Snow Plowing & Removal
The City of Winsted finds that it is in the best interest of the residents for the City to assume basic responsibility for the control of snow and ice on City streets. Reasonable ice and snow control are necessary for routine travel and emergency services. The City will attempt to provide such control in a safe and cost-effective manner, keeping in mind safety, budget, personnel, and environmental concerns. The City will utilize city employees, equipment and in extreme emergency situations, private contractors to provide this service. This policy does not relieve the operator of private vehicles, pedestrians, property owners, residents and all others that may be using public streets, of their responsibility to act in a reasonable, prudent and cautious manner, given the prevailing street conditions.
It is the responsibility of the Maintenance Supervisor to assure compliance with this policy. It is also the responsibility of all personnel operating under the direction of the Maintenance Supervisor to comply with this policy. The Public Works Department is responsible for accurate record keeping, which includes inspections, repairs, plowing, and follow-up maintenance records of streets, parking lots, and walking surfaces.
Commencement of Operations
The Maintenance Supervisor or designee will decide when to begin snow or ice control operations.
The criteria for that decision includes:
- Snow accumulation of two (2) inches or more;
- Air and Pavement Temperatures;
- Anti-Icing operations may occur forty-eight (48) hours in advance of an approaching storm, anticipated frost or prior to weekends in which forecasts call for some form of precipitation;
- Drifting of snow that causes problems for travel;
- Icy conditions which seriously affect travel; and
- Time of snowfall in relationship to heavy use of streets (i.e. weekday a.m. and p.m. commuter periods)
- In coordination with requests made by the Winsted Police Department
Snow and ice control operations are expensive and involve the use of limited personnel and equipment. Consequently, snowplowing operations will not generally be conducted for snowfall of less than two (2) inches.
In order to remain cost effective, the Public Works Department will utilize a variety of ice control products and continually monitor the effectiveness, environmental impact and costs of each product applied. The Maintenance Supervisor or designee will determine the appropriate combination of chemicals to effectively control ice in the given weather conditions.
To assure completion of operations, snow removal and ice control operations may be conducted on a twenty-four (24) hour basis, which may result in snow removal equipment being operated in residential areas during the evening, night and early morning hours.
Please review the complete Snow Plowing Removal Policy, amended in November 2019, for complete information related to snow removal in the City of Winsted.