Snow & Ice Removal Policy

RESOLUTION 

WHEREAS,  the Board of Supervisors is empowered by Section 309.67 of the 1983 Code of Iowa to establish policies concerning maintenance practices on roads under their jurisdiction.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Lucas County Board of Supervisors in session this 13th day of November 1984, that the following "Snow Removal Policy" be adopted: 

SECTION 1 -- PURPOSE

The purpose of this resolution 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 to the provisions of Section 309.67, Code of Iowa. This policy and level of service are to be implemented within the amount of money budgeted 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 or 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 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 of 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 warning 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 Resolution, 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 rock roads. The County Engineer's professional judgement shall prevail. 

PAVED ROUTES 

1. The initial effort will be to get all paved routes open to one-lane traffic as soon as practicable. 
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 3:30 P.M. to 7:00 A.M., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.The trucks may be called off the road if snow and blowing reduces visibility to hazardous working conditions, in the professional judgement 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 rock roads may be delayed. 
5. It is not the policy of the county to. provide a "dry" pavement condition. 
6. After roads have been plowed as provided in this section, intersections, hills, and curves may have placed on them, salt, sand or other abrasive. These intersections, hills and curves will not be resanded, resalted, or have other abrasives replaced on them between snowstorms. This sequence of service shall be performed only between the hours of 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. each day, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays observed by County employees.

UNPAVED ROADS 

1. The initial effort will be to get all rock routes opened to one-lane traffic as soon as possible after a storm has passed during normal working hours. 
2. After one-lane travel is possible, subsequent snow removal will be carried on during normal working hours. 
3. Motor graders will not normally be in operation between the hours of 3:30 P.M. to 7:00 A.M., Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Rock roads may not be plowed if the wind is causing continual drifting. 
4. Snow will not be removed from roads designated as Level B. 

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 ON SERVICE 

The policy and level of service provided for in this resolution shall not include, and the following services shall not be performed: 

1. Sanding, salting, or placing of other abrasives upon the roadway that are slick, slippery, and dangerous due to the formation of frost. 
2. Sanding, salting, or placing other abrasives upon paved roadways due to freezing rain that occurs outside the county's usual working hours. 
3. Placing of additional warning or regulatory signs warning 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. 
4. Sanding, salting, or placing abrasives upon any road, except for paved roads. 
5. Re-sanding, or re-salting for freezing and thawing between storms. 

SECTION  5 -- EMERGENCY

The sequence of service may be suspended during “Emergency” conditions. An “Emergency” condition shall be considered as one where a loss of life is probable, where a serious injury has occurred, or where extensive loss of property is imminent. These conditions should be verified through a physician's or sheriff's office. The County will respond to all “Emergency” conditions, either during or after a snowstorm. 

The provisions of this resolution 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 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the intent of this Resolution is to be the minimum maintenance activities for “Snow Removal” and that if a higher level of maintenance is performed by Lucas County it is within the guidelines of the policy above stated without setting precedent or voiding the policy.