Covington Mayor Ron Washington informed the public and the Board of Commissioners Tuesday night that he’d asked City Manager Sharmili Reddy to form an internal committee of city staff members to consider solutions to the removal of snow on city sidewalks, especially in the face of ongoing snowfall in the region.
“This is not an easy task,” Washington said. “We have elderly residents who lack the physical ability or financial means to clear sideways, along [with] able-bodied property owners who may not be meeting existing expectations.”
Clearing sidewalks in front of private property in Covington officially falls to residents, even though sidewalks are publicly funded. Reddy released an open letter to city residents on Jan. 29, laying out current regulations to snow removal in the city.
“City ordinance places responsibility for sidewalk snow and ice removal on adjacent property owners,” the letter reads. “This approach is common in cities of our size and reflects a practical reality: Covington has thousands of linear miles of sidewalks, and it would take an extraordinary amount of time and resources for City crews to clear sidewalks citywide. During winter events, our Public Works staff must prioritize streets, emergency routes and critical infrastructure.”
Reddy’s letter acknowledges there are difficulties for certain Covington residents, such as those who are older or not physically able, and encourages neighbors “to look out for one another and assist those who may need help” and that the city hoped to emphasize “encouragement, flexibility and common sense, rather than strict enforcement.”
“Our goal is to have meaningful discussions and ultimately bring clear, workable options before this board to better address sidewalk safety and future snow events while being fair, compassionate and realistic about our community needs,” Washington said on Tuesday.
The board did not discuss the matter further at the meeting.