Agenda - Council - 04/24/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for officers to follow when weather conditions create a need for plowing or s~nding of streets and highways within this city. POLICY The policy of this department wi]] be to monitor, by patrol and by information from other sources, road conditions and by applying reason- able standards determine the need for plowing and/or sanding of those roads. Public safety will be the controlling and primary consideration when applying this policy. PROCEDURE Officers wi]], during and after snow or ice storms, be alert for slippery conditions or snow accumulation problems which could create hazardous driving situations for motorists. When a complaint is made concerning the condition of a street or an intersection the officer or his designate wi]] personally inspect the'location. He will, using standards of.reasonab]eness based on his experience and training, make a determination whether or not to the have the area sanded or plowed. In making this determination the officer wi]] always lesn towards calling' for remedial action whenever he feels that the ]ess-than-careful] drivers cou]d be endangered. During a storm, or just after the end of a storm the officers will usually not call. for sanding or p]owing since falling snow, winds or freezing rain wi1] only defeat the effort. There wi]] be times however when traffic is such that in the officers judgement the area must be sanded or p]owed to prevent the lik]ihood of an accident. In these in- stances the city crews will he notified to respond as appropriate. Officers should generally try to avoid calling out city crews at' other than normal working hours un]ess conditions are such as to indi- cate an urgent need for remedial actions, based on the officer's rea- sonable judgement. Al1 questions about the p]owing schedules afer the end of a snow- fall will be answered by telling the cal]ers that the plows are coming ~ out, or are out, and wi]] be plowing the streets in their pre-determined order. If this doesn't bring satisfaction, the person wi]] be directed to call the city administration offices or the road supervisor. If, in responding to an emergency ca]], officers believe they may not be able to get to the scene due to road conditions they will cai! for the nearest road crews immediately via Centra] Communications using state, county or ]oca]. units.