Section 42-22. Mailboxes.

• (a) For purposes of this section, boxes used for receipt of United States mail and placed outside of residences and establishments for such purpose shall be referred to herein as mailboxes.
• (b) Personnel of the public works department and its divisions shall notify any property owner upon whose or adjacent to whose property is found a mailbox which:
  • Fails to meet the published standards of the United States Postal Service for installation instructions (PS Form 4056 (PDF)) as well as Illinois Department of Transportation standards along state highways; or
  • Is located so that the front edge of the mailbox when closed extends closer than 9 inches from the backside of the curb, or where no curbing exists, extends closer than 18 inches from the near edge of the public street pavement.
• (c) Failure of such notified owner to relocate the mailbox as provided in this section shall render such owner ineligible to receive any appropriate reparations under subsection (d) hereof.
• (d) In the event of municipal snow plowing along the streets of the city which snow plowing results in direct contact damage to a mailbox thereupon, reparation in an amount of said damage, but not to exceed $50 per separately standing mailbox shall be provided to the applicable property owner, except as provided in subsection (c) hereof.
• (e) Property owners desiring that the parkway or other off-street or street fringe area immediately in front of and accessing any mailbox be kept free and clear of snow or diminished thereof shall be authorized to clear such area under the own responsibility, and the city shall not be responsible therefore.
• (f) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to supersede the provisions of section 42-8 of this article.

(Ordinance Number 090-116 1, 10-2-90)

Sec. 42-6. Removal of Obstructions & Encroachments on Public Property.

• (a) Whenever the owner or person in possession or control of any obstruction or encroachment in or upon any street, sidewalk or public ground in the city shall refuse or neglect to remove the same within 10 days after notice, or without notice if the owner cannot readily be found for the purpose of such notice or if the city determines that the obstruction poses an urgent threat to the public health and safety, the same shall be deemed a nuisance, and it shall be the duty of the police department or the division of streets and electricity to summarily remove or take down the same or cause the same to be removed or taken down, and the expense thereof shall be recoverable of such owner. Every person who opposes or resists the execution of the orders of the division of streets and electricity and the police department in so doing shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
  Cross references: Issuance of citations by public works director or designee, 2-288.
• (b) No person shall, without the consent of the division of engineering, in writing, or without the consent of the person superintending any paving, displace or remove any lawful obstruction.

(Code 1969, 42-20, 42-31)

Cross References: Fine schedule for certain violations, 1 through 11.

Sec. 42-10. Playing on the Public Ways.

No person shall play at ball or engage in any game, sport or amusement or fly any kite upon any public street or way in the city.

(Code 1969, 42-10)

Sec. 42-11. Depositing Snow or Sweeping on Public Ways.

• (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit any snow or sweepings from any sidewalk, driveway or parking lot or other premises onto any street or alley. It shall also be unlawful for any person to sweep or deposit any sweepings from any sidewalk or building onto any public parkway.
• (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to any premises or areas of the city that the city council has determined lacks insufficient open space, excluding areas set aside for off-street parking, upon which to accumulate snow. Schedules setting forth these premises or areas shall be on file in the city clerk's office and may be adopted and amended by the city council from time to time by resolution.
• (c) Persons owning, occupying or controlling any property fronting or abutting on paved sidewalks within the area hereunder shall remove snow, ice or any other obstructions from said sidewalks pursuant to this section. If snow and ice are too hard for removal, those persons shall cover the sidewalks with abrasive material within 48 hours after a snowfall or freezing precipitation. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to the area bounded by and including both sides of the following: that portion of Lincoln Avenue from Spring Street to Benton Street; that portion of Benton Street from Lincoln Avenue to Lake Street; that portion of Lake Street from Benton Street to Spruce Street; that portion of Spruce Street from Lake Street to River Street; that portion of River Street from Spruce Street to Pinney Street; that portion of Pinney Street from River Street to the Fox River; that portion of the Fox River from Pinney Street to the east bank of the Fox River at Spring Street extended and that portion of Spring Street extended from the Fox River to Lincoln Avenue.
• (d) Any person violating any provisions of this section shall upon conviction thereof be punished as provided in section 1 through 10.

(Code 1969, §§ 42-13, 42-60; Ordinance Number 086-5480, § 1, 3-18-86)

Cross references: Fine schedule for certain violations, § 1-11; issuance of citations by employees of department of streets and electricity, § 42-2.

Sec. 27-171. Parking During Snow Removal Prohibited: Removal of Vehicles.

• (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to park a motor vehicle or, if parked, to allow a motor vehicle to remain parked or standing in any public street or alley during or after a snowfall in which there is an accumulation of 2 inches of snow or more. This prohibition shall remain in effect until such time as the street or alley has been plowed or the snow has been removed there from. A city street shall not be deemed to have been plowed until the lane of traffic nearest the curb has been plowed or the snow has been removed there from.
• (b) Whenever a police officer of the city finds a vehicle parked in violation of this section, and where such vehicle constitutes an obstruction of traffic, interferes with the use of streets or in any other manner creates a dangerous or unsafe condition, such vehicle is declared a nuisance and a hazard to public safety, and the police officer may cause the removal of such vehicle to a public garage or other place of safety during snow removal operations of the city on such streets, and the expense of such removal and storage in such public garage shall be paid by the owner or operator of the vehicle, in addition to any other penalties imposed by this chapter.

(Code 1969, 27-326)