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Wauconda may require businesses, residents to shovel public sidewalks

Wauconda residents and business owners would be required to remove snow from adjacent public sidewalks under a proposal in development at village hall.

People who don't comply would receive two warnings per season and then face $50 fines.

Officials want to ensure sidewalks are safe for pedestrians and to prevent people from walking in roadways because sidewalks are covered with snow or ice. Completely bare sidewalks aren't necessarily the goal.

"You have to at least shovel a walkway," Village Administrator Kevin Timony said Tuesday during a discussion of the proposal by the village board's license and administration committee.

If approved, the rules would apply to residential neighborhoods, commercial areas like the downtown district, and other parts of town with public sidewalks. They would not apply to sidewalks on private property, such as those in industrial complexes.

Village leaders have discussed requiring property owners to remove snow and ice from adjoining sidewalks through the years but never pursued the matter.

Trustee Tim Howe, who leads the license committee, raised the issue at a meeting in January, however, and it's gained traction.

He's particularly concerned about snow removal on sidewalks in Wauconda's commercial business zones.

"One business can hurt all the other businesses by making them impassible," Howe said.

Previously, officials have said proactively enforcing a villagewide snow removal ordinance would require too much manpower.

Officials now envision a complaint-driven system that would see the village respond only when residents or business owners call about a snow-covered path.

Committee members noted that some residents or merchants may be unable to shovel snow because of illness, disabilities or other factors. In those situations, neighbors should help out, Trustee Chuck Black said.

The license committee will discuss a draft version of the proposal next month. The full board could vote on the plan in April.

If approved, it would be enacted ahead of next winter. Village officials would publicly promote the rules in the summer and fall.

Barrington, Antioch, Grayslake and Volo are among the other suburbs with sidewalk-clearing mandates.

Last month, the Des Plaines City Council approved increased penalties for business owners who fail to clear sidewalks during winter months.

Fines will be greater, and the city could hire a contractor to clear the sidewalk at the business' expense.

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  A section of sidewalk along Mill Street in downtown Wauconda remained covered by snow Tuesday. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
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