Get ready for the snow ordinance

The calendar is reminding us that winter will soon be upon us. And living in Iowa, we are certain to receive snow and ice.

At this time of year, I am required by ordinance to publish the city’s snow ordinance as it relates to parking of vehicles, clearing of snow from sidewalks and the depositing of snow on our roads by commercial snow clearing companies, as well as private residents.

The ordinance 69.12, states: “No person shall park, abandon or leave unattended any vehicle on any public street, alley or parking areas in the public right-of-way and immediately adjacent to the traveled portion of the street during any snow emergency parking ban unless the snow has been removed or plowed from the street, alley or parking areas in the public right-of-way and immediately adjacent to the traveled portion of a street and the snow has ceased to fall. A snow emergency parking ban shall begin when the National Weather Service predicts that two (2) or more inches of snow or ice will fall in the Osceola area or two (2) or more inches of snow or ice has fallen in the Osceola area, and shall continue through the duration of the snow or ice storm and the 48hour period after cessation of the storm, except as above provided upon streets which have been fully opened.”

“Such a ban shall be of uniform application and the police chief is directed to widely publicize the requirements using all available news media in early November of each year. The emergency shall be extended or shortened when conditions warrant upon proclamation by the street superintendent or police chief.”

Here are the keys points to remember.

The snow ordinance automatically goes into effect when the National Weather Service predicts two inches of snow or ice will fall in the Osceola area or when two or more inches of snow or ice has already fallen.

Once in effect it is illegal to leave, for any reason, any vehicle on any street, in any alley, on the parking or in any city owned parking lot unless the snow has been plowed or completely removed and the snow has stopped. This parking ban remains in effect for 48 hours after the storm and may be extended or shortened by the street superintendent or the police chief.

There are usually four questions I am asked after explaining the ordinance. How many passes does the street department make down our streets? Where do I park if I rent and I have no off-street parking? And, how are we as residents notified the snow ordinance is in effect? What are the penalties? Here are the answers.

As residents of Osceola, we are privileged to have a great group of street department workers who go out very early in the morning to remove snow from our streets.

Normally, our plows make two passes down our streets for snow removal. The first pass is to simply open the street and make it drivable. The second pass is to widen out the driving lanes and to push the snow farther back. It is after the second pass that it is legal to return to parking in the street if the ban has not been extended.

If you are a tenant in a rental property, it is up to your landlord or you to find a legal, off-street parking place and to receive permission to park there if it is a privately owned lot. In any case, it is your responsibility to not park on the street, alley or parking while the snow ordinance is in effect.

In an effort to notify as many people as possible, I use Internet and media outlets.

Technically, you are notified as soon as the weather service makes the two inch prediction or two inches has already fallen.

For the Internet, I use the following internet sources: The city of Osceola website, www.osceolaia.govoffice2.com, the Osceola Sentinel Tribune's website, www.osceolaiowa.com, the Osceola Police Department Facebook page and our Nixle alert system.

For media sources, I use radio stations KSIB-AM and FM, Creston, WHO radio and KSOI.

For television stations I use KCCI, KDIN, WOI and WHO. These stations generally add our information to their scrolls. I also use the sign boards at American State Bank on the square and HyVee. Thank you to those merchants.

I mentioned the departments’ Nixle alert system. I strongly encourage you to sign up for this free service. By signing up you will receive alerts from the police department by text message to your cell phone or by email or both. It is a secure system operated by a third party and the department cannot access your number or email address. You can sign up at Nixle.com, or call or come out to the police department and we will be happy to assist you with signing up.

Finally, the penalties.

Per the city code, violators of this ordinance are subject to a $20 parking ticket and your vehicle is subject to immediate impoundment.

Now for the dumping and sidewalk clearing portion of our ordinance.

Chapter 135.13 of the city code makes it illegal, “for any person to throw, push, or place or cause to be thrown, pushed or placed, any ice or snow from private property, sidewalks, or driveways onto the traveled way of a street or alley.”

City code 136.03 states, “It is the responsibility of the abutting property owners to remove snow, ice and accumulations promptly from sidewalks. If a property owner does not remove snow, ice or accumulations within 48 hours, the city may do so and assess the costs against the property owner for collection in the same manner as a property tax.”

Well, I think I’ve covered it. If you have any questions or have a topic you’d like to read about please don’t hesitate to contact me at the police department.