Public Works: Snow Removal

During the winter snowplowing season, the River Falls Public Works Department asks for the cooperation of residents to not allow forts, tunnels, etc. to be constructed along street boulevards/right-of-way. Snow plowing cleaning operations could cause the collapsing of such structures. Please do not deposit snow from private property, driveways and parking lots onto the street or other private property. Doing so may violate City Ordinance 8.04 (Snow and Ice Removal).

If you have any questions, please contact the River Falls Public Works Department at 425-0900.

 Sidewalk Snow Removal

The following is the City of River Falls snow and ice removal ordinance which is current as of January, 2005.

City of River Falls, Wisconsin, Municipal Code 12.04.030 Snow and ice removal.
  • A. Sidewalks to be Kept Clear. The owner or occupant of any lot or parcel shall, within twenty-four (24) hours of cessation of each continuous period of snowfall, remove all snow and ice which may have fallen or accumulated upon the sidewalk in front of such lot or parcel, provided when ice or packed snow has so formed that it cannot be removed, the owner or occupant shall keep the same sprinkled with a nonskid material which will prevent the sidewalk from being dangerous to pedestrians. This requirement shall also apply to the main sidewalk as it extends from a corner lot to the curb line of an intersecting street. If the owner or occupant fails to comply with this subsection, the city shall cause the snow or ice to be removed or sprinkled as required in this subsect ion, the cost thereof to be charged to the owner of the property, who will be billed for such services within thirty (30) calendar days. The owner of the property shall pay all charges so billed within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of invoice. Failure to compensate the, city within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of invoice will result in a penalty of twelve (12) percent per annum being added to the cost of the services billed. Failure to pay the city for the services billed will result in the costs being assessed against the property as a special tax, and all costs delinquent from the previous winter will be entered upon the tax rolls each December 1st.
  • B. Deposits of Snow Restricted. Excepting the clearing of snow from sidewalks or entries located upon a public right-of-way, no person shall cause snow to be deposited on boulevards, sidewalks, streets or avenues or any other city owned property with permission therefore from the city. Payment of a fee sufficient to reimburse the city for the cost of removing any snow so deposited without permission may be required.
  • C. Depositing of Snow on Private Property. All snow from private property (driveways or parking lots) shall be either deposited on the originating owner;s property or hauled away by the owner on their agent. Property owners shall not place their snow on other property without permission from the owner of the other property. (Prior code § 8.04)

Q: If a municipal ordinance requires property owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property, are the property owners liable for injuries resulting from a failure to remove snow or ice from a sidewalk?

A: No. Although a municipality can, by ordinance, require property owners to remove snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property, the owner of premises abutting a municipal sidewalk are not responsible to individual for injuries that result from the failure to remove snow or ice from the sidewalk. The long-standing rule in Wisconsin is that maintenance of a municipal sidewalk is a non-delegable duty and therefore, the municipality rather than the landowner is responsible for injuries caused by traveling on a snowy or icy municipal walk. However, municipalities are afforded some protection by Wisconsin Stat. sec. 81.15, which prohibits an action for damages for injuries sustained because of a natural snow or ice accumulation unless the accumulation existed for three weeks.

If a resident fails to remove snow and ice as required by ordinance, that resident is subject to a forfeiture if the ordinance imposes one, and the municipality can perform the work itself and charge the property owner for the removal as a special charge under Wisconsin Stat. sec. 66.0627.

 Deicing Salts

Deicing salt is essential for winter road safety and mobility. Although The Center for Watershed Protection indicates that Sodium Chloride has little effect on Aquatic Biota in large or flowing bodies at current road salting amounts, the City of River Falls uses a number of different strategies to minimize any possible impacts to the environment from traditional deicing techniques. These include: applying less salt, applying alternate deicers, changing the timing of application, modifying spreaders and implementing salt storage regulations.

Application Rate

Decreasing the application rate can significantly decrease environmental impacts. The City of River Falls typically applies salt only at intersections and to a select few higher volume roadways within the City.

Alternative Deicers

The City is staying up to date on alternative deicers. Unfortunately, most deicers have some negative environmental impacts. The City currently utilizes some magnesium chloride in addition to the typical sodium chloride.

Timing of Application

By applying deicers at the appropriate time, the amount of deicing material needed can be decreased. The City of River Falls attempts to apply deicers before snow falls, based on forecasts. If the forecasted storm does occur, it will take less deicing material to melt snow in this condition. The drawback to this method is that, if forecasting is inaccurate, deicers are applied unnecessarily.

Modified Spreaders

Deicers are often over-applied because much of the material bounces off the road surface. The City has modified its' equipment to pre-wet salt during application. Pre-wetting provides moisture to make brine resulting in faster melting action that reduces overall application rates. In addition, the wet salt has less tendency to bounce or be blown off the road by traffic reducing application rates by an estimated 20% to 30%.

Salt or Deicer Storage

The City of River Falls stores Salt on an impervious surface to prohibit groundwater contamination. Furthermore, salt piles are placed in a structure protected from rainfall, eliminating contamination of runoff by exposed salt. This Salt storage facility is licensed annually by the state of Wisconsin.

 Related Links

Center for Watershed Protection
pdf Rating Deicing Agents- Road Salt Stands Firm
(Article 139 from "The Practice of Watershed Protection")
The Stormwater Managers Resource Center
pdf Pollution Prevention
The Stormwater Center has created a manual for storm water practices in cold climates. Chapter 8 is Pollution Prevention and discusses road salting and deicers.