Comments on: Break Out the Shovels, Norfolk

By: Missy Schmidt

Missy Schmidt — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:04:40 +0000

ditto lizzelizzel! I left my snow shovel (or any shovel for that matter!) in the Shenandoah Valley when I moved here. crazy to have such an ordinance on the books of a modern urban center. does the reference number mean it was enacted in 1958? was that when Norfolk was a “dirty, gritty Navy town” as people have told me was our history? if so, the times they have a-changed! thnx for letting us know, Jesse

Sec. 42-34. Removal of snow from sidewalks–By owners or occupants of abutting property.
It shall be the duty of every person using or occupying, in any manner or for any purpose whatsoever, any house, store, shop, building or tenement of any kind, and of persons having charge of churches and public buildings of any description, other than public schools and buildings owned or occupied by the city, and of owners of unoccupied houses or unimproved lots, situate on any paved street, lane or alley in the city, within three (3) hours after the fall of any show has ceased, to remove and clear away, or cause to be removed and cleared away, the snow from the sidewalks fronting such house, store, shop, church, building or lot, in such manner as not to obstruct the passage of the water in the gutters. If snow ceases to fall between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., the removal of the snow before 11:00 a.m. will be deemed compliance with this section.
(Code 1958, � 45-30)
State law references: Authority for above section, Code of Virginia, � 15.1-867.

By: lizzelizzel

lizzelizzel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:30:45 +0000

On second thought, I don’t think I know anyone who owns a shovel.

By: lizzelizzel

lizzelizzel — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:59:13 +0000

About the sidewalk shoveling – This is how it is where I grew up in Pennsylvania, but since it barely snows in Virginia I seriously doubt anybody here realizes this is the case and expects the city to swoop to the rescue. Though to me I really do think it’s odd for anyone to assume it’s the city’s job to shovel the sidewalks to and from your home(in neighborhoods). It should occur homeowners. Haven’t we all watched movies and tv shows that had little kids getting paid to shovel walkways?

The roads…yeah, that’s a totally different story.

By: NLG

NLG — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:28:03 +0000

Norfolk has a rather large older population who are unable to shovel snow. Hindsight is 20/20, but teenagers and college kids looking for some extra money could’ve bought a shovel and distributed flyers around the various neighborhoods.

In the meantime, homeowners who truly can’t do it themselves and can’t find someone who will shovel for them, can always go to the US Post Office website and put a hold mail request for a few days so at least they won’t get in trouble with the mail man.

By: Mallory

Mallory — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:16:18 +0000

There’s a sidewalk on the corner of the Princess Anne Terrace that is terrible to walk on any time of year because it is built on a hill, therefore it’s steep. I walked down that way the other night & fell atleast six times before I decided I had to crawl on my knees or take another fall & slide into the street. It was extremely dangerous.

By: mira

mira — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:03:04 +0000

Day 3. Fell again 20 minutes ago. Gym parking lot. Maybe I’m totally hexed, but really? Help me out city officials. A girls got to have her legs man!

By: DNCL

DNCL — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:46:43 +0000

Downtown property owners pay a special tax to the Downtown Norfolk Council to handle street cleaning, snow removal, etc. They dropped the ball!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:41:53 +0000

What in the world!!! What about the sidewalks on the main roads!!!!