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Snow & Ice Control
Snow and Ice Season Information
City of Muscatine Public Works staff continues to explore ways to improve services and methods used for plowing efficiencies and researching new products. This helps determine what products and equipment will help enhance the snow removal process. The City of Muscatine Public Works staff strives to provide the safest winter driving conditions possible.
High Priority
Snow and ice control is considered an emergency operation which must be initiated quickly and continued on a round-the-clock basis. If the decision to begin a full-scale snow and ice control operation is made after normal working hours, necessary City of Muscatine staff are notified immediately.
Snow and ice control is one of the highest winter priorities for the Public Works Department. Almost all other Public Works operations become secondary to the snow removal operation. In the event, a snow emergency is called by the Public Works Director or Roadway Maintenance Supervisor, Public Works staff works until all required chemical or abrasive control and snowplowing operations are completed.
Residential Areas and Alleys
Residential streets are plowed when the total snow accumulation exceeds four inches. In addition to plowing residential districts, city staff also applies abrasives or salt to designated streets. Sand or salt is spread at pre-planned locations such as on steep hills and at difficult-to-negotiate areas, such as street intersections.
Muscatine does not plow private property and does not shovel out ridges in driveways because private property is not part of city snow removal.
Snow and ice control in alleys will take place after storm has ended and after city streets have been completely opened up.
Sidewalk Snow Removal
Title 3 Chapter 8 of the City of Muscatine City Code says that “The occupant(s) of each and every building, dwelling, structure, or the owner of any unoccupied lot fronting upon any street or sidewalk, shall clear the entire public sidewalk in front of such building, dwelling, structure, or unoccupied lot, as the case may be, of all snow or ice within twenty-four (24) hours of termination of the last snowfall, and cause the same to be kept clear of snow and/or ice. If such ice is smooth and hard and not easily removed, such ice shall be covered with ashes, salt, sawdust, or other non-slippery substance sufficient enough to make the public sidewalk a safe passageway.
It is unlawful for any person to remove snow from private property and place snow or ice on public property.
Emergency Response
During snow and ice conditions, emergency calls from police and fire departments are given top priority in snowplowing efforts.
Help Us Help You
Shovels, snowblowers, sand and rock salt are all great items to have on hand during snow season.
Please do not shovel or blow snow on to Muscatine streets for motorists’ safety, maintenance, and liability consequences.
When someone is hired to do snow removal be aware that snow moved from private property cannot be placed on Muscatine streets for motorists’ safety, maintenance, and liability consequences.
Snow and ice removal is a difficult and time-consuming job. Patience is appreciated as city staff works diligently to restore streets to normal winter driving conditions.
Please remove vehicles from the street when it snows. This way we can keep our commitment to you to have snow removed from Muscatine streets as soon as possible.
Going Out of Town?
This information may be helpful: Iowa Roads and Conditions
Safe Winter Driving Tips
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Emergency Plow Route Map
Preparing for 2009 Winter - Unloading Salt Barge – September 2009
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