Accumulation now guideline for snow ordinance plowing

A new parking snow removal ordinance will go into effect following the first substantial snow fall this season.

The ordinance, which passed its final reading and was adopted by the Newton City Council, will have vehicles moved from the street starting at 2 inches of snow accumulation.

The previous parking snow ordinance prohibits vehicles from parking on the streets, except in the downtown district, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. during a snow event. With the change, once snow accumulation reaches 2 inches, a vehicle would need to be removed from the street, except in the downtown district. Vehicles would be allowed back on the street once the street has been plowed full width.

In his presentation to the council, public works operations superintendent Jody Rohn said the city is trying to be as least restrictive as possible while still getting the cars off of the road so it can be fully plowed, reducing the amount of piles of snow left behind.

The change would help clear the roads if a snow event should occur during the day when residential on-street parking currently prevents crews from effectively clearing the road. It would also get the snow off of the road quicker, preventing a large build up of snow which can occur when crews waited until the overnight hours for the vehicles to be moved.

The public works department revisited the issue after receiving many complaints from citizens during snow events. In a review of the previous system, residential on-street parking during the day prevented crews from effectively clearing the street where vehicles are parked. The snow then becomes packed on the street and became treacherous to motorists and damaging to snow plows during future snowfalls.

To notify citizens and visitors, new signage would be placed at multiple entrances to the city. The snow will be measured at the Public Works building with notification available through The Snow Line at 641-791-SNOW.

“There will be a time period of adjustment for our community as we convert from a time period to an accumulation,” mayor Mike Hansen said. “I am thinking specifically of folks that may be caught who work other shifts and may be home sleeping. I hope that as we take these things in mind as we enforce this, fortunately we have officers who do keep those things in mind.”

Citizens will be given a grace period during the transition to give citizens time to acclimate to the change. Rohn recommended illegally parked vehicles be given a warning during the first two snow events after the change.

Other recent changes to the snow removal policy is the utilization of snowplow trucks with wing blades that enable staff to cover two-12 hour shirts and the building of a new sand shed to increase the amount of sand that can be stored.

City council also approved the purchase of a 12-foot reversible snow plow that mounts on an existing front end loader for $13,690 from Trans Iowa Equipment in Ankeny.

The front-end loader reversible snow plow will be used primarily for cleaning parking lots, downtown alleys and for clean up in the downtown snow removal district. It allows for down pressure from the loader for better pealing of compacted snow and ice, especially in the gutter and parking spaces.

The plow will be paid for utilizing funds from the City Road Use Tax Fund.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com