton said. "This situation is also dangerous for firefighters as we will have to block an area of the roadway to care for the individual."

If businesses or individuals refuse to comply with city code related to clearing their sidewalks, Taylor said there are ways the situation is addressed. Under approval from the city council, the city is able to send out its street department personnel to take care of clearing snow off a problem area. Should that become a necessity, Taylor said the business or homeowner will be charged by the city for the service.

The city also has the ability to pursue a more formal charge against those who don't comply. Although Taylor said the legal mechanism is rarely used, individuals cited would face a misdemeanor charge that comes with a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 180 days in jail.

"Above all else though, it's just the neighborly thing to do," Taylor said. "We're really just asking for people to do the right thing."

Etherton also encouraged residents to "adopt a fire hydrant" in their neighborhood. There's no sign-up or cost associated with it, he said. All it requires is residents ensure their adopted fire hydrant is clear of snow. Etherton said when there is a fire, every second counts, and not having to clear a fire hydrant upon arrival makes the job of firefighters easier and more effective.

Individuals who are physically unable to clear the snow from their sidewalks can contact the following entities for assistance:

Elder Help of North Idaho — (208) 209-1143 or (208) 691-9727

Lake City Senior Center — (208) 667-4628

Post Falls Senior Center — (208) 773-9582

Rathdrum Senior Center — (208) 687-2028

If any residents are concerned about certain sidewalks in the city, they are encouraged to contact the city at (208) 769-2390, by email at [email protected], or they can file a concern online at www.cdaid.org/codeenforcement.