Winter is here, and that means snow will be falling throughout the City. Residents can help make the streets and sidewalks safer by following a few rules:
- If you hire a contractor for snow removal, please specifically ask them to be courteous to your neighbors. Hired contractors are an effective measure to remove snow from your driveway, but each year, the City receives complaints from adjacent property owners regarding where that snow is placed. Follow up by the City personnel is required for each one of these complaints.
- If your contractor moves your snow down your driveway and across the street, please make sure the mound of snow is completely out of the street and not blocking a neighbor’s driveway or concealing a fire hydrant.
- Do not plow snow into the street or sidewalk. Snow thrown back into the street for “the traffic to melt” only creates a snow pack that turns into ice, creating a hazardous condition.
- Do not allow children to play on the snow piles near the street. Those larger piles may be fun, but it puts them in extreme danger from passing vehicles.
- When a snow event occurs, please move vehicles out of the street. Snow plows have to maneuver around parked cars and snow gets moved in places that can create additional inconveniences for you and your neighbors.
- On occasion, the City will declare a snow emergency. In the event of a snow emergency, there is no on-street parking. Vehicles on the street during this time may be towed or ticketed. Please remember that these measures are for the safety of all our residents since these efforts ensure emergency access throughout the City.
- Landscapers and snow removal contractors must be permitted to operate in the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is snow plowed in front of my driveway? The City crews do not plow snow in front of driveways on purpose. There is no practical way for the snow plow operator to cut-off the windrow of snow when crossing a driveway. This problem happens, especially in cul-desacs, because of the extra small space. You can help by placing as much snow as possible to the right side of your drive. Working together will help reduce the amount of snow that is plowed in front of your driveway.
- When will my street be plowed? The City follows a “Prioritization” system when plowing. Major roads are cleared first and then local streets will be cleared next. The DPW crews will be working diligently this winter to plow all City streets, so please be assured that your street will be plowed. We appreciate your patience while our City crews are out working to keep all of our City streets clear.
- When will my sidewalk be plowed? It is the sole responsibility of the property owner to remove snow from their sidewalks. However, the City will plow sidewalks if there is more than three inches of snow once all of the roads have been cleared.
