What you can expect from the City? The city’s snow plow plan varies depending upon the amount of snow that falls. If less than two inches falls, only major streets in the city system are plowed. Ice control is performed at stop signs, hills, bridges and curves throughout the entire system. If more than two inches of snow falls, all city streets are plowed curb-to-curb. Plowing all streets, including the removal of snow from cul-de-sacs, requires 8 to 10 hours. In the days following a storm, crews will come around to touch up the streets, push back snow piles and clear city parking lots and select sidewalks.
- Please don’t: Park on city streets whenever snow or ice conditions may require plowing. Parking on all city streets and municipal parking lots is prohibited from 2 a.m. - 6 a.m. all year. Parking on all city streets is prohibited at any time there is 2" or more of snow, until the streets are cleared.
- Please do: Shovel fire hydrants - The Fire Department asks residents to shovel out fire hydrants near their homes. Keeping hydrants clear of snow can substantially reduce the time it takes firefighters to put out a fire.
- Please do: Keep your mailbox clear of snow to ensure mail delivery. If it snows on collection day, keep garbage cans and recycling bins out of the street.
- Please do: Keep garbage cans and recycling bins out of the street if it snows on collection day.
- Please don’t: Shovel, plow or blow snow into the street. Blowing snow in the street makes it more difficult to clear streets (especially cul-de-sacs). Snow from the bottom of the driveway should be shoveled to the right, as you're facing the street. This will reduce the amount of snow being placed back into the driveway during the next plowing. You can also prepare for future snowfalls by clearing an area to the left of your driveway, as you face the street, as this will provide a space for the snow to roll off the plow prior to reaching your driveway and reducing the furrow of snow you find across the driveway after plowing operations.
- Check your mail boxes to ensure they are installed to city standards, and the posts are in good condition. While the City will take responsibility if one of the city plows directly strikes a mail box, the City will not assume responsibility for damages that are caused by mailboxes that protrude into the street or are damaged by snow pressure or snow rolling off the plow or wing. Property owners who install decorative materials in the right-of-way do so at their own risk.
- Remove obstructions or anything you value from the right of way. Typically, the public right-of-way (city-owned boulevard) extends 10-15 feet back from the edge of the road to the private property line – the public right-of-way is where snow is stored. This is particularly critical if we have another year with snow accumulations like the 2018-19 winter. Crews will work to clear/ push back snow piles on the edge of the road way to make room for the next batch of accumulation. Rocks, posts, and yard art often become casualties of these activates and harm plow drivers or passersby if struck by the plow. Also if you live on a road without curb make sure your grass, sod or other landscaping sits lower than the level of the street pavement. This will lessen the chance of a snow plow scraping those items away. Public works will come out in the spring to replant grass in areas along the road side impacted by the plows. Property owners who install decorative materials in the right-of-way do so at their own risk.
- You may place yard markers or flags along the edge of the road. They can be helpful for snow plow drivers to more easily determine the curb line while clearing the street. It is recommended that they be inexpensive. If snow banks need to be pushed back, the markers may be damaged. The city will not accept liability for damaged yard markers or flags.
- Please do: Give us a call if you believe a city plow truck has damaged your mail box or property. 952-249-4600.