Although winter is officially 12 days away, we’ve already had some tastes of what it can dish out in the form of both ice and snow.

While city code requires that people keep the sidewalks in safe and serviceable condition, we hope people are doing it to be good neighbors.

It’s not only a good idea to keep your sidewalks clean for your own safety, but also for the safety of mail carriers, newspaper delivery people and guests &045; not to mention your own safety.

If you can, help an elderly neighbor out with this task.

Every year, we hear of someone we know who falls on the ice and breaks a leg, arm, foot, or, even worse, a hip. Walking on ice can be treacherous for even the most sure-footed.

Here’s a review of what city code requires in regard to snow and ice removal:

– All snow and ice remaining upon public sidewalks is declared to constitute a public nuisance and shall be abated by the owner or tenant of the abutting private property within 12 hours after such snow or ice has ceased to be deposited.

– The city may cause to be removed from all public sidewalks, beginning 24 hours after snow or ice has ceased to fall, all snow and ice which may be discovered thereon, and it shall keep a record of the cost of such removal and the private property adjacent to which such accumulations are found and removed.

– On or before the first Monday of May of each year, the city clerk shall prepare a list showing the name of the owner of the land adjacent to and adjoining all sidewalks cleared by the city, the legal description of the land, and the cost and expense of the removal of the snow and ice therefrom, and the list shall be filed in the city office with the cost passed on to the homeowner to pay.

Also, remember that it’s against the law to remove snow or ice from private property and place the snow or ice on a public street, including a public sidewalk.

Please be a good neighbor this winter &045; keep your walk clear of snow and ice.