Snow Plowing & Removal

1. Introduction
   The Town of Meeker believes that it is in the best interest of the residents for the Town to assume basic responsibility for control of snow and ice on the Town Streets. Reasonable ice and snow control are necessary for routine travel and emergency services. The Town will provide such control in a safe and cost-effective manner, keeping in mind safety, budget, personnel and environmental concerns. The Town will use town employees, equipment and/or private contractors to provide this service.

2. Procedures
   The Street Department Superintendent will decide when to begin snow or ice control operations. The criteria for that decision are:

   a.  Snow accumulation of 2 inches or more.
   b. Drifting snow that causes problems for travel.
   c. Ice conditions that seriously affect travel.

3. Method of snow removal
   Snow will be plowed in a manner so as to minimize traffic obstructions. Snow will be plowed from inside out except where it is wind-rowed, and these areas are determined by the Street Department Superintendent. In times of extreme snowfall, streets will not always immediately be able to be completely cleared of snow.

4. Snow Removal and Schedule
   The Street Department Superintendent will determine when snow will be removed by truck from the area. Such snow removal will occur in areas where there is no room on the street for snow storage and in areas where accumulated piles of snow create a hazardous condition. Snow removal operations will not commence until other operations have been completed. Snow removal operations may be delayed depending on weather conditions and personnel availability. The snow will be removed and hauled to a snow storage area. The snow storage area will be located as to minimize environmental problems.

The Town has classified town streets based on the importance and the welfare of the community. These are streets of the town that provide access for emergency fire, police, and medical services.

The second priority streets are those streets providing access to schools and east-west thoroughfares. The third priority streets are low volume residential streets. The fourth priority areas are snow removal and sidewalks.

A snow event may be declared any time during the year at the discretion of the Street Department Superintendent when two or more inches of snow or ice have covered or drifted over the street.

5. Work Schedule for Snowplow Operators
   Snowplow operators will be expected to work eight-hour shifts. In severe snow emergencies, operators sometimes may have to work in excess of eight-hour shifts. However, because of budget and safety concerns, no operators shall work more than a twelve (12) hour shift in any twenty-four (24) hour period. Operators will take a fifteen (15) minute break every two (2) hours with a half hour meal break after four (4) hours. Weather Conditions Snow and ice control operations will be conducted only when weather conditions do not endanger the safety of town employees and equipment. Factors that may delay snow and ice control operations include; severe cold, significant winds and limited visibility.

6. Use of Salt, Sand and other Chemicals
   The Town will use sand, salt, and other chemicals when there are hazardous ice or slippery conditions. The Town is concerned about the effect of such chemicals on the environment and will limit its use for that reason.

8. Sidewalks
   The Town will maintain the following sidewalks; Town Hall, Main Street Building. As there are a limited number of personnel available the Town will only maintain these sidewalks with other staff than the Streets Department, or after the streets have been plowed.
9. Parking Lots, Entrances, and Driveways
   Responsibility for private parking lots, entrances to lots and driveways shall rest with the individual property owners. This includes the clearing of additional snow that may accumulate once the Town plows have gone by. Snow being put back onto private properties due to owners clearing to the street will be the property owner’s responsibility to remove or clear (not back into the street).

Town snow plowing crews will be responsible for plowing the Town Hall parking lot.

9. Placement of Snow on Public Property, Right-of-ways, or Obstructing Views
   In accordance with State Law and the Meeker Municipal Code, it is unlawful for any person to place snow or ice upon public property, including public streets. Furthermore, cleared snow shall be piled and accumulated in a manner, which does not block visibility of drivers on public streets and alleys or cause other hazardous conditions. The Street Department Superintendent, or his/her designee shall have the authority to notify property owners who violate this section, and shall require them to, in a timely fashion, remedy the situation. He may also notify the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer to assist or do such activities as necessary. Removal of improperly placed snow will be billed to the property owner (assuming it is clear where the snow came from).

1. Property Damage
   The Town Recognizes that on occasion private property is damaged during snow and ice control operations. The Town may elect from time to time to repair or pay for damage to private real or personal property, such action shall in no way set a precedent or create the requirement to take such action. Where this happens, it shall be the policy of the Town to handle damages in the following manner:
2. Mailboxes.Where mailboxes are placed adjacent to the street, it shall be the policy of the Town that snow shall be plowed as close as practicable to the curb to allow for passage of traffic and mail delivery. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to keep piled snow away from mailboxes so mail can be delivered.

Where damage to mailboxes occurs, the Street Department Superintendent shall investigate such damage. Where evidence indicates that physical contact occurred between the plow and the mailbox the Town may assume responsibility for repair. Where evidence indicates that snow caused damage to the mailbox, the homeowner will assume responsibility for the repair.

2. Street side sod. It shall be the policy of the Town to repair any damage to sod where curbs are in place by:

   a.  Street maintenance will repair the damage by re-laying the turned up pieces or placing black dirt and grass seed (at appropriate times of year).

   b.  The property owner may elect to do the repair using commercial sod. The Town will reimburse the property owner the cost of the sod (no labor costs will be reimbursed). Reimbursement must be approved by the Town Administrator or Streets Department Superintendent prior to the commencement of the corrective work or purchase of the sod. The property owner shall supply an estimate of the cost of the sod. After approval, the owner must present an invoice to the Administrator before payment will be made.

3. Driveway ramps. The Town will not repair damage caused to driveway ramps of fillets where mountable curb is in place, unless authorized by either the Town Administrator or the Street Department Superintendent.

4. Fences and other encroachments.The Town will investigate any notification regarding destroyed or damaged fences or other encroachments. If the Street Department Superintendent determines that such damages were caused by Town snow operations, the repair or replacement of any such damages shall be approved by the Town Administrator. It will be the Town’s discretion as to doing the work or having the property owner supply an estimate; the owner must present an invoice before payment will be made. No damages to fences located closer than six (6) feet to the public right-of-way will be covered by the Town.

5. Cars, vehicles, and trailers.Any vehicle or trailer damaged by snow plowing operations due to illegal parking (in violation of the Town’s Snow Parking Ordinance) shall be the owner’s responsibility. Effort will be made to tow or remove the illegally parked vehicle or trailer.

11. Parking Restrictions During Snow Months
    Restricted snow parking shall be in effect when existing weather conditions could severely impede vehicular traffic or snow and ice removal operations in the Town. The Town has amended the Model Traffic Code and detailed the restricted parking as detailed in Ordinance No. 7, Series 1996. See Ordinance for specifics on handling parking and vehicle issues.

12. Commercial operators
    Operators of private snowplows operating within the Town limits shall completely clean all snow pushed onto the Town streets and be liable for all damages which it causes to Town or Private property. No operator shall push snow into existing center plowings placed by the Town; such actions shall result in fees assessed to the property owner for the Town’s incurred removal expenses. Operators shall haul away excess snow not stored on property owner’s site. The Town will bill such incidences at the established fee rate for public works operations, with a minimum charged fee of fifty ($50) dollars.