Resident Duties

Snow storms create numerous problems and inconveniences. The Snow and Ice policy has identified streets, sidewalks, parking lots and ice rinks that the City will clear. The residents also have certain responsibilities. These include:

• Clearing areas around mailboxes and/or newspaper delivery tubes
• Clearing areas for trash cans
• Clearing around fire hydrants adjacent to their property
• Clearing their own driveways and private sidewalks

Clearing Procedure

These areas should be cleared without depositing any snow onto the streets. Plowing, blowing or shoveling snow back onto the street or sidewalk can create a hazardous condition for other users and is illegal. Minnesota Statute 169.42, prohibits depositing, placing or dumping upon any street or highway or upon any public or privately owned land adjacent thereto without the owners consent any snow or ice, etc.

There must also be no large piles, which obstruct vision of driveways or walks. Trash cans must not be placed on the street surfaces.

Mailbox Area

The snowplow operators make every effort to remove snow as close to the curb line as practical and to provide access to mailboxes for the Postal Department. However, it is not possible to provide perfect conditions and minimize damage to mailboxes with the size and type of equipment the City operates. Therefore, the final clearing adjacent to mailboxes is the responsibility of each resident.

Private Access Points

Should the City need to clear away tall piles of snow for safe sight distance at driveways or walks, the resident responsible may be billed at overtime rates for this work.

The City will not clear private drives except in emergency situations as determined by the Public Works Director or his designee. Request for service on private roads or driveways will be accommodated in the event of a public safety issue or an emergency condition exists.

Snow plowing operations can cause additional snow to be deposited in driveway approaches and around roadside obstacles. Operators are instructed to attempt to minimize these incidents, but it is not practical to eliminate this situation. Residents should be aware that they might have to clear their driveways a second time after their street has been plowed.