Important to keep sidewalks free of snow and ice

Well, we’ve officially had a couple of big snows in town, with the occasional power outage no less, and with each the Town of Thermopolis and Wyoming Department of Transportation has been busy keeping our streets and highways clear.

But just as important is the responsibility residents have of clearing their sidewalks and drives. Under Ordinance 7-513 of the Town Code, people have 72 hours, or three days, of each snowfall to remove any snow that may render the public sidewalk unusable or hazardous. Those who do not could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $750 fine.

Of course, there are people who have mobility issues or are otherwise unable to clear the snow from the sidewalks on their property. However, there are a number of church, school and community groups that can provide assistance in these cases.

There are also plenty of people with blades attached to four-wheelers that can clear the walks in a jiffy. Whether scooping the snow off the sidewalks with a shovel, blower or plow, if possible try to keep it unloaded on your lawn rather than into the street. If a street is already plowed, any additional snow might not get picked up but instead melt into dangerous ice patches.