As we all know, the winter season in Wisconsin means snow, ice and slippery roads. However, there are some things that can be done to help us all have a safer winter.

·        Snowplows can generate flying sand and salt as well as causing soft snow to swirl. This makes it difficult for you to see the plow and the plow driver to see you. Because snow equipment may need to slow down, stop or back up, please stay back and give snowplows and equipment room to work.

·        No dumping, plowing, or blowing snow into a City street is allowed.  Dumping snow into the street increases City costs (your costs), forces additional salt application, and can cause a safety hazard.  There is a fine for noncompliance.

·        Please do not park vehicles on the street following a snowfall.  Working around parked cars causes the work to be redone later, which is not an efficient use of taxpayer resources.  Cars parked on the street between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. may be ticketed and towed.

·        Sidewalks must be cleared of snow by noon the day following the snowfall. If uncleared walks are reported, the City may clear them and bill the property owner.

·        City saltboxes are placed in areas where special concerns exist for snow and ice control including use by school crossing guards. Salt boxes are locked because boxes become empty and salt is unavailable for the use intended.

·        Please do not place refuse or recycling containers on snow banks or in the road.  This is prohibited and may result in items left uncollected.  Place your containers in your driveway opening to allow collection crews access to your container, and the snow plows to stay close to the curbs.

·        Please do not discharge your sump pump or other liquids onto streets or sidewalks.  This can cause unsafe, icy conditions.

·        The water meter reading staff is out during each season.  If there is a clear walkway to your water meter, the staff can read your meter more quickly and safely, again saving us both.

·        Do not allow children to play or build snow tunnels on snow banks along the road.

·        If you are able, please adopt one of the City’s 2,600 fire hydrants this winter by keeping it clear of snow. Your will help to keep your neighborhood safe by providing the Fire Department easy access in case of an emergency.

 Ordinance Sec. 16-10. Snow and ice removal.

(a) Every person shall, by noon of the day following cessation of a snowfall, remove all snow or ice from the sidewalk in front of the premises owned or occupied by him; provided that, when ice is so formed on any sidewalk so that it cannot be removed, the person owning or occupying such premises shall keep the sidewalk sprinkled with a material to accelerate melting or prevent slipping. If the owner or occupant of such premises shall fail to remove such snow and ice or to sprinkle a sidewalk as required, the work shall be done under the direction of the Common Council and the expenses thereof made a special tax upon the lot in front of which such work was done.

(b) No person shall remove or cause to be removed any snow or ice from his premises, residence, parking lot, parking area, business property or other area onto any public right-of-way or property. Snow removed from public sidewalks shall not be stored in any manner which will obstruct or limit vehicular or pedestrian vision, movement or access.

(c) The deposit of any snow or ice upon any sidewalk alley or street of the City contrary to the provisions of this section is a nuisance, and in addition to the penalty provided for violation of this chapter, the City may summarily remove any snow or ice so deposited and cause the cost of the removal to be charged to the owner of the property from which the snow or ice has been removed. (Code 1965, §5.10)

Overnight Parking

There are many reasons the City of Appleton does not allow overnight parking on city streets. The reasons range from operational benefits for the Department of Public Works, to police operations, to aesthetic reasons. There are various operations that the City performs that happen at night - garbage pickup (starting around 4:00 am), street sweeping (which operates all night), and snow plowing. All of these operations are accomplished more efficiently without vehicles parked on the street. Also, by restricting vehicles from parking on the street for extended periods, our neighborhoods look cleaner.

If an emergency arises, such as a mechanical breakdown, home or street construction, or overflow guest vehicles, a call to the Police Department (on the day or evening needed) will ensure no citations for overnight parking are issued. Please note, exceptions are made for short-term situations only, and even with permission from the Police Department there are some restrictions and guidelines, such as:

• The vehicle must be parked in a legal parking spot;
• The parked vehicle must leave adequate room in the area around garbage containers to allow the trucks to reach the cans; and
• The parked vehicle must leave adequate room near mail boxes located on the curb for postal workers delivering mail.

We are very proud of Appleton being a clean and safe place to live. Please help us keep it that way.

Curb and Terrace Damage

 IF YOUR TERRACE SUFFERED SNOW PLOW DAMAGE….. Each year some unavoidable damage is caused by City snow plows working to keep the streets clear and safe for traffic. Under Department of Public Works policy, we will repair, at no charge to the resident, damage to terrace area or curb caused by our snow plowing operations. If you have a damaged area in front of your property, please call the Public Works Street Division at (920) 832-5580.