SNOW SEASON REMINDERS FROM THE CITY

I hope these points hope explain a bit more the city's snow plowing procedures and suggestions:

* The Public Works Department is responsible for plowing of City streets. We have 10 full time personnel, with 5 plow trucks, 1 road grader, 1 loader with a blade, plus numerous smaller pieces of equipment used for City sidewalks. Obviously, it can not be expected to have clear pavements at all times. This goal is to provide the safest condition possible with the resources available. This means that personal driving habits must be adjusted to the situation encountered.

* City policy is that we normally do not start plowing until there is at least a 2” accumulation of snow; in the early and late part of the season this amount of snow will slush off and not impact most of the streets. When the temperature is below freezing, salt will be applied to assist in the slushing process. Salt in the early stages of a snow fall can help in getting the snow to peel off when accumulation becomes greater.

* The City has designated plow routes. Typically, the main thoroughfares are the first to be cleared, such as the State Hwy. routes, routes to hospitals, schools, nursing homes; then working our way out into the side streets. Those nice quiet streets that have dead ends or cul-de-sacs are often going to be the last to be plowed. The City recommends that citizens wait to plow their driveway until the plow has goon through. This alleviates having to do it twice.

* The downtown area will initially have the snow plowed to the curbs. The morning following the end of a storm, this snow gets plowed to the center of the street and hauled out, an operation that may start as early as 2 or 3 AM. The City does not do downtown sidewalk; those are maintained by the business owners.

* Citizens are reminded that snow and ice removal on their sidewalk is required to be done within 24 hours of the end of the storm regardless of the depth of accumulation. Failure to do so will result in the City removing the snow or salting and charging the property owner the full cost of the effort. It is less costly to hire a person to do this for you than to pay the City for it.

* Snow should NOT be shoveled back in the streets from sidewalks or driveways. Persons may not plow snow from driveways into the street, or ditches where they exist.

* Just a reminder, there is no over-night parking on City streets from 3-6 AM Nov. 15 to March 31.