Winter Safety Tips

Ordinance for Snow & Ice Removal on Public Owned Sidewalks Within the Road Right-of-way:

Snow & Ice must be promptly removed with in (12) twelve hours following a snow or ice event to prevent hazardous conditions.  Many Windom Residents use public sidewalks on a daily year-around basis.  Emergency Services, shoppers, workers, mail persons and delivery people use our sidewalks every day.

If snow & Ice isn’t removed following an official notice of violation, the city will clean the sidewalk at the property owners expense.  Minimum charge for violation is $100.00.

Don’t place garbage or recycling containers in the street for pickup – they belong in the driveway or on the boulevard

It is unlawful to deposit snow from private property onto city streets & alleys.

The adverse conditions of winter places all drivers in hazardous situations. Road surfaces can be slippery and visibility can be limited, people are impatient these are all the right ingredients for an accident.

Here are a few tips to help you drive safely during the winter:

• Stay tuned to Windom’s local KDOM Radio station 94.3 FM or 1580 AM and listen for updates on adverse weather, forecasts & closures.
• Remember that even with an inch of snow, high winds can cause white out conditions.
• Reduce your speed during snowy and icy conditions and be especially cautious on hills and curves and at intersections.
• Drive with extreme care on bridges and overpasses. Because cool air flows freely under these structures, they tend to freeze more quickly than roadways.
• Watch for black ice, which is a thin, transparent layer of ice on the roadway that is extremely slippery and hard to spot.
• Maintain a safe following distance behind snowplows.
• Try to avoid passing snowplows. Although plows are slow-moving vehicles it s much safer to follow them than to pass them. If you decide to pass, please pass with extreme caution.
• During snowy and icy conditions, leave early for your destination and listen to a local radio station for road condition updates.
• Clear all snow and ice from windows, mirrors and lights before leaving home.
• Check fuel and fluid levels, equip your vehicle with emergency supplies such as blankets, chains, a shovel, a flashlight, jumper cables, sand, gloves, a hat and boots and an emergency survival kit.
• Remember to dress appropriately.

Here are some helpful hints after a snowfall:

• During the entire calendar year there is NO PARKING around the Courthouse Square and one block in each direction during the hours of 2:00 am to 6:00 am.  Use the public parking lots however parking is limited to 36 continuous hours unless snow removal maintenance is required.
• Park in your driveway or off the streets.
• Do not blow or deposit snow into the streets.
• If you park in the street please move your vehicle as soon as possible or move it to a different location so that we can plow the snowbirds.
• Remember there is a 36-hour parking limit on the city streets and in most parking lots.
• Do not let your kids build snow forts in the boulevards.

Winter maintenance requires nighttime use of plows, loaders and graders. Please watch for snow removal equipment and problems created during the removal of snow. Remember the darkness creates visibility problems for the operators as well as you.

Give the City crew time to plow the streets before you do your errands. If you remember to practice, these simple tips we will all have a safe winter.

Snow & Ice Control on City Streets & Public Parking Lots

The Street Department uses 70% Rock Salt & 30% Sand Mixture which is lightly spread on icy and snow packed areas.  Currently the department does not use any Pre-Wetting Agents due to the higher costs for the product plus it requires more maintenance on equipment.