Edmonton’s mild weather may be a welcome change, but with icy sidewalk complaints on the rise, city bylaw officials are reminding residents it’s not quite time to put away the shovels.
Sidewalk complaints are up 35 percent over last year, and particularly in the last month.
“Not sure if citizens are tired of the long season or feel it’s going to melt, or just not getting to it in a timely fashion,” says Troy Courtoreille with the city’s Bylaw Enforcement. “But we want to see that change and remind them it is a public safety issue, especially for senior citizens and people with mobility issues.”
It’s also affecting mail carriers like Susan Kangas, who says the slick sidewalks have not only slowed her down, but also made her fall twice this week.
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“I have huge bruises on my knees ’cause you just go down, and your mail goes flying. So it’s not fun.”
“Cleats don’t even help,” she adds. “You just skid on the ice. It’s pretty brutal.”
Kangas would like to see more homeowners putting salt on the ice.
Lori Fankhanel’s kids have been struggling with the slippery walkways as well. The stay-at-home mom has been chipping away at the one in front of her home, but is hoping the city steps in to help as well, since she believes the windrows can be a big part of the problem.
“With the melting snow coming off on our lawn and then with the windrows, it’s just creating a puddle to ice factor, and it would be nice if we could get these cleared on a more consistent basis. And then I think we wouldn’t have the same amount of problems as we have this year with the sidewalks.”
Still, she admits she’d rather chip away at the ice in this weather than shovel the snow in minus 40 temperatures.
Bylaw enforcement will issue one warning per household per season and then you can face a $100 fine.
Free gravel and sand is available at community league halls around the city.
The city website has tips on making your sidewalk clearing easier, as well as information on filing a complaint.
With files from Julie Matthews, Global News
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