The Street Department is responsible for the construction, maintenance, and repair of sidewalks, streets, and storm sewers. Additionally, the Street Department maintains City buildings and grounds. The Department is also responsible for all snow removal.

The Street Department has nine full-time employees as well as temporary summer help. In addition, the Street Department uses inmate labor when feasible.

Staff

Your Responsibilities as a Property Owner

Grass Clippings and Leaves

Grass clippings and leaves shall not be blown, raked, or placed in the streets, as they can clog gutters and storm sewers. Grass clippings and leaves that are appropriately bagged in paper bags can be placed along the curb for collection on Tuesdays by Town and Country Sanitation. Paper bags can be purchased at Nelson True Value, Walgreen's, Piggly Wiggly and Wal-Mart. In addition, leaves and grass clippings can be hauled to the City compost site on Vineyard Coulee Road.

Snow and Ice Removal

Property owners are responsible for keeping the sidewalks that border their property free of snow and ice. If ice cannot be removed, the property owner is responsible for sprinkling it with sand or other similar materials. If the snow and ice are not removed within 3 hours of daylight after it ceases to fall, the City will remove it and charge the cost of removal to the property owner. In addition, please do not blow or shovel snow into streets or alleys.

Winter Parking Regulations

To facilitate the removal of snow in the winter, the winter parking regulations are in effect between November 15th and March 31st. Click here for more info...

Obstruction of Intersections

No tree, hedge, fence, sign, or any other obstruction is allowed that prevents persons driving vehicles on public streets, alleys, or highways from obtaining a clear view of traffic when approaching an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk. The “vision triangle” is the area bounded by the street lines (curbs) and a line joining points along the street lines twenty five (25) feet from the point of intersection.

In case of major streets and highways intersecting with other major streets or railways, the distances defining the “vision triangle” are increased to fifty (50) feet.

Pruning of Tree Limbs

All limbs of trees must be pruned at least 10 feet above any sidewalk and 15 feet above a street or other public place.

Placement of Mailboxes

The mailbox must be in good condition with a door that closes properly. The mailbox must be attached to a post of quality and strength to withstand a blow from bladed snow. The front side of the mailbox must be no closer than eight inches from the back side of the curb.