Ice Control Practices

updated: Wednesday, April 04, 2012

The City has a Council adopted Snow Removal / Ice Control Policy which provides for snow removal activities and establishes priorities for how this is accomplished. The Council has not established a "bare pavement" or ice free (safety) requirement. Use of chemical and or sand applications have been reduced due to environmental and budgetary implications; especially on streets where traffic volumes and speeds are low. Thus, treatment of slippery areas with chemicals / sand is essentially limited to high traffic thoroughfares, select hills and curves, and known hazardous intersections.

The City responds to emergencies when notified and responds to routine service requests during regular business hours.

Main Plow Routes: Our primary ice control focus is on our higher volume roadways. These roadways are plowed first, and treated with the necessary chemicals / sand (to include treated salt) to minimize / remove or try to control icy conditions.

Residential Streets: When icy conditions develop, our focus is on known trouble-spots having a higher accident potential due to slopes, curves, heavily traveled intersections by use of a chemical / sand mix to provide some traction. Neighborhoods streets are only treated with chemicals if pavement temperatures are expected to remain above 15 degrees.

Alleys: Alleys are generally not treated with chemicals / sand. Alley trouble spots are only treated after an extended period of time by use of a chemical / sand mix to provide some traction. Alleys are very difficult to maintain as they are constructed with a low center for drainage purposes. Generally speaking, salting alleys does not eliminate icy conditions and can cause frozen ruts to form which can be an even worse problem.

Sidewalks: Sidewalks are not treated with chemicals / sand. Sidewalk services are limited to snow removal only. Much like alleys, sidewalks are extremely difficult to maintain because snowmelt is trapped between snow banks along the sidewalks. Once icy, sidewalks generally stay that way until the springtime melt occurs.

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Sidewalk and Trail Maintenance