Renters Frustrated By Unplowed Parking Lots
Landlords Required To Clear Private Lots
Updated: 10:02 am CST December 8, 2007
MADISON, Wis. -- This week, private property contractors have been just as busy as city plows, but some renters are finding slow or inadequate snow removal can be a real pain -- as well as illegal.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportRenter Amber Stancer said she is frustrated. At her luxury apartments on the West Side of Madison, her new BMW sits parked next door in a gas station parking lot.Early Friday afternoon, almost a week after the first snowstorm, she said she still can't drive in and out of her apartment complex.The front parking lot of her apartment complex was covered with thick ice and snow when a private snow plow showed up Friday. But Stancer said it's all been too little, too late."On Wednesday morning, we had eight of us out here waiting to go to work, and there's a woman stuck at the parking garage. We had to push her back in and let another guy go back and forth with his SUV so that we could use his tire tracks to get out," she said.Stancer said Friday's midday snow plowing and salting effort at her complex was the first since the snow Tuesday, and that no plow showed up after last Saturday's storm until late Sunday night -- and only after many tenants called to complain.Stancer said she's fed up and called the city to complain Friday."I just want it cleaned by 6 in the morning or by 7 in the morning so we can go to work, because now it's interfering with my job," Stancer said.The Tenant Resource Center said the renter dilemma is fairly widespread after big snowfalls."It's been a pretty big issue. The day after snow we just had a ton of calls about it, about sidewalks being icy, dangerous or not being able to get cars into driveways or out of driveways," said Elizabeth Grokey, of the Tenant Resource Center.Stancer's apartment property manager, Nicole Goins, said its "contractors have been out several times" but that they've been "struggling with cars that need to be moved."Even so, Goins said Apex Management is "100 percent addressing every concern that's coming in."The Tenant Resource Center said it should. Legally, landlords have until noon the day after a snow to clear both public sidewalks -- and private lots and driveways. Not doing so could net them a hefty city ticket, WISC-TV reported.Building inspectors said enforcing safe public sidewalks is their top priority. But Building Inspector Chief George Hank said they will check private lots and cite the landlord daily if one is not cleared. The first fine is $172.To report snow removal violations, resident can call Madison Building Inspection at 608-266-4551. Renters can get more information at the Tenant Resource Center at 608-257-0006.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportRenter Amber Stancer said she is frustrated. At her luxury apartments on the West Side of Madison, her new BMW sits parked next door in a gas station parking lot.Early Friday afternoon, almost a week after the first snowstorm, she said she still can't drive in and out of her apartment complex.The front parking lot of her apartment complex was covered with thick ice and snow when a private snow plow showed up Friday. But Stancer said it's all been too little, too late."On Wednesday morning, we had eight of us out here waiting to go to work, and there's a woman stuck at the parking garage. We had to push her back in and let another guy go back and forth with his SUV so that we could use his tire tracks to get out," she said.Stancer said Friday's midday snow plowing and salting effort at her complex was the first since the snow Tuesday, and that no plow showed up after last Saturday's storm until late Sunday night -- and only after many tenants called to complain.Stancer said she's fed up and called the city to complain Friday."I just want it cleaned by 6 in the morning or by 7 in the morning so we can go to work, because now it's interfering with my job," Stancer said.The Tenant Resource Center said the renter dilemma is fairly widespread after big snowfalls."It's been a pretty big issue. The day after snow we just had a ton of calls about it, about sidewalks being icy, dangerous or not being able to get cars into driveways or out of driveways," said Elizabeth Grokey, of the Tenant Resource Center.Stancer's apartment property manager, Nicole Goins, said its "contractors have been out several times" but that they've been "struggling with cars that need to be moved."Even so, Goins said Apex Management is "100 percent addressing every concern that's coming in."The Tenant Resource Center said it should. Legally, landlords have until noon the day after a snow to clear both public sidewalks -- and private lots and driveways. Not doing so could net them a hefty city ticket, WISC-TV reported.Building inspectors said enforcing safe public sidewalks is their top priority. But Building Inspector Chief George Hank said they will check private lots and cite the landlord daily if one is not cleared. The first fine is $172.To report snow removal violations, resident can call Madison Building Inspection at 608-266-4551. Renters can get more information at the Tenant Resource Center at 608-257-0006. Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
