With winter in full swing, city staff have some tips and reminders for neighbors to help services take place as smoothly as possible and ensure the community is as safe as possible for all.
The following are related to placement of trash and recycling containers, and keeping sidewalks clear.
Follow the city on social media – Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor in particular – to see additional tips and reminders. Our annual Snowtifications are posted weekly, typically on Tuesdays.
Trash/recycling
It’s important to clear a spot on the curb for your trash and recycling containers. The best location is on the edge of the curb, or your yard if you don’t have a curb, with the snow cleared out.
Please do not place them on snow banks, as this creates a safety concern for Waste Management drivers, and they will not place containers back on the banks, for fear they will fall off.
Please also do not place containers in the street, as plows may hit them or plow them into the snow.
Please also note that, by city ordinance, containers can be placed at the curb starting at 1 p.m. the day before your scheduled collection, and empty containers should be removed by 9 a.m. the day after your scheduled collection.
Sidewalks
It is a property owner’s responsibility to clear sidewalks of snow and ice following weather events with accumulations. Available on our website is a Priority Snow Removal Map that outlines designated areas where sidewalk snow removal enforcement is a priority – particularly around our schools and Battle Creek Transit routes.
To view the map, visit battlecreekmi.gov and navigate to Your Government, Geographic Information Systems, Maps, and scroll to the bottom of the page.
By city ordinance, the owner, occupant, tenant, or lessee of the property adjacent to or abutting a sidewalk must clear it by noon after an overnight snow accumulation, and by noon the day following daytime snowfall or drifting.
Code officers carry general notifications about the ordinance and distribute them as necessary, as a reminder to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice. Many neighbors use sidewalks going to and from their daily activities, so this is of particular importance, especially near schools and public transportation routes.
While officers will write citations for failure to follow this ordinance, the city prefers to take the notification route first, and also recommends that neighbors speak to each other about making sure sidewalks are cleared after snowfall. Fines range from $25 to $100, depending on the number of repeat violations. This does not include additional fines and costs that may be assessed by the 10th District Court.
Questions about this can be directed to our Code Compliance staff, 269-966-3387.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and wish you a safe and warm winter season.