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Residents reminded of snow ordinances

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Winter season is again upon us, and the City Street Department is looking forward to early mornings on the snowy streets of Polson. It is the time of year to remind ourselves of the City’s snow removal plan and ordinances.

The plan is developed on the premise that public need for safe streets is greater on higher-volume streets and at locations of stopping, turning, or starting movements. Priorities are assigned on the basis of traffic volumes, steepness of hills, proximity to schools, access to businesses, public transit routes, and logical grid patterns.

During heavy snow, it obviously takes more time to progress through these prioritized objectives. However, we make it a goal to accomplish these objectives by the morning following the end of the storm. The secondary goal is to have all remaining priority streets plowed within three working days of the end of snowfall, depending on snow accumulation.

Plowing of residential streets may be done after all priority streets are completed and if an accumulation of four inches of snow remains.

Effective removal and plowing of snow on city streets has to be a cooperative effort of both the City crews and residents. The City depends on residents to remove the plowed berms in front of driveways, mailboxes or cars, and to place their shoveled/plowed snow on their property and not in the streets.

City ordinance prevents the shoveling of snow onto or against fire hydrants, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, roadway shoulders, curbs, gutters, handicap parking spaces, or space designated for emergency vehicle access.

City officials recognize that snow berms and around parked cars create a burden for residents. Unfortunately, the City does not have the personnel or equipment to remove this snow. We ask that you help us out and to contact the City if you have a suggestion as to how to create a better plan for snow removal or storage in a specific situation.

By City ordinance, it is the responsibility of residents and business owners to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses within a reasonable amount of time after a storm. If this snow is not removed, the City may post notice to clear snow. If snow is not then cleared, the City may remove it directly and bill the property owner for that service.

If you are willing to help others remove snow or if you need help removing snow, please contact the City. We do our best to direct help to those who need it.

Snow is part of the deal here in Montana, but if we all work together, we can keep our streets and sidewalks as safe and passable as possible through another winter season.

(Editor's note: Terry Gembala is the City of Polson's Superintendent.)

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