LENT TOWNSHIP SNOW REMOVAL POLICY With the advent of another Minnesota snow season comes the concern about access to work, school and business. The safety and convenience of the traveling public is a main concern of Lent Township. The goal of the township is to have all roads passable within a reasonable amount of time after the snowfall has stopped. The Township does not assure a completely bare road and will not sand entire sections of roadway. Uses of the road system are reminded to exercise caution and to drive with care. The legal speed limit is no greater than the posted limit if possible. If it is not possible to drive up to the speed of the posted limit, the limit is the speed that you are able to drive and still maintain control of your vehicle on the road. In other words, the legal speed limit may not be possible at all times. SNOW REMOVAL PROCEDURES 1. Dispatching of Snowplows. The Township will not usually dispatch the snowplows until snow accumulates to 3 inches or more and the snowfall has stopped. During extended periods of snowfall, the snowplows may be dispatched before the snowfall has stopped. The snowplows will not be sent out into situations that may be hazardous due to restricted visibility or extreme icy conditions. If snowfall stops during regular working hours, the plows may be dispatched at that time. If the snow stops during the night or early morning hours, then the plows will be dispatched on or before 6 A.M. Weekend plowing will be handled in a similar fashion. 2. Operations. Generally, the clearing of roads will consist of three phases: Make the road passable; widening of the road; and cleaning up of the road. 3. Personal Properties A. Mailboxes. Mailboxes damaged during snow removal will be evaluated case by case. Only those mailboxes that were property located and installed which were damaged by actual contact with Township equipment will be repaired at Township expense. B. Driveways. TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO PLOW SNOW FROM DRIVEWAYS ONTO OR ACROSS PUBLIC ROADS. Piles of snow left on or near the road can freeze into a solid mass creating a hazardous situation for vehicles and snowplows. Accidents and damages caused by snow piles placed in the roadway may result in liability to the property owner. Piles of snow increase the chance of drifting snow onto the roadway. C. Parked Vehicles. Township residents are reminded to remove parked vehicles from township roads to assist in snow removal. D. Township Right of Way. The Township is not liable for damages to fences, vehicles and/or other objects placed on the Township right of way. E. Stuck Vehicles. The Township vehicles will not attempt to remove stuck vehicles from ditches, snow banks, or any other impediment. F. Emergency Plowing. When directed by the Lent Township Supervisors, the town board chairman, or the sheriff’s department, the Township will make an emergency plowing effort through private property. Not other plowing of private property will occur. (Life threatening situations are the exceptions.) During the 2004 - 2005 snow season, Supervisor Gene Olson (651-462-4794)
is in charge of snow removal. For any further information, please contact
any Lent Township Board member or call the Lent Township Hall at (651-462-3009)
and your call will be returned as soon as possible. |
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