Annual Snow Removal Reminder
Overview
The City’s goal regarding snow removal is to provide safe access in and out of the City in the event of severe weather. To accomplish this, we need everyone’s assistance and cooperation.
The Public Works Department provides for snow removal from the city streets 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After-hours staff is limited, unless a snow emergency is declared. The City staff is committed to provide safe conditions for City residents.
Street parking is restricted from November 1 to the following March 31
- So as to provide access to snow plows for snow removal,it is unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to park any motor vehicle on any street in the city between November 1 of each year and April 30 of the following year, for a period of time longer than five (5) minutes when loading or unloading passengers and for a period of time longer than five (5) minutes when loading or unloading or delivering property between the hours of twelve o’clock (12:00) midnight and eight o’clock (8:00) A.M. This subsection shall not apply to emergency vehicles. (Ord. 2007-01, 3-21-2007)
Placing Snow in Roadway
- Please refrain from removing snow or ice from individual private property and placing it in the roadway of any street or private road. This makes it difficult to keep roads cleared, and doing so creates dangerous conditions for all motor vehicles. In addition, please do not push snow across a city street.
Snow Plow Safety
- Drive slowly, pass oncoming plows with extreme caution, and never drive into a snow plow’s cloud.
- Snow plows often use wing plows extending off to either side to clear more snow quicker. Never pass a snow plow by driving on the shoulder, and be very careful while passing a plow in the left lane of a multi-lane highway. Give plow blades plenty of room along the center line of the roadway.
- Snow plows frequently stop and back up. If you are driving bumper to bumper, you are probably in the snow plow’s blind spot—an accident just waiting to happen. Give snow plows plenty of room to work in every direction.
- Driving into the cloud that a snow plow kicks up can instantly blind you, creating a total “whiteout.” Be very careful around snow plows.
- Do not allow children to play on or near the street when snow plowing is in progress.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. How does the City’s street snow removal program work?
A. Our snow removal program is designed to help keep the City’s roadways as safe and accessible as possible both during and after snowstorms. A snow removal operation will run continuously until the roads are safe for travel. Since safety is the first priority, school zones and main roadways are plowed first. After these areas are cleared, streets are plowed according to main feeder-roads, then side roads and subdivision streets, cul-de-sacs, and then dead-end streets. If the storm is continuous and heavy, the plows will continue to open the main roadways and school zones as necessary, returning to the lower priority streets when possible.
Q. Are sidewalks plowed by the City?
A. Residents are responsible to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks adjacent to their own properties. This should be done as soon as possible after a storm to allow the sunshine to melt the ice from the sidewalk. Leaving snow on sidewalks to freeze during the night makes it more difficult to remove the ice and creates unsafe conditions for pedestrians.
Q. May I park my vehicle on the street during the winter season?
A. Wellsville City code prohibits parking on streets between the hours of 12:00am (modnight) – 8:00am from November 1 to the following April 30. As always, parking of over-sized vehicles such as trailers, busses, recreational vehicles, etc. is strictly prohibited. Parking on the street after a snowstorm makes it difficult for snowplows to clear the streets and causes hazardous driving conditions for other vehicles attempting to maneuver through the deep snow. Vehicles, trailers, or equipment left on the street during snowstorms will be ticketed and/or towed.
Q. The snowplows push snow into my freshly cleared driveway. Isn’t there a better way to clear the streets to show some consideration to City residents?
A. Unfortunately, there isn’t a better way to clear streets. The snow has to go somewhere, and to make our roads safe, that “somewhere” is the side of the road. Snowplow blades are designed to push snow to the side of the road. Homeowners are asked to wait until the street is cleared prior to cleaning out the drive approach, when possible. Just a reminder that it is illegal to throw or push snow into any street. This can make the road more dangerous for cars and snowplows. You are encouraged to move the snow onto your own property.
Q. Which roads are not plowed by the City?
- County roads are plowed by the County.
- Private roads are to be maintained by the individual owner.
- State roads are plowed by UDOT (Utah Department of Transportation).
Q. When do plowing and/or salting commence?
- Snowfall accumulation of two inches or more, or if conditions warrant.
- Accumulation of drifting snow.
- Ice and/or freezing rain that affect road conditions.
Once any of these conditions exist, the goal is to have all main roadways plowed as quickly as possible. Obviously, with a limited city staff not all areas can be cleared at once. Intersection cleanup and the plowing back of snow banks occur as needed. Normally, plow operators will begin plowing at 5:00 a.m. to have the major streets plowed before the morning rush hour. If conditions warrant, plow operators may begin to remove snow before 5:00 a.m. Plowing operations will be suspended when high winds causing whiteout conditions jeopardize the safety of the snow plow operators and/or the public.
Q. What if a snowplow tips over my mailbox?
The city snowplows rarely hit a mailbox directly; most often is is the weight of the snow being thrown from the plow that tips the mailbox over. This is unavoidable, especially with heavy snow. While our drivers make every effort to avoid the mailboxes, the mailbox’s location on city right-of-way put them in harms way. Because the boxes are set-up on the street right-of-way, owners are responsible to replace their own mailboxes if they are knocked down. The City does not pay for replacement of any mailbox.
Q. Where should I put my garbage cans for pick-up on garbage day?
Please do not place your garbage cans on the roadway while waiting for pick-up! Each household should clear an area OFF TO THE SIDE of the pavement where the cans set while waiting for pick-up. Once the garbage truck have been by and emptied the cans, they should be rolled back to your home ASAP. Garbage cans that are left on the street are liable to be hit by the plows. If your can is hit and damaged by the snowplow, you are responsible to pay $80 for a new can
