Thank you for reporting this situation. Pursuant to City ordinance, it is the responsibility of a property owner to clear the sidewalk around their property of all snow and ice within six hours of the end of snow or the end of a snow emergency, whichever is later. This report will be forwarded to the appropriate inspectional services staff for investigation and enforcement if necessary.

This report is regarding the snow at the end of the street, not the sidewalk.

City crews and contractors should be encouraged, wherever possible, not to plow in fire hydrants and long sections of sidewalk. This is a T-junction. There is no point in substituting one public safety hazard with another. Common sense tells you that you cannot expect home or business owners to shovel out massive piles of snow created by plowing crews. Fire hydrants, at problem locations like this, should be identified with reflective poles 5-6 ft high. by the way, the sidewalk is completely passable and remained so through the storm. Headed not been cleared, the effort to push the snow pile towards the fence probably would've knocked it down.

Plow operators have been alerted to this location. In an effort to plow roadways curb to curb, snow will be pushed onto sidewalks and will accumulate at corners. We will work with relevant city departments on ways to better identify hydrant locations. In the meantime, the Salem Fire Department appreciates everyone help to keep nearby hydrants clear to the best of their ability.

When city plows have pushed large amounts of snow onto sidewalks, fines should be waved. Cooperation in extraordinary circumstances is what it's all about--not the threat of fines. One solution: instruct plow operators to avoid piling snow within X number of feet from a fire hydrant. Use GIS to flag problem areas. Identify "problem" hydrants with reflectors. Thanks for considering my suggestions.