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1. When will the town plow my street?

The town’s Snow & Ice Control Plan has three priorities, explaining where the town starts snow plowing first. The plan is to return road surfaces to safe winter driving conditions as soon as possible within the limitations of this plan, our limited resources, and weather conditions. Staff will evaluate the weather conditions during each snowstorm and will dispatch snow removal crews to impacted areas as need. Priorities include arterial and collector streets, critical facilities — such as medical offices and the fire department — and our schools. Designated problem areas, such as hills, roundabouts and intersections, are also made a priority. It must be recognized that, although this plan sets general guidelines to be followed, each snowstorm has its own characteristics with variable conditions, such as air and pavement temperatures, wind speed and direction, precipitation rates and types, extreme temperatures, timing, duration, and traffic activity. This plan must remain flexible and take into consideration these variables.

Snow & Ice Control Plan

2. Will the town plow my cul-de-sac?

Cul-de-sacs will be evaluated by staff during each storm. Snow removal crews will be dispatched to impacted areas as needed and/or once Priority 3 is reached under the Snow & Ice Control Plan.

Snow & Ice Control Plan

3. What snow and ice removal items are residents responsible for?

Residents are required by ordinance to clear sidewalks, including those crossing alleys and driveways, within 24 hours after the end of a storm. Please pile the snow in your yard, not in the street. If your sidewalk is icy, apply de-icer to melt the ice. If you wish to report a hazardous sidewalk, please call the Police Department's Code Enforcement team at 970-674-6400. Read more in the link below. Snow & Ice Control Plan

4. When will the town start snow and ice control operations?

The town's on-call snow and ice removal crew, in conjunction with weather reports and with help from Police Department observations, begins snow and ice control operations on a case-by-case basis. Other criteria considered include temperature, snow accumulation, drifting, icy conditions and the time of the snowfall.

5. Why do the plows cover over the areas I just shoveled, and am I responsible for those areas?

Snow plow drivers will make every effort to avoid plowing snow onto sidewalks and driveway entrances. However, in the process of removing snow from the roadways, there may be times that this cannot be avoided and sidewalks or driveway entrances may become covered. Sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours from the end of the snow storm per Sec.11-7-10 of the Municipal Code.

6. Who is responsible for clearing and maintaining sidewalks during a snow event?

Windsor property owners and/or occupants are responsible for keeping all sidewalks free of snow and ice. Owners and/or occupants have 24 hours from the time the storm stops to clear the areas they are responsible for.

7. What can I do if my neighbors never clear their sidewalks?

Residents are required by the Town of Windsor Municipal Code to have their sidewalks cleared within 24 hours of the end of the snow storm, per Sec.11-7-10. If you are concerned about unclear sidewalks, contact 970-674-6400 for the Code Enforcement team at the Police Department.

8. What can you do about ice that has build-up along curbs, gutters, and flow plans or is re-freezing over the sidewalk, in which are caused by shaded areas such as houses, trees and fences?

Some streets in the town do not receive much direct sunlight, prohibiting a natural thaw of snow and ice. Consequently, ice build up will block storm drains and create hazardous conditions if it forms over the sidewalk. It is very difficult to remove this ice build up without causing damage to concrete and asphalt. This ice will not melt until the temperature is above freezing for an extended period of time. If the ice is on a sidewalk adjacent to private property, then it is the property owner’s responsibility to remove it.

9. Who is responsible for clearing and maintaining trails during a snow event?

The Parks and Forestry Division will remove snow from town-maintained trails as resources become available. The division can be reached by calling 970-674-2434.

10. Why are only portions of the street plowed on residential streets?

When conditions warrant, residential streets may only be plowed enough to give residents access to the highest priority streets. Plowing from curb to curb is not always practical because it would require more time and moving of many vehicles that park on the streets. Clearing the snow from driveway entrances is the responsibility of the property owner.

11. Why do snow plows drive around town during a snow storm with their blades up?

It is the goal of the town to plow streets systematically and efficiently. When snow plows are moving from one location to another or are returning to refuel or load more de-icing material, they travel with the plow blades up.

12. How many miles of streets are plowed in the Town of Windsor?

There are 201.52 miles of streets in the town that may get plowed. However, that number can triple or quadruple when one factors in “lanes." For example, Main Street from 7th Street to 15th Street is approximately one mile; however it is four lane-miles due to the four lanes that exist on Main Street (this does not include turn lanes).

13. How many pieces of equipment are used in the snow plowing effort?

The towns has seven (7) snow plow dump trucks each equipped with sanders; two (2) one-ton pickup; eight (8) ¾ pickups, two (2) four-wheel drive tractors, one with snow blower; one (1) motor grader; one (1) front-end loader; and two (2) backhoes.

14. What does the town put on the streets to melt ice and snow?

The town uses Ice Buster, a de-icing salt, on all of the town’s roadways. Crews are trained on sensible salting techniques, and all snow plow trucks are calibrated to spread only the amount of de-icing salt required to de-ice the roadways. The town DOES NOT use any liquid de-icing materials and/or sand. For more information on Ice Buster, view the town's Snow & Ice Control Plan under "De-icing Material." Snow & Ice Control Plan

15. Why not plow to the center of the street?

Plowing snow to the center of the street can be very hazardous to motorists; traffic flow is restricted by eliminating a portion of a lane, the freeze/thaw cycle deteriorates the pavement and icy driving conditions are created when the melting snow freezes on the pavement every night. This practice can also create sight obstructions for low vehicles and cause problems for residents entering and exiting roadways.

16. Who do I call to report problems with snow removal?

Calls regarding snow and ice removal operations should be directed to the Public Works Department at 970-674-5400, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For after-hours Public Works emergencies call 970-674-5411. If you encounter an emergency situation, call 911.