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32 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, December 4, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 4, 2004 Since You Asked Debris must not become a hazard Is there a city ordinance in Medford for leaf raking on sidewalks? Sometimes leaves pile up in the public right of way, and when they get wet they’re slippery and dangerous to walk on. Aren’t leaves just like anything else: The property owner is responsible for removal of debris in the public right of way in front of their house? — Linda L., Medford That’s a timely question, Linda. We asked the city’s code enforcement officer, Joe Jimenez, and he said: Yup, leaves, snow, trash, whatever. The property owner is responsible for keeping the public right of way clear. He said there was a woman on Delta Waters Avenue who recently slipped and fell on the wet leaves in front of her neighbors’ house, so he went out to check it out. Sure enough, the sidewalk was covered in wet leaves. So he put a yellow warning tag on the violator’s door with an explanation. That’s the first step, he said; then he writes a letter to the owner of the property, just in case something happens to the message on the door. He said people usually comply after that, but he has written a citation for leaves when someone just refused to rake them up. The minimum fine is $150 per day, he said. He said enforcement is complaint-driven; he does not go out looking for leaves on the sidewalk. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities