Serving Whitman County since 1877

City of Palouse prepares for winter

Residents reminded of responsibilities; city guidelines

PALOUSE — The City of Palouse is preparing for snow and reminding residents of responsibilities going into the winter months.

The city released its snow removal policy reminding residents before or when it starts to snow they need to park vehicles off the street if possible.

Any vehicles left parked in areas of snow removal operations can prevent removal or become blocked by plowed snow.

It is property owner’s responsibly to remove snow from sidewalks and are reminded to shovel snow into their yards on not onto the street or it gets plowed back onto the sidewalk.

Placing snow or ice on any public street, sidewalk or parking space, making it unsafe for pedestrians or impeding traffic is prohibited.

During the winter months, residents are asked to remove any obstructions including rocks, fences or planters from the city right-of-way since the snow plow operator cannot see what is underneath the snow.

Residents are asked to keep garbage cans at least five feet inside driveways away from the edge of the roadway and if picked up in an alley residents are asked to move the cans to the street as directed by Empire Disposal.

The city asks residents not to pile or plow snow over ends of culverts, on top of drainage structures or close to fire hydrants.

Driveway snow berm removal is the responsibiility of the property owner and if off street parking is unavailable drivers are asked to ensure proper spacing between cars and driveway entries to reduce berms.

Ice can be expected on steep hills like Bridge and H Streets. Residents are asked to use alternate East and West routes.

Once snow is gone, homeowners are asked to sweep sidewalks free of gravel into the street for the sweeper to collect.

Guidelines for city snow plowing can be adjusted due to weather, labor availability and budget constraints.

If there is at least two inches of snow between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays the street department will plow the following streets in this order depending on the weather forecast:

• Main Street, Cove Road and the city’s part of the highways

• Bridge Street, Sargeant Jacob Demand Way, Fairview, South River Road

• Union, Alder, Church Street, Sg. Jacob Demand Way, Fire Station

• Secondary roads as time permits

After hour and weekend plowing will be limted to the main access roads and budget.

The snow plow operators first concern is safety and to keep the roadways open for the safe passage of traffic.

Residents are asked to keep small children and pets inside during snow plowing due to large equipment and the concentration needed for snow removal.

 

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