CHAPTER 2
CLEARANCE OF SNOW OR ICE AND MAINTENANCE OF SECONDARY ROADS
DURING THE WINTER MONTHS
TITLE IV - STREETS, ROADS,
TITLE:
An ordinance establishing the policy and level of service in respect to
clearance of snow or ice and maintenance of this county's secondary roads
during the winter months.
SECTION 1. PURPOSE -
The purpose of this ordinance is to establish this County's policy and level of
service in respect to clearance of snow or ice and maintenance of its secondary
road system during the winter months, as provided in HF 2487, Section 10(2),
Acts of the 63rd G.A., Second Session, and pursuant of the provisions of
Section 309.67, Code of Iowa. This policy and level of service are to be
implemented within the amount of money budget for this service, and as
contained in this County's secondary road budget as submitted to and approved
by the Iowa Department of Transportation and adopted by the Board of
Supervisors.
SECTION 2. LEVEL OF SERVICE -
Clearance of snow or ice and maintenance of the secondary road system during
the winter months is primarily for the benefit of the local residents of this
County. Each storm has individual characteristics and must be dealt with
accordingly. The portion of the roadway improved for travel will have
upon it snow and ice in a compacted condition. These conditions may be
continuous, or they may be more concentrated on hills, in valleys, curves,
and/or intersections. The County's existing snow removal equipment will
be utilized for this purpose. All clearance of snow and ice, sanding,
salting, and other maintenance respecting winter conditions shall be
accomplished within the amount of money budgeted for this service. The
entire width of that portion of the road improved for travel may not be cleared
of snow, ice compacted snow and ice, or frost. Snow cleared from that
part of the roadway improved for travel shall be placed on or in the adjacent
shoulder, ditch, or right-of-way. Snow can be expected to accumulate
adjacent to the traveled portion to the extent that a motorist's sight distance
to both the left and right may be greatly reduced or impaired. The snow
removed from intersections will be piled in its corners in piles of unequal
height. The line for sight, sight distance, or visibility of motorists
approaching these intersections may be greatly reduced or impaired. The
County shall not be responsible for snow pushed or otherwise placed on the
roadway or shoulders by others. Motorists shall drive their vehicles
during these conditions with additional caution and watchfulness, especially in
respect to the surface of the roadway, and reduced or impaired visibility, and
are advised to reduce their speed at least 25 miles per hour below that legally
permitted or advised under normal conditions. In respect to roadways that
have only one lane open, further extreme watchfulness and caution should be
exercised by the motorist, and their speed should not exceed 10 miles per
hour. During these conditions no additional warning or regulatory signs
will be placed that warn of impaired sight distances, visibility at
intersections, road blockages, one-lane conditions, or that the road surface is
slick or slippery, or what the advised speed should be.
SECTION 3. SEQUENCE OF SERVICE -
In the implementation of snow and ice removal and other maintenance of the
County's secondary road system during the winter months, the County Engineer
shall select the actual sequence of roads to be cleared as provided for in this
Section of this Ordinance, and shall determine when drifting, wind velocity,
and additional snow or snowstorms require that the snow removal equipment be
removed from the roadway, or that additional clearance of paved routes be
accomplished prior to the clearance of gravel and dirt roads. The
A. Paved routes.
1. The initial effort will be to get all routes open to
one-lane traffic as soon as possible.
2. After one-lane travel is possible, subsequent snow removal
will be carried on during normal working hours.
3. The truck mounted snow plows and spreaders will not
normally be in operation between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The
trucks may be called off the road if snow and/or blowing snow reduces
visibility to hazardous working conditions, in the professional judgment of the
engineer or his delegated representative.
4. When required, due to drifting snow, motor graders may be
used to keep the paved roads open and the opening of gravel roads may be
delayed.
5. It is not the policy of the County to provide a
"dry" pavement condition.
B. Unpaved roads.
1. The initial effort will be to get all routes opened to
one-lane traffic as soon as possible after a storm has passed.
2. After one-lane travel is possible, subsequent snow removal
will be carried on during normal working hours.
3. Motor graders and/or truck plows will not normally be in
operation between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Gravel roads may
not be plowed if the wind is causing continual drifting.
4. Snow may not be removed from roads designated at Level B.
C. Private drives.
The County
will not clear snow from private drives. Normal snow removal operations
may result in snow being deposited in private drives. Snow from private
drives shall not be placed on the roadway or shoulders.
There is no time limit after a snowstorm in which any of the above sequence of
clearance, on paved or unpaved roads, shall take place.
SECTION 4. LIMITATION OF SERVICE -
The policy and level of service provided for in this Ordinance shall not
include the performance of the following services:
A. Sanding, salting, or
placing of other abrasives upon the roadway that are slick, slippery and
dangerous due to the formation of frost.
B. Sanding, salting, or
placing other abrasives upon paved roadways due to freezing precipitation that
occurs outside the County's usual working hours.
C. Placing of additional
warning or regulatory signs warning of impaired sight distances, visibility at
intersections, road blockages, one-lane conditions, or that the paved surface
is slick or slippery, or what the advised speed should be.
-
SECTION 5. EMERGENCY CONDITIONS
A. The sequence of
service may be suspended during "Emergency" conditions. An
"Emergency" condition shall be considered as one where, in the
professional judgement of the engineer or his
delegated representative, a loss of life is probable, a serious injury has
occurred, or extensive loss of property is imminent. Requests from the
public to alter the sequence of service should be made and verified through a
physician's or sheriff's office. The County will respond to all
"Emergency" conditions, either during or after a snowstorm.
B. The provisions of the
Ordinance shall be further suspended in the event the Governor, by
proclamation, implements the State disaster plan, or the Chairman of the Board
of Supervisors, by proclamation, implements the County disaster plan. If
such occurs, the County personnel and equipment shall be immediately subject to
the direction of the Governor or the Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors.
SECTION 6. REPEALER
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this
ordinances are hereby repealed.
SECTION 7. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
If any section, provision, or part of this ordinance shall be adjudged invalid
or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the
ordinance as a whole or any section, provision or part thereof adjudged invalid
or unconstitutional.
SECTION 8. WHEN EFFECTIVE
This ordinance shall be in effect after its final
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law.
Passed and approved November 6, 1984
Published November 14, 1984
Amended October 25, 1994
Published November 9 and 10, 1994