§ 22-1. General regulations.

(a)

Maintenance and repair of public roads. All maintenance and repair of public roads, alleys, curbs, sidewalks, and other public ways shall be under the supervision of the director of public works, which officer shall have the responsibility of enforcing all provisions of this chapter and all ordinances of the county relating to such public ways.

(b)

Maintenance of sidewalks. It shall be the duty of all owners of property in the county upon which sidewalks have been laid to keep such walkways in good repair at all times and to remove from them all snow or ice within 12 hours from the time such snow or ice ceases to fall or within less time if so ordered by the department of public works.

(c)

Maintenance of property between sidewalks and roads. All persons who own real estate in the county which abuts upon any sidewalk which is paved shall be required to keep that portion of such sidewalk which lies between the property line and the curbline of the adjoining street, and upon which his real estate abuts, in good and smooth condition and free from growing weeds and over obnoxious and unsightly vegetation or other things which would mar or detract from the beauty and cleanliness of the road upon which their property abuts. Any property owner who shall place or allow grass to grow upon the portion of the sidewalk lying between the property line and the curbline of the road as aforesaid, and upon which his real estate abuts, shall keep such grass properly mowed and free from rubbish of all kinds. If such owners are not in the possession of their property, then this section shall apply to their tenants or those who have possession or control of the same.

(d)

Defacing sidewalks. roads, and curbs. It shall be unlawful for any person to deface any public sidewalk, road or curb in the county by any signs thereon, whether for commercial advertising purposes or not, or to walk or drive any vehicle upon or injure in any way any newly laid road, sidewalk or curbing pavement while the same is guarded by a warning sign or barricade or is soft or newly laid.

(e)

Obstructions. It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, create or maintain any obstruction on any road, alley, sidewalk, or other public way, except as may be provided in this chapter or in other ordinances and laws of the county or state.

(f)

Deposits and discharges onto roads and sidewalks.

(1)

It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit on any road or sidewalk any material which may be harmful to the pavement thereof, or any waste material, or any glass or other article which may do injury to any person, animal or property.

(2)

It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or allow to be discharged onto any public road or sidewalk any water or other fluid material containing objectionable material such as sewage, waste milk or other organic material including dirt or mud.

(g)

Report of defects, obstructions, deposits, and discharges. It shall be the duty of every county officer and employee who becomes aware of any defect or obstruction, or of any unlawful deposit or discharge, in or on any public road, alley, curb, sidewalk, or other public way of the county to report the same to the director of public works as soon as possible.

(h)

Private use. It shall be unlawful for any person to use any road, sidewalk or other public place as space for the display of goods or merchandise for sale; or to write or make any sign or advertisement on any such pavement.

(i)

Encroachments. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect or maintain any building or structure which encroaches upon any public road or property, or to erect any poles or wires or maintain any poles or wires over any public place, road, alley, or other public way, without having first secured a permit from the county clerk in the manner specified in this chapter.

(j)

Openings.

(1)

It shall be unlawful for any person to construct or maintain any opening or stairway in any public road, sidewalk or alley without first obtaining a permit from the county clerk in the manner specified in this chapter.

(2)

All such lawfully maintained openings shall be guarded by a suitable strong cover or railing approved by the director of public works.

(k)

Trees and shrubs.

(1)

Planting and removal. It shall be unlawful for any person to plant, remove, injure, or cut any tree, bush, or shrub in or from any public road, parkway or other public place without first obtaining a permit therefor from the county clerk in the manner specified in this chapter.

(2)

Advertisements. It shall be unlawful for any person to attach any sign, advertisement or notice to any tree or shrub in any public place.

(3)

Dangerous trees. Any tree or shrub which overhangs any sidewalk, road or other public place in the county in such a way as to impede or interfere with traffic or travel shall be trimmed by the owner of the premises on which such tree or shrub grows so that the obstruction shall cease. Any tree or limb of a tree which is likely to fall on or across any public way or place shall be removed by the owner of the premises on which such tree grows or stands. The director of public works may cause to be trimmed or removed any and all such trees or shrubs so that the obstruction or danger to traffic or passage shall be removed.

(4)

Poles and wires. Any person or company which maintains poles and wires in the roads, alleys or other public places of the county shall keep such wires and poles free and away from any nearby trees or shrubs in such places, and keep all such trees and shrubs properly trimmed, subject to the supervision of the director of public works, so that no injury shall befall either the poles and wires or the shrubs and trees by their contact.

(l)

Burning of leaves and rubbish. It shall be unlawful for any person to burn any leaves, papers, rubbish or other substances upon any of the public roads, alleys or sidewalks of the county.

(Code 1998, § 6-301)