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You are here: Home > Departments > Public Works> Snow Removal FAQ SNOW REMOVAL
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON? Check the City of Frederick website at www.cityoffrederick.com for updates, call the City of Frederick Emergency Information Line (301-600-1300), listen to local radio stations (FM WFRE 99.9, FM KEY 103.1, FM 103.9) or watch cable channel 99 or 25 WHAG for weather forecasts, school closings and the status of Snow Emergencies. Please note that the City has no control over what the stations may or may not report.
There is a code in place, which outlines the responsibilities and is as follows: (b) Notice of violation. If the owner or occupant fails to remove the snow and ice as required by this section, the code official shall post a notice of violation in a conspicuous place on the property notifying the property owner or occupant to remove the snow and ice as required by this section. (c) Municipal infraction. If the property owner or occupant fails to comply with the notice of violation within twenty-four (24) hours after its posting, the code official may issue a citation for a municipal infraction. The penalty for violation is a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00). (d) Abatement. If the property owner or occupant fails to comply with the notice of violation within twenty-four (24) hours after its posting, the code official may cause the snow and ice to be removed. The costs of removal will be charged to the property owner and will be liens upon the property to be collected in the same manner as municipal taxes are collected. (e) Administrative appeal. A property owner may appeal a notice of violation within five (5) working days of the posting of the notice of violation by filing a written notice of appeal, stating the grounds for the appeal, with the code official. The filing of a notice of appeal does not stay any enforcement action. Upon receipt of a notice of appeal, the code official shall schedule a hearing before the building code appeals board and shall notify the property owner of the date and time of the hearing. At the hearing, the property owner may present witnesses and other evidence and may cross-examine witnesses. The city has the burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that this section has been violated. The building code appeals board may affirm the action of the code official or reverse the action based upon a finding that (1) this section has been incorrectly interpreted; or (2) that the condition described in the notice of violation did not exist or did not constitute a violation of this section. In reversing the action being appealed, the building code appeals board shall order that any applicable charge assessed by the city be nullified. (f) Judicial review. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the building code appeals board may, within ten (10) days of the decision, file a petition for judicial review in the circuit court for Frederick County in accordance with the Maryland Rules applicable to judicial review of administrative agency decisions. (Ord. No. G-08-1, § 1, 1-3-08)
WHAT DO I DO IF I LIVE ON A SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTE? The following information is intended for businesses and residents located along a designated Snow Emergency Routes. These routes are marked by signage. These are the general regulations that address your responsibility during a snow emergency. Vehicles traveling on Snow Emergency Route restrictions are required to have snow tires or chains. Enforcement of the Snow Emergency Route restrictions is conducted by the Frederick City Police.
WHERE ARE THE SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTES? Street Start End NORTH/SOUTH STREETS
1. Market Street Walser Drive Coca Cola Plant 2. Bentz St/Motter Avenue/ Opossumtown Pike West South Street North City Limits 3. East Street East South Street North Market Street 4. Baughman’s Lane US Route 40 Rosemont Avenue 5. South Jefferson Street Prospect Boulevard West Patrick Street 6. Monocacy Boulevard East South Street East Patrick Street 7. Monocacy Boulevard Gas House Pike MD Route 15 EAST/WEST STREETS
8. Patrick Street NB/ Ramp US Route 15 Bailes Lane 9. South Street / West Patrick Street City Limits Reich’s Ford Road 10. Yellow Springs Road/ City Limits N. Bentz Street Rosemont Avenue/ Dill Avenue
11. Seventh Street Military Road East Street 12. Butterfly Lane Mt. Phillip Road Alt. Route 40
The short answer is after the City has plowed the streets. We suggest you start early in areas, which will not be affected by City snowplows. Our plow staff is directed to plow as quickly and efficiently as possible. Often this results in shoveled sidewalks or walks to be “plowed in”. In most situations, it is not reasonable for the operators to do anything else or plow a different way if we are to stay within our goals and objectives.
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG FOR CREWS TO GET TO MY STREET? We do our best to arrive in a timely manner, but not everyone can be first. We are required to keep the Snow emergency routes open and are plowed first and kept open. Only after this is complete are we able to move onto the collector streets. After these are opened, we can move to the rest of the streets, which are primarily residential.
ARE THERE ANY DEADLINES TO REMOVE THE SNOW? The deadlines are self imposed and The City of Frederick snow plan clearly states:
IS THERE A METHOD TO WHERE THE CITY DECIDES TO REMOVE SNOW FIRST? Yes. We have a clearly defined procedure and an excerpt from the Snow removal plan is as follows:
WHY DOES THE CITY CONTINUE TO PUT SALT DOWN, ONLY TO PLOW IT LATER? The intent of salting first is to ensure that a brine layer forms, which minimizes the amount of ice that accumulated on the streets. We almost without fail salt all the streets first to ensure the brine layer is in place. To salt it takes anywhere from 5 to 7 hours depending on road and traffic conditions. We almost always complete the salting before plow operations begin. Additionally, the City utilizes trucks, which apply salt and plow so it would be impossible in most instances to do both at the same time.
WHO DECIDES WHEN THE SNOW EMERGENCY PLAN IS DECLARED? The Chief of Police, or their designated representatives, shall upon appropriate conditions (i.e. large accumulation of snow, poor driving conditions, etc.) initiate the Snow Emergency Policy. After consultation between the Chief of Police and the Director of Public Works or their designated representatives, a recommendation to implement the “Snow Emergency Plan, shall be made to the Mayor who will after receiving that information decide whether to enact the City of Frederick’s “Snow Emergency Declaration.” The Mayor shall be contacted for final approval. Upon the Mayor’s approval, the Public Works Department shall notify the Public Information Officer (PIO) via cell phone and e-mail, who will in turn contact the local media, including the local radio station, the Frederick News-Post, Cable Channel 99 and the local TV stations. The Notice provided to the media shall include the time the Snow Emergency will take effect, which will be at least 2 hours after the Notice has been give to the media. Any other relevant facts, such as parking restrictions, driving restrictions, etc, shall also be provided upon declaring the Snow Emergency. After the “Snow Emergency” has been declared, citizens will have two hours to remove their vehicles from snow emergency routes within the City limits (as listed on this web-site.) After that two hour period, the Police Department will initiate enforcement, which could include a parking citation and removal of cars remaining on snow emergency routes. Enforcement and removal of vehicles will be coordinated between Public Works and the Police Department. After the need for the Snow Emergency has been eliminated, the Department of Public Works will notify the PIO, who will in turn notify the media. Should the Mayor be unavailable, The Mayor Pro-tem will assume the duties. If neither is available, the Chief of Police or Director of Public Works may approve the declaration of a Snow Emergency. During the declaration of a Snow Emergency, and on streets designated as Snow Emergency Routes in this Snow Plan, there shall be No Parking allowed. Any vehicles parked on these streets may be towed at the owner’s expense. Also, snow tires or chains will be required on any vehicles traveling on these routes.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY SALTS THE ROADS. WHAT PRODUCTS CAN I USE? There are many products, which are locally available. See local retail outlets for details.
HOW DO I USE ICE MELTING PRODUCTS AND WHAT PRODUCTS WORK WHERE? Apply ice-melting products at proper rate. Too much is wasteful and may damage grass and plants. If these sorts of products are utilized, make sure the slush does not freeze in place. This is often the cause of sidewalk “pop” where the surface of the sidewalk spalls and flakes off.
IS THERE AN EASIER WAY TO SHOVEL? A labor saving technique is to push the snow instead of shoveling. This will wear the shovels faster, but will often save you from a sore back. Many utilize snow blowers with great success. These labor saving devices can save quite a bit of time, assuming that you have a proper piece of equipment and the right type of snow. Snow blowers work best in a dry and powdery snow. If it is slushy or has clumps of ice in it, be prepared for lots of “down time”. Please see your local snow equipment dealer for more information. Another option is to hire someone to do it for you. You should seek someone well in advance of the first snowfall.
HOW CAN I INCREASE TRACTION IN MY CAR? Ensure that you have proper snow rated tires and make sure they are inflated properly. You can also throw a couple of bags of ice melting products in the trunk of your car. If you have a rear wheel drive vehicle, it will add traction and in all cases you could use it in areas if you get stuck.
CITY OF FREDERICK CHARTER - SEC. 13-17 - SNOW EMERGENCY - DECLARATION OF MAYOR; NOTICE Whenever the accumulation of snow and ice on any of the streets in the city shall be such that may impede or prevent the passage of emergency service vehicles, ambulances, fire apparatus or police department vehicles, so as to interfere with the protection of the property, health and lives of the citizens of the city, the mayor may declared the existence of a "snow emergency," and shall give such notice of the existence and declaration thereof as he shall deem proper.
CITY OF FREDERICK CHARTER - SEC. 22-16.1 - PLACING SNOW IN PUBLIC WAY It shall be unlawful for any person to place and/or deposit snow in or upon any streets, sidewalks or other public ways. Violation of this section is declared to be a municipal infraction. The penalty for violation shall be the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
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