MUSCATINE, Iowa – When winter weather events (snow and/or ice) come to Muscatine, the City of Muscatine endeavors to maintain adequate traction for vehicles properly equipped for winter driving conditions and safe routes of travel for pedestrians. Snow and ice control is considered an emergency operation by the City of Muscatine; an operation that must be initiated quickly and continued on a round-the-clock basis until completed.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) Snow and Ice Control Policy defines and outlines the objectives and procedures to be followed. Each winter storm has unique characteristics with climatological factors such as storm intensity and duration, wind, temperature, and snow/ice accumulation used to determine the City response to the event. The DPW plows streets in the order of (1) snow routes including hospital access streets, school access routes, and transit emergency bus routes, (2) central business district route, (3) residential streets, and (4) alleys. For more details, feel free to review the policy.
Snow Emergency Parking Plan
An emergency snow removal operation (Snow Emergency) can be declared by the DPW Director or the Roadway Maintenance Supervisor at the time ice or snow accumulations impede or hinder the safe movement of vehicular traffic or otherwise interfere with the safe movement of emergency vehicles or public transportation.
The City does its best to alert the public when a Snow Emergency is declared through the City website, City social media sites, local media channels, and Notify Me, the City’s free text notification system. Notice to the public is provided at least four hours before the beginning of the declaration. The Snow Emergency duration is a minimum of 48 hours. Sign up for Notify Me now to receive notifications.
For snow removal crews to properly and safely clear routes for travel, a snow parking plan is implemented on a voluntary basis until a Snow Emergency is implemented at which time the parking plan becomes mandatory. Vehicles parked on city streets in violation of the Snow Emergency Parking Plan, when in effect, are subject to $35 fines and/or towing. For more details, review the Snow Emergency Parking Plan.
To find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared you may call 563-272-2506.
Sidewalk Snow Removal
It is the responsibility of abutting property owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks within 24 hours after a weather event has ended. If a property owner fails to remove the accumulations within a reasonable time, the City, after attempting to notify the adjoining property owner, may remove the snow and assess the cost to the property owner. Residents are reminded that it is unlawful for any person(s) to remove snow and ice from private property by dumping them upon any public highway, street, avenue, alley, or sidewalk. Learn more about sidewalk snow removal.
The benefits of clearing sidewalks and driveways include reducing the potential for pedestrian falls while traversing the property, and clearing a safe path for public safety personnel if they are needed at the property. Cleared sidewalks help ambulance crews get to patients and to move patients from houses to the ambulance safely.
Refuse/Recycle Bin Placement
Snowplow drivers would greatly appreciate residents placing refuse and recycling bins in driveways and not in the streets during and immediately following any snow event. This will allow drivers to focus on clearing streets and will prevent damage to bins. Containers that are left in the street are subject to either being hit with a snowplow or forcing the snowplow driver to leave their plow to remove the container from their path.
Fire Hydrants
The Muscatine Fire Department asks that property owners who have a fire hydrant on their property to take a few extra minutes while clearing their sidewalks and driveways to clear at least one foot around fire hydrants all the way to the ground and out to the street. Fire Department officials remind residents that seconds do count as emergency crews respond to structure fires and medical emergencies.
Thank You
The City of Muscatine extends their thanks to residents for their cooperation and in helping City staff do their jobs and to serve the public. If, by chance, City crews miss your street or if you need to file a complaint about a snow covered or icy sidewalk, etc., create a muscatineiowa.gov account and use the Let Us Know feature to submit problems or comments.