Snow and Ice Control

The Public Works Department is responsible for providing snow and ice control for over 166 miles of roads and 14 public parking lots. The Parks & Recreation Department is responsible for providing snow and ice control for sidewalks along public property as well as within public parks and some trails.

Visit our online code for snow regulations. Chapter 57 provides information related to restricting the public from depositing snow in certain areas. Chapter 77 (Schedule VII. Snow Removal & Schedule VIII. Snow Routes) provides for additional information related to Parking Schedules. Chapter 95 provides information related to removing snow and ice accumulation from sidewalks.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS DURING SNOW AND ICE EVENTS

The city may issue a SNOW EMERGENCY ALERT when larger snow and ice events are projected, generally 2-inches of snow or more. These alerts restrict parking on certain streets and public parking lots. This is issued through our News Flash system where the public can receive a text or an email notifying them of the SNOW EMERGENCY ALERT being issued. Sign up for here: Notify Me • Marshalltown, IA • CivicEngage for News Flash - Home - City News to receive these. Local radio stations also report this information when we issue them. Our alerts will include information when the SNOW EMERGENCY goes in effect (date/time) and a second notice will be issued when the parking restrictions are no longer in effect. The routes are also designated along the street with a sign within the impacted blocks that allow parking.

Here is a PDF version of the Emergency Snow Route Map with our snow routes, as well as streets and cul-de-sacs where parking is prohibited when the SNOW EMERGENCY ALERT is active. Below is also an interactive map of this information. Emergency snow routes are shown in blue. Streets and cul-de-sacs that are shown in red are also areas that prohibit parking during SNOW EMERGENCY ALERTS.

Failure to remove your vehicle from these areas will result in the vehicle being towed at the vehicle owner's cost. Once snow removal operations are put into effect at the direction of Public Works, the Police Department will identify illegally parked vehicles on the emergency snow routes and prohibited parking during snow operations to begin ticketing and towing operations. The parking fine is $25 along with your towing fees.

SNOW & ICE REMOVAL PRIORITIES - PUBLIC WORKS

City streets, public parking lots, and alleys are plowed and treated, if needed, according to the following priorities:

PRIORITY ONE - Emergency Snow Routes (see map above)
- Equipment Deployed: Dump Trucks w/ wing plow & deicing material spreader
PRIORITY TWO - Marshalltown Central Business District (MCBD) & surrounding area (Linn Street to Grant Street from 3rd Street to 4th Avenue)
- Equipment Deployed: 2 Motor Graders, 1 Pick-Up Plow, 1 Skid-Steer Loader w/ Snow Pusher, & 1 Dump Truck for deicing material application
PRIORITY THREE - Residential Maintenance Areas (NW, NE, WC, SW, and SE), MCBD Alleys, and City Parking Lots
- Each Residential Maintenance Area will have 2-3 Dump Trucks w/ wing plow & deicing material spreader
- Residential Maintenance Areas are the approximate following areas:
  - NW (Northwest) – West of N 3^rd Ave and North of W Main St
  - NE (Northeast) – East of 3rd Avenue and north of the Union Pacific RR tracks
  - WC (West Central) – West of South Center Street and between West Main Street and Union Pacific RR tracks.
  - SW (Southwest) – West of South Center Street and south of the Union Pacific RR tracks.
  - SE (Southeast) – East of State Highway 14 and south of the Union Pacific RR tracks.
- MCBD Alleys & City Parking Lots utilize equipment from Priority Two areas, when they become available
PRIORITY FOUR - Residential Alleys
- Equipment Deployed: Pick-Up Plows
- Many times, residential alleys may not get plowed until the 2nd or 3rd day after precipitation has ended so please plan accordingly.

PROPERTY OWNER RESPONSIBILITY FOR SNOW/ICE REMOVAL ON SIDEWALKS

It is the responsibility of the abutting property owner to remove all snow and ice accumulations from all public sidewalks within 24 hours after the precipitation has stopped. This includes any curb cuts/ramps leading to a crosswalk. Failure to remove the snow and ice accumulations within 24 hours could result in the City or a contractor of the City performing the work necessary. The property owner will then be billed for this expense.

DE-ICING

Deicers are part of the city's effort to maintain safe transportation; however, they are hard on pavement. We try to find a balance in the need to utilize deicers which can cause some damage to paved surfaces and best provide safe routes. In order to best protect pavement, the city tries to follow and encourages homeowners to also follow these tips:

Avoid the use of any deicers the first winter after it has been paved. Use plain sand for traction, when needed.
If deicers need to be applied (after the first year), use deicers that are rock salt or sodium chloride. Use this sparingly.
Never use deicers containing ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, magnesium acetate, magnesium nitrate.

Safe winter driving techniques such as allowing extra time to stop and start, leaving more space (& time) between other vehicles, and driving a speed that matches street conditions will be necessary. It is not reasonable to expect streets to be clear of ice at all times.

SNOW DEPOSITS AT DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS

The City priority during these events is to clear streets from snow and ice to provide for a safe transportation network for emergency services and the general public. During snow and ice control procedures by the City, it is common for plowed snow to be pushed and/or thrown back onto sidewalks, driveways, and aprons especially around corners. This unfortunate event results from the need to maintain certain speeds and plow angles to provide efficient and safe snow and ice removal from the streets. While the City strives to minimize the effects of this thrown snow, it is inherent to snow and ice control activities. Removal of this additional accumulation of material on sidewalks, driveways, or aprons is the responsibility of the abutting property owner. Some believe the technique below helps to minimize the amount of snow and ice from being placed on your driveway after a property owner has already done a first pass at clearing.

SNOW FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY ON/ACROSS STREET VIOLATION

The City Council has adopted an ordinance prohibiting snow from private drives, parking spaces, and in front of private property being placed upon or across public streets. Placing snow upon or across streets and locations that are not on a resident’s own property creates issues for the City. [Exception - there are certain properties in the MCBD that have authorization to clear their sidewalks and place that snow within street / parking areas which will then be cleared by the city. If you have questions about this exception, please contact the Street Division @ 641-754-5746]

Marshalltown Code of Ordinances, Section 57.001 provides as follows:

The abutting property owner is required to remove all accumulations of snow and ice from public sidewalks located upon street and alley terraces and from the public sidewalks located upon his, her or their privately-owned property.
It shall be unlawful for any person to push, pile, deposit or leave deposited any snow or frozen materials removed from any private drive or private parking area upon any public street or thoroughfare or upon or in front of the private property or the private drive of another.

Placing snow in the public right-of-way can cause visibility issues, traffic congestion and safety issues. In addition, it can remove deicing applications and reduce efficiency in snow removal.

Violations of this Ordinance may result in a fine of up to $650 and may also be cited as a municipal infraction.

SNOW & ICE REMOVAL - PARKS & RECREATION

The Parks & Recreation Department deploys four crews to perform snow & ice removal based on the following priorities:

PRIORITY ONE -
- Uptown Crew - Sidewalks adjacent to Public Parking Lots & City Buildings in the MCBD, as well as the cycle track on the north side of State Street from 2nd Street to 3rd Avenue
- Outskirt Crew 1 - Sidewalks at Jaycee, Glenwood, Goldfinch, Timber Creek, Kiwanis Parks. Bike Paths near 2nd Ave / Wilson Circle, Merle Hibbs & Center St, and 12th Ave
- Outskirt Crew 2 - Sidewalks along Madison St, Cloverleaf, 3rd Ave Viaduct, Center St Viaduct, 3rd St/6th St Viaduct, Player Street, Nevada St Linn Creek Bridge, Skate Park, & Anson Park
- Outskirt Crew 3 - Sidewalks at Elks Park, Arnolds Park, & Optimist Parks. Bike Paths / Sidewalks near Hughes/4th St, 1200 block of Summit St, 13th St District, Miller School Sidewalk Connection, 12th Ave near Main St, Public Works Campus, and connections to Iowa River's Edge Trail at 9th St, Lincoln Way, 6th St and 5th St.
PRIORITY TWO - Parking Lots @ Public Parks
PRIORITY THREE - Bike Paths (Iowa River's Edge Trail, Retention Basin Trails, Linn Creek Trail, Edgewood/8th Ave) & Riverview Park Rental Building Parking Lots & Sidewalk - Reunion Hall & Community Building

MAILBOXES

City staff make every effort to not damage mailboxes along streets that are plowed. It is rare that a snowplow damages a properly installed mailbox. To protect your mailbox, make sure they are installed in accordance with USPS guidelines. How to Install a Mailbox | USPS . (Mailboxes should be 41″ to 45″ from the road surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry and 6″ to 8″ back from the curb. If you do not have a raised curb, contact your local postmaster for guidance.)

The City will plow the snow within the confines of curb line to curb line of a street. During heavy snowfalls there may be times when there is simply not enough room between the street and the sidewalk to store all of the snow from the street. During these times we ask your assistance in clearing the snow from around the mailbox to assure delivery of the mail.

If you believe the City is responsible for damaging your mailbox, please call 641-754-5746 and leave your name and address. We will follow-up with you. If we determine that we inadvertently damaged a properly installed mailbox, we will install a temporary mailbox until dry, unfrozen ground conditions allow for a permanent solution.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS OR TO REPORT STREET CONDITIONS, YOU MAY CALL PUBLIC WORKS-STREET DIVISION @ 641-754-5746 MONDAY THRU FRIDAY (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM). AFTER HOURS, YOU MAY CALL THE MARSHALLTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 641-754-5725. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATIONS TO MAKE OUR STREETS SAFE THIS WINTER.