Snow and Ice Removal
Clayton County Road Department
Re: Snow and Ice Control
The Department maintains 200 miles of paved and 850 miles of gravel roads which can be a daunting task during a snowstorm. Statewide, the extensive rural system can strain local snow and ice budgets - counties are responsible for almost four times the road miles of state, city and town agencies combined. County Engineer Rafe Koopman stated that “We take our road clearing responsibilities seriously. We realize that many rural residents work in nearby towns and lost time on the job is a financial hardship to the family. Likewise, we realize that livestock farmers must have access to care for their animals on a regular basis. These folks pay our wages and we want to provide them responsive, efficient service.”
Most snow clearing is done during the daylight hours. However, crews will start before dawn following a snowstorm to get ahead of traffic and will respond to emergency situations as requested by law enforcement or rescue units. County crews don’t work in rotating shifts the way that state and many city crews function. Engineer Koopman explained that given the size of the rural system and the isolated nature of many roads, the safest and most efficient operation is during the day.
Since each storm is unique we cannot always use the same approach to clear the roads. In general we begin plowing our paved roads and will make several passes as needed throughout the storm to keep the roads clear. On our gravel roads we prefer to plow the road one time so we try to wait until the storm has passed before we begin. Obviously this approach does not work all the time.
The truck plows assignment is to open the paved roadways and apply salt and sand to the surface. Salt continues to be the most economical material available to restore safe driving conditions and is particularly effective with air temperatures warmer than fifteen degrees. The material is never used on a gravel road since it would melt the base and create a swamp.
Our motor graders are responsible for clearing our gravel roads. Their first responsibility is to open the roads. Given the configuration of their area and the amount of miles they have to cover, some roads may only get plowed one way at first with the remaining snow cleared during normal working hours. The trucks can help plow the gravel roads but it only works when the surface is frozen hard.
Class B roads are our least priority and may not get cleared at all.
Engineer Koopman responded to some commonly asked questions about winter operations on county roads:
Why does it take so long to clear gravel roads?
Restoring access on gravel roads is a slow process since the graders are not built for speed and a typical route covers seventy to eighty miles. Sometimes after a severe storm, it’s not possible to cover the entire area until the second or third day. Home owners are encouraged to plan accordingly for the winter season.
Why do they keep plowing my driveway shut?
Unfortunately, this is due to the continuous operation of the plow. It’s necessary for the operator to push without stopping in order to complete the route in a timely manner. If we pause to clear each driveway, both momentum and time are lost.
The plow knocked down my mailbox. Will the County replace it?
Generally, the County will only replace mailboxes where it can be determined that the equipment made physical contact with the mailbox. During wet snows, the plowing operations will often cast snow across the shoulder, which can break the weaker box supports. The County doesn’t compensate for that loss.
I’ve seen plow trucks on the road that sometimes aren’t spreading salt. Why don’t they since they’re there anyway?
Salt doesn’t melt the ice, but does lower the freezing temperature of water. At critical temperatures, applying salt to roads packed with snow or ice may create worse problems by causing the snow or ice to “glaze” or form a slick shiny surface. Also, during windy storms, snow will often blow off a bare road, whereas salt will sometimes cause the snow to begin to stick.
Is there anything that I can do to help with snow and ice operations?
Yes. Hay bales that are stored along the north or west right-of-way will cause drifting across the roadway. If the bales were set back 300’, they would act as a snow fence and actually help protect the road.
During severe storms, it’s helpful if folks are patient and wait for the plow – abandoned vehicles become a big problem. Our operators try to go around those vehicles. If that’s not possible, the vehicle will be moved to allow our equipment to get through. The County will not be liable for damage unless negligence can be established.
How do we contact your Department?
If you see something that is a concern or have question please contact the County Engineers Office. You can call, fax, email or send us a letter. Our regular hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our phone is 245-1782, fax 245-1794, and email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Our mailing address is Clayton County Engineer, PO Box 456, Elkader, Iowa 52049.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 26 May 2011 13:34
