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Columbiana council debates how — and whether — to enforce sidewalk snow removal after heavy snowfall
Summary
Following recent heavy snow, councilmembers discussed enforcement of the city's sidewalk removal ordinance, weighing warning outreach and mayor's court citations against treating violations as zoning matters; Police Chief Edwards cautioned that immediate enforcement without prior notice would generate complaints.
Columbiana councilmembers spent a substantial portion of their Feb. 17 meeting debating how to enforce the city's sidewalk snow-and-ice removal requirement after a heavy snowfall left an older resident using a cane walking in the street.
A councilmember described encountering an older person forced into the road because the sidewalk was uncleared and urged the city to warn residents about the existing ordinance. The council discussed several options: placing notices on utility bills, using the city's text/phone alert system, temporarily prioritizing mayor’s court citations, or recasting enforcement as a zoning or housing code violation that would follow administrative notice and inspection.
Police Chief Edwards warned against suddenly invoking enforcement. "Without proper notification, it would be hard to enforce," he said, adding that abrupt enforcement "can be done, but it's gonna create a lot of complaints and a lot of people confused." Chief Edwards urged a coordinated administrative response that balances public safety and community capacity to comply.
Mark, speaking from the dais, said if the petition or paperwork contains an error it should be corrected by the petitioner and attorney, and he urged caution about changing the city's formal paperwork without counsel. Councilmembers and staff repeatedly emphasized the difference between a criminal citation and a zoning or housing enforcement approach: zoning tools would allow notice and remediation steps before penalties, while mayor's court would be more immediate but risk public backlash if widely applied.
City Manager Bryce and Chief Edwards were asked to work with the city attorney and administrative staff to develop a recommendation on how to proceed — including notice language, timelines for shoveling after a storm, and who would be responsible for enforcement — before the city implements more active enforcement. Councilmembers agreed a warning-first approach and better public notification (utility-bill notices and the city's alert system) were sensible first steps.
Next steps: Staff will draft an administrative approach and suggested ordinance or enforcement language and return to council with recommendations; no formal ordinance change or new enforcement program was adopted during the meeting.
