Snow Removal & Ice Control
During the winter months, the City street crew performs many duties, but snow and ice removal is the top priority. On average, Montgomery's 4-person crew plows the City 10 times per year. During a typical snowfall, the crew uses 6 pieces of equipment and drives approximately 55 miles to plow and sand the streets and alleys.
Plow Damage - Sometimes property damage occurs when snowplows are operating. If possible, remove any obstacles from the right-of-way or mark them clearly to aid plow drivers. Make sure your mailbox is solid and securely fastened to the box. Mailboxes are repaired or replaced only if the plow makes direct contact.
Often, plow drivers literally "feel" their way along streets because of poor conditions, and regrettably lawns are damaged. If this happens to you, please report it to the Public Works office at 507.364.5017.
Damages are repaired each spring with black dirt and lawn seed.
Don't Crowd the Plow!
We all share in the responsibility of keeping our roads safe. It is very important for residents, especially children, to know snow plow safety ideas:
- Reduce your speed. Plows travel slower than other vehicles.
- Never drive into a snow cloud.
- Do not pass a snow plow while they are plowing.
- Keep your distance from trucks spreading salt sand.
- Stay away from the end of the driveway or boulevard when a snowplow is approaching.
- Keep sleds and toys away from the street when they are not being used.
- Do not build snow forts in the piles on the boulevard.
- Stay out from behind snow removal equipment. Frequent backing is necessary during plowing, and visibility to the rear is limited.
- Keep garbage containers away from the curb until after plowing.
- Do not park cars in the streets until the streets are completely plowed.
Snow Emergency
During the event of an accumulation of one inch or more of snow, a snow emergency may be issued. Once a snow emergency has been declared it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any public street, excluding the Central Business District, until it has been fully cleared, curb-to-curb. The Central Business District is defined as First Street and one block either side of it between Oak and Boulevard Avenues. Vehicles cannot be parked in the Central Business District after 2:00 a.m. until it has been fully cleared, curb-to-curb. Residents will be allowed to park in the City parking lots until the Snow Emergency is over. However, vehicles must be removed from City Parking lots with in 24 hours after the Snow Emergency if over. ** Violators will be ticketed. **
If off-street parking is not available it is lawful to park on the property front yard during the declared emergency
Snow Emergencies will be posted on the City's website and the City's Facebook page. You can also choose to receive alerts via e-mail or text message by signing up here.
Ice Control
City crews use a sand-salt mixture on icy areas. This does not guarantee totally ice-free streets, so drive carefully even where sanding is visible. Priority areas are sanded first, and include:
- Intersections of city streets and county state aid roads
- School and pedestrian crosswalks
- All arterial street stop sign intersections
- Streets with hills and curves
- All other stop signs