When the weather and conditions make it necessary for snow removal procedures to be implemented the City of Algona will issue a Snow Emergency. This notice will be announced on KLGA, the City of Algona website, the City of Algona Facebook page, the Algona Police Department Facebook page and the
ALERT IOWA emergency notification system. The intention of the Snow Emergency is to keep the streets and alleys free and clear of vehicles that are normally parked there so snow removal can take place.
Many things determine when
the snow plows are sent out: the rate of snowfall per hour; the moisture
content of the snow; the ambient temperature of the air; the temperature of the
pavement; the wind direction and velocity; the time of day; and the forecast of
the predicted snowfall. Unless extenuating circumstances make it inadvisable to
do so, snowplows are activated when two (2) or more inches of snow have fallen
on the ground. Salt/sand trucks may go out sooner to ensure that main roads and
intersections are safe for travel prior to the snow event’s completion.
Per state law, it is the
home owner’s responsibility for upkeep of the sidewalk. Contact City Hall or
visit the website for proper repair procedures and requirements.
Per City ordinance, it is the property owner’s responsibility to maintain the tree. The city ordinance states that limbs overhanging the roadway must be 15 ft. above the street or 2 ft. behind the curb, and 8 ft. above the sidewalk.
If the right-of-way tree is dead and/or diseased then the City of Algona pays for the removal of this tree. Contact City Hall to schedule a time to view such trees and staff will determine the proper course of action to be taken.
If your mailbox is damaged
by a plow the City will repair or replace it with a standard metal mailbox and
treated post. Call
515-295-2411 to report a damaged box. Residents are responsible for replacing
mailboxes that are knocked down by snow due to a pre-existing state of
disrepair or deterioration. Custom mailboxes are placed in the public right of
way at the property owner’s own risk; repair or replacement will be with a
standard metal mailbox and treated post.
The Street Department has five
(5) employees and are responsible for maintaining, cleaning, and repairing approximately
60 lane miles of roadway and right-of-way, replacing and repairing all signs in
the right of way, performing snow removal on all city streets, alleys, and
public parking lots, removing tree’s on city property and right-of-way,
operating and maintaining all excavation and road maintenance equipment,
reviewing and commenting on construction site plans submitted to the city, and
doing concrete and asphalt paving repair on city property. This list just
scratches the surface of the day to day situations that may occur.
Call City Hall during
normal business hours to report an issue and staff will respond accordingly.
For a resident this can be quite annoying, but unfortunately it
cannot be helped. Snowplow drivers do not intentionally fill driveways. When
plowing a street, the excess snow accumulates along the curbside, gaps such as
an open driveway will inevitably be filled with new snow during this process.
Waiting to shovel until the end of the snowstorm will help minimize the need
for repeated shoveling. When you shovel, do not push the snow into the street.
The practice of depositing snow from driveways and sidewalks into the street is
prohibited by City Ordinance.
The City will remove dead
animals from the streets and right-of-ways. Contact the Street Department at 515-295-2411.