Snow and Ice Control
For all the latest on snow emergencies in Mankato,
call (507) 387-9001, 24-hour service.
Snow and Ice Season Information
Mankato's Public Works staff continues to explore ways to improve services, which includes surveying other public works agencies on methods used for plowing efficiencies and researching new products. This helps determine what products and equipment will help enhance the snow removal process so that bare pavement can be achieved as quickly as possible.
The City of Mankato Public Works staff strives to provide the safest winter driving conditions possible. It is the City of Mankato's policy to have all driving lanes in Mankato plowed within 12 hours of an accumulated snowfall. In addition, bare pavement and curb-to-curb snow removal is expected at the earliest possible time following a significant snowfall or storm.
Salt, Sand, Chemicals and Plows
When the snow starts to fall, Public Works staff determines the appropriate method for alleviating unsafe road conditions. Salt, sand and chemicals are important elements in dealing with snow and ice on city streets. Streets typically identified for the application of salt, sand and/or chemicals are steep hills (Madison Avenue, Main Street, Stadium Road, Good Counsel Drive, etc.) high traffic volume intersections, transit bus routes, school zones, hospital access routes and the central business district.
Public Works staff will also be using a corn-based environmentally sensitive product to enhance snow and ice removal. The product, Liquid Corn Salt (LCS), will be used with salt brine as an anti-icing and deicing agent. LCS lowers the freezing point of salt brine 10 degrees to allow for increased effectiveness. Additionally, LCS neutralizes the corrosiveness of salt brine. Ultimately, Mankato expects cost savings in at least three ways:
- Less salt will need to be added to the streets
- Less corrosion for a longer street life (40%-50% less corrosive)
- Savings in reapplication
As a general rule, if the accumulated snowfall reaches one inch, the snow is deemed plowable. Once a plowable level is reached, the City of Mankato Public Works Department dispatches two or more pieces of snowplowing equipment to each of the city's eight snowplowing districts. The snow and ice control fleet includes four heavy, highway-type snow plows that will be placed on the city's heavily traveled, major four-lane streets.
Snow Emergencies
If the snowfall continues or if a buildup of snow develops in parking lanes, along curbs and gutters, or in the central business district, a snow emergency is called. The City of Mankato Snow Emergency Ordinance allows no parking on city streets while the snow emergency is in effect, or until the entire street is plowed corner to corner.
*Exception:
"Seasonal no parking" streets are the only exception. During a snow emergency, vehicles on "seasonal no parking" streets can remain where they are parked until a snowplow clears the "signed, illegal" side of the street. Vehicles must then be moved to the "signed, illegal" side while the "legal" side is plowed. Then all vehicles must be moved back to the "legal, unsigned" side of the street.
Mankato's goal is to minimize or, ideally, eliminate towing
Snow and ice control is considered an emergency operation which must be initiated quickly and continued on a round-the-clock basis. If the decision to begin a full-scale snow and ice control operation is made after normal working hours, necessary City of Mankato staff are notified immediately. During the time required for staff to report, chemicals or sand are applied to bridge decks, hills, high traffic volume streets and intersections by the city's standby crew.
Snow and ice control is one of the highest winter priorities for the Public Works Department. Almost all other Public Works operations become secondary to the snow removal operation. With the exception of emergency sewer investigation staff and water-main break personnel. all employees normally assigned to streets, sidewalks, or parks are re-assigned to snow removal operations. Once a snow emergency is called by the Director of Public Works, city staff works until all required chemical or abrasive control and snowplowing operations are completed.
When are Snow Emergencies Called?
Generally, snow emergencies will be called after receiving three inches of snow and/or ice. The media will be notified, the 24-hour snow emergency line updated (507-387-9001) and a flashing snow emergency message will be activated on public access television channel 12. Every reasonable attempt will be made to provide as much advance notice as possible before towing begins. When possible, towing will not start until six hours after a snow emergency has been called.
Mankato's Central Business District
Plowing operations begin in the central business district when snowplowing commences in other areas of the city. When accumulated snowfall reaches the point that hauling snow is inevitable, the goal is to plow snow to the center of the street and then remove the snow from 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Residential Areas and Alleys
Residential streets are plowed when the total snow accumulation exceeds one inch. In addition to plowing residential districts, city staff also apply abrasives or salt to designated streets. Sand or salt is spread at pre-planned locations such as on steep hills and at difficult-to-negotiate areas, such as street intersections.
Mankato does not plow private property and does not shovel out ridges in driveways because private property is not part of city snow removal.
Snow removal in alleys is on the same priority level as residential streets. Generally, chemicals and abrasives are not used on alleys outside the central business district.
Sidewalk Snow Removal
Section 6.03 of the Mankato City Code says that any accumulation of snow or ice upon any public sidewalk is hereby declared to constitute a public nuisance which shall be abated by the owner or occupant of the property abutting such sidewalk within 12 hours after such snow or ice has ceased to be deposited upon such sidewalk.
If the owner or occupant abutting any public sidewalk fails to remove the nuisance within 24 hours, the City of Mankato will remove the nuisance and charge the property owner for the removal.
It is unlawful for any person to remove snow from private property and place snow or ice on public property.
Emergency Response
During snow and ice conditions, emergency calls from police and fire departments are given top priority in snowplowing efforts. If an emergency situation arises during a snowfall or storm and the street is not passable, call 911.
Help Us Help You
- It's important to relocate vehicles parked on a city street every 24 hours to prevent towing
- Call 911 to report the location and license plate of a vehicle that has been parked on a city street for more than 24 hours
- Shovels, snowblowers, sand and rock salt are all great items to have on hand during snow season. Please do not shovel or blow snow on to Mankato streets. It is a violation of city ordinance.
- When someone is hired to do snow removal be aware that snow moved from private property cannot be placed on Mankato streets because doing so is in violation of city ordinance.
- Snow and ice removal is a difficult and time-consuming job. Patience is appreciated as city staff works diligently to restore streets to normal winter driving conditions.
- Please remove vehicles from the street when it snows. This way we can keep our commitment to you to have snow removed from Mankato streets within 12 hours. The city strives to minimize or, ideally, eliminate towing.
Going Out of Town?
This information may be helpful:
24-hour Minnesota Department of Transportation Travel Information
1-800-542-0220
Minnesota Department of Transportation web site
Snow and Ice Control Information
| Snow Emergency Information (24 hour) |
(507) 387-9001 |
| Plowing, salting, snow routes, parking information |
(507) 387-8649 |
|