BOONE, Iowa—Every year, at the end of October, the Boone County Engineer’s Office releases a reminder about the County’s Snow Ordinance. The Ordinance has been in place 30-years, but the reminder remains the same:
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BOONE COUNTY ENGINEER
As the winter season approaches, the County Engineer would like to remind the rural residents and travelers about the County’s Snow Ordinance. Adopted in 1995, this ordinance was implemented due to economics and liability.
After a snowfall, the initial effort is to open paved roads at least to one lane traffic as soon as possible. Further opening of hard surfaced roads and the clearing of gravel roads then follows. Normal snow removal hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. When conditions deem necessary, crews will be on the job from 5:00 a.m. until dark. Paved roads will be sanded during normal working hours. Boone County will not provide a “dry” pavement condition.
The ordinance advises motorists to drive according to the conditions. Motorists should reduce their speed at least 25 m.p.h. below normal driving conditions. Drivers should use extra caution at intersections, railroad crossings, curves, hills and bridges.
A copy of the complete Boone County Snow Removal Ordinance No. 63A is available on the Boone County Website or in the County Engineer’s Office.
Residents are also reminded that snow should not be pushed into the road right-of-way. Pushing snow across the road may leave chunks of ice/snow that might be hit by the traveling public. Iowa Code Chapter 318 discusses obstructions in the right-of-way which impede, oppose or interfere with the free passage of traffic such as chunks of ice/snow pushed from driveways.
(contributed information, Boone County Roads Department)
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