Operations
Snow plowing operations generally commence with accumulations of two inches or more. Lesser accumulation may also trigger operations if they are combined with icy or drifting conditions. To keep traffic moving, crews first plow streets that connect neighborhoods to State and County roads. Plowing operations stop if strong winds and drifting result in unsafe conditions; plowing resumes when conditions improve. For evening or overnight accumulations, all available workers begin plowing streets at 3 am.
Winter Parking Regulations
No person shall park or leave standing any vehicle upon any street in the City of Wyoming after a snowfall of two or more inches of snow, until snow has been plowed from curb to curb. Winter parking regulations will be enforced.
All vehicles are prohibited from parking on City streets and alleys from 2 am to 12 pm from November 1st to April 1st. Failure to comply will result in a citation or tow of vehicle. In the event any vehicles are removed under the direction of any peace officer, city maintenance department employee, or the City Administrator, within 72 hours of the removal or impounding, notice shall be given by the peace officer or city employee to the owner of record of such vehicle. Notice may be given in person, by telephone, letter, or email. No vehicle will be released until all fines and towing charges have been paid in full. The City of Wyoming does not assume any responsibility for any damage done during towing or impounding of said vehicles. See Minnesota Statutes 168B.035. A violation of this subsection is a petty misdemeanor.
Sidewalks & Trails
The City of Wyoming does its best to clear trails and sidewalks across the city. Trails and sidewalks in close proximity to schools receive higher priority and are plowed quickly after a snow event. Other trails are cleared as time allows in the days following a snow event. Please note there are a few trails throughout the city that are left unplowed. If you have any questions or concerns regarding snow removal on sidewalks and trails, please contact the Public Works Department at 651-462-0580.
Wyoming City Ordinance requires homeowners to be responsible for removing all snow and ice from public sidewalks in front of their home or business within 24 hours after a snowfall.
- Salt brining is a common practice to pretreat roadways to prevent snow and ice from freezing to the road
- Brine is a lot more cost effective and uses almost ¼ less salt than using rock salt to deice after a snow event
- When brine dries is does not freeze, that is why there is white coloration on the roadways
- The American Public Works Association has a great fact sheet on brining that can be accessed here
What is salt brine?
Salt brine is a solution of salt (typically sodium chloride) and water. It has a freezing point lower than pure water and, as such, is a useful tool in reducing the adhesion of snow and ice to road surfaces. The freezing point of brine is a function of the salt being used in the brine (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride) and the percentage by weight of that salt in the solution. For further details on understanding the salt brine concentration, go here.
Why are you brining streets when no major snow storm is predicted?
Brining streets is an anti-icing pretreatment to prevent snow and ice from freezing to the road. By brining even when there are no large snow events predicted the roads stay in better condition after a snow event.
Is salt brine toxic to animals?
No, salt brine is a mixture of salt and water and is not toxic for animals.
Salting
Road Salt
The City of Wyoming follows guidelines within the Minnesota Snow & Ice Management Handbook to only apply salt and/or sand on curves and intersection on most City streets. Cul-de-sacs and dead end streets may have few, if any, areas of bare pavement. Excessive road salt can be harmful to the environment. Our goal is to limit salt use, while at the same time, keeping our roadways reasonably safe.
Smart Salting
We all know that salt can be a good tool to melt ice on our driveways and sidewalks, but while salt can help prevent accidents on the road and around buildings, it comes at an environmental cost. When the snow melts, the de-icing salt, which contains chloride, runs into nearby lakes and can harm fish, ducks, and other aquatic wildlife.
How can you make a difference? Here are a few ideas to reduce your salt use this winter:
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Check the temperature – is it too cold for salt? Most salts stop working around 15 degrees (F). When the temperatures drop, use sand for traction, but remember that sand doesn’t melt ice.
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Apply less than you think. Adding more salt does not equal more melting. Try to use less than four pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet. Keep in mind one pound of salt is about the same as one 12-ounce coffee mug.
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Clean-up any extra salt. If you can see sand or salt on dry pavement, it means that it is no longer working and could be washed away. Try to reuse salt or sand somewhere else or sweep it up and throw it away.
Snow & Ice Policy
Driveways
One of the most frequent and irritable problems in removal of snow from public streets is the snow deposited in driveways during plowing operations. Snow being accumulated on the plow blade has no place to go but in the driveway. The amount of snow deposited in the driveways may be significant but is unavoidable due to the nature of snow removal. The depth of snow in any given driveway is proportional to the depth of the given snowfall. The City will not clean driveways.
Fire Hydrants
The Fire Department asks residents to shovel out fire hydrants near their homes. Keeping hydrants clear of snow can substantially reduce the time it takes firefighters to put out a fire.
Snow On Roadways
According to the laws of the State of Minnesota, depositing snow in any fashion onto a public street/right-of-way is illegal and punishable as a misdemeanor. The act of placing snow onto a public roadway may subject a person to a civil liability if a road hazard such as a slippery area, frozen rut or bump occurs and causes a traffic accident. The liability may extend to both the property owner and the person who actually placed the snow in the road/right-of-way. The City of Wyoming askes all citizens to comply with these rules which are designed to keep the street, right-of-ways, and highways safe during the winter months.
Garbage & Recycling Containers
Efficient snow plowing requires that garbage and recycling containers be accessible for pick-up and placed off street to allow snow removal. The container(s) may be placed in the driveway to meet both of these requirements. It is the responsibility of the resident to see that the containers are located so as not to interfere with snow removal. These containers will not be repaired or replaced if damaged during City snow removal. City staff will not relocate the containers by hand if placed in a location that interferes with efficient plowing practices.
Mailbox or Sod Damage
Snowplows must often operate when visibility is hampered by blowing snow, fog, or darkness. These conditions make it difficult for the operator to see the edge of the pavement or curb. To help prevent sod damage, simply mark the edge of the road or curb along the property with two-foot-tall reflective or brightly colored stakes placed at about twenty-foot-intervals. Any landscaping or sprinkler systems placed in the City right-of-way is placed there at the homeowner's risk.
The City will come out and repair boulevard turf disturbed by snow plows. If your mailbox or sod is damaged by a snowplow, please contact Public Works Department at 651-462-0580 to request a repair. Public Works will install a temporary post in the meantime.
