The Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Department has issued over 100 warnings to property owners for not properly clearing sidewalks after the January snow storms.
(FILE PHOTO: Tyler Lake / WTIU News)
“I am a crossing guard…and I've already seen two kiddos eat it on the ice in the past week.”
For the past week, residents have continued to share frustrations such as these on sidewalk cleanup in Bloomington.
The city saw as much as 9.5 inches of snow in some areas from Jan. 5-6. While travel in Monroe County has returned to normal conditions, temperatures have remained below freezing, making sidewalks an icy hazard for pedestrians and bikers.
Who’s responsible?
The streets department is responsible for plowing and salting roads, but the city relies on property owners to clear any sidewalks next to their building.
The Bloomington Municipal Code has a 24-hour grace period after snowfall stops for property owners to clear ice and snow “to allow safe and reasonable travel.”
When that doesn’t happen, it falls on the City’s Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) Department to notify the owner.
HAND’s program manager Angela Van Rooy said her staff starts by educating the community about this responsibility.
HAND has issued more than 100 warnings since the most recent snow events. Additional warnings could result in fines, which begin at $50 and increase with recurring violations. HAND hasn’t issued any fines yet.
"Ultimately, public safety is our goal," Van Rooy said in an emailed statement. "City staff have been working hard to ensure that public rights of way are safe and passable for cars and pedestrians alike, and we rely on community members to do their part."
The city’s Council for Community Accessibility is testing its first volunteer-powered snow shoveling program. Snow Buddies are paired with neighbors who aren’t able to due to age or a disability.
Residents can report hazardous sidewalks to the city through UReport.
Warming centers open next week
The city’s Emergency Management announced Wednesday that warming centers will be open Jan. 20-22 for temporary assistance. Food, showers, or sleeping areas are not available. The Monroe County Public Libraries were recently added as warming center locations, in addition to the fire stations.
Warming center locations for Jan. 20-22, 2025. (Courtesy, Monroe County Emergency Management Department)
This article has been updated with comment from Van Rooy.
