Alexandria gives residents more time to shovel sidewalks

Since plenty of Alexandria residents are still working to shovel out after the weekend's historic snowfall, city officials decided to delay enforcement of its sidewalk snow clearance ordinance until noon Wednesday, Dec. 23.

The city Web site's snow section explains that in a typical storm, property and business owners are responsible for clearing the sidewalks abutting their property within 24 hours after the snowfall ends.

Those who don't can get slapped with a $50 fine. Plus the city clears the sidewalks, and sends the residents the bill.

Officials say this monster storm merits a little extra clean-up time, but they encourage property and business owners who haven't cleared their walks to get to it today so people can safely pass.
-- Maria Glod