City issues snow emergency starting Saturday night

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City to give 12 hours notice before clearing sidewalk and assessing property owners

BY PCC STAFF

FORT MADISON - The City of Fort Madison is Declaring a Snow Emergency because of the anticipated winter storm event. The snow emergency will be in effect for all roadways in Fort Madison starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 and extended through 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. 

According to Fort Madison City Code, parking shall be permitted adjacent to even numbered properties commencing at eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. on odd numbered days and continuing until eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. the following day. Parking on the opposite side of the street during said period shall be prohibited except that from six o'clock (6:00) P.M. to eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. on said even numbered day parking shall be permitted on either side of the street.   

Parking shall also be permitted adjacent to odd numbered properties commencing at eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. on even numbered days and continuing until eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. the following day. Parking on the opposite side of the street during said period shall be prohibited except that from six o'clock (6:00) P.M. to eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. on said odd numbered day parking shall be permitted on either side of the street.

The city has also determined that due to previous years history of the high number of properties not clearing snow from sidewalks the City will perform removal of ice and snow from abutting owners’ property with twelve hours’ notice to persons who have not adequately cleared snow from their sidewalks.

Fort Madison City Code, subsections 7-3-1 requires adjoining property owners to maintain sidewalks free and clear from all snow, ice, and accumulations.  Further, subsection 7-3-2 declares that failure to remove snow and ice in a reasonable amount of time is a misdemeanor.  Subsection 7-3-3 of the Fort Madison City Code reads:

Should snow, ice, or accumulation be permitted to remain upon any sidewalk for more than a reasonable time, the City Engineer, with or without notice to the owner, tenant, or other person in charge of the property abutting upon said sidewalk, shall cause said snow, ice, or accumulations to be removed, and the expenses of removal shall be specially assessed to the abutting property, in accordance with Section 1-6-9 of this Code. (Ord. A-67, 12-28-53; amd. Ord. B-292, 9-4-79)

Therefore, beginning Jan. 1, 2022, the City will begin posting 12-hour notices on non-compliant properties, and begin clearing all sidewalks of snow not adequately cleared by the property owner within that timeframe. Minimum charge for any abatement is $50.

All charges will be assessed to the property taxes in the form of a special assessment per City Code 6-4-3(C)(1)(b).  

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