100+ Cited for Failing to Clear Snow from Sidewalks in Minersville, More Likely

More than 100 citations were recently filed against property owners and managers in Minersville for failing to clear sidewalks after a snowfall.

According to Borough officials, the 117 citations recently filed at District Court in Port Carbon only cover violations through Dec. 29.

Citations were filed only after those responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks failed to respond to Quality of Life tickets they were issued following a storm.

Interim Borough manager Megan Paul says Minersville’s Code Enforcement Officer Kyle Crouse goes out 24 hours after a snow or ice storm and photographs properties that are in violation of Ordinance 339 (Section 4.11A).

The ordinance reads:

Every owner, occupant, agent or any other person who is responsible for any property within the Borough of Minersville, is required to remove any snow or ice from their sidewalk and shall, within the 12 hours after secession every fall of snow or sleet or formation of ice upon the sidewalks, cause the same to be removed from the sidewalks to within one foot of the curb line opposite the entire frontage of such dwelling house, store, building or vacant lot.

Quality of Life violation tickets are issued. It’s a $50 fine. Recipients have 10 days to pay the fine or appeal the ticket. If someone who’s issued a ticket fails to respond, the Borough files a citation at District Court.

If the recipient is found guilty there – it’s a summary offense – the cost (including court fees) rises above $200.

Paul says that in December, Minersville issued 293 tickets for failing to clear sidewalks. Among them, 91 were issued to residents and 202 to non-residents. Of those, 117 failed to respond and have now been cited.

There likely will be more coming, too.

Paul says 76 tickets were issued by Crouse in January (67 to non-residents and 9 to residents).

That means nearly 73% went to non-residents.

Minersville Council President Jamie Kuehn describes the citations issued as a “necessary evil” to get property owners and managers to comply with the ordinance.

“From council’s perspective, Kyle does a great job for the Borough and his job isn’t an easy one. Storms like this are inconvenient for everyone, but ordinances pertaining to snow removal are intended to help ensure citizen safety,” Kuehn says. “It’s also part of a community effort to return to normal as quickly as possible … even when the borough considers how challenging this could be.

“Although citations are unfortunate for those receiving them, it’s a necessary evil in order to coax everyone into their fair share of responsibility,” he adds.

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