The sidewalk that borders the Floyd County Courthouse on Locust Street remained uncleared Tuesday — nearly one month after he snowfall that covered it on Dec. 18, 2009.

It’s not the only sidewalk that remains covered by the snow and ice that is now frozen so hard that even upcoming days of temperatures in the 40s and 50s may not melt. A mounain of snow in the Courthouse parking lot towers over the heads of those who walk by. Maybe someone should start a pool on how long it will take for the mountain to become a hill, then a pile and — finally — a puddle.

There’s little doubt the Town of Floyd has been lax in enforcing the snow removal ordinance that requires residents and businesses to clear the sidewalks of snow within 24 hours after a snow ends. It’s been more than 24 days and some residential sidewalks and even some businesses remain covered.

The Courthouse is county property and the county is responsible for cleaning the sidewalks, which raises the question: Should the Town of Floyd fine the County of Floyd for violating the snow removal ordinance?