Milwaukee Postmaster reminds residents to clear snow from walkways

MILWAUKEE -- The U.S. Postal Service is reminding customers to help letter carriers this winter by promptly clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs and mailboxes.

\"Snow and ice make delivery dangerous and slow,\" Milwaukee Postmaster Easton C. Wright said in a statement Thursday. \"Maintaining a clear path to the mailbox, including steps, porches, walkways and street approaches, will help letter carriers maintain consistent delivery service and help them get those letters and packages delivered on time.\"

Mail delivery could be delayed if streets or walkways are deemed too dangerous for carriers to cross or if snow is plowed against the mailbox.

Many municipalities require residents to clear pathways by a certain time after snowfall ends.

In Milwaukee, private property, residential and commercial property owners have 24 hours after the snow and ice have stopped falling to clear the sidewalks abutting their property, including the corner crosswalk.

Violators who are reported to the Department of Public Works are issued a notice and will be charged an inspection charge of $25 for the first notice, $45 for the second, and $90 for additional violations. If the sidewalk is not clear the next day, a sanitation crew will clear a path and a charge will appear on the property tax bill.

Residents who own single family homes who are physically unable to clear the sidewalk in front of their home can apply for assistance from the Sanitation Division after a snowstorm exceeding 4 inches.