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Fillmore County Snow Removal Route Maps

The Roads Department of Fillmore County constantly revises the snow removal route maps. They are changed because school bus routes are changed almost every year. You may visit the link below to view all of the snow route maps.

Snow Route Maps

FILLMORE COUNTY Snow Removal Program and Policy

February 16, 2021

SECTION 1, INTRODUCTION:

The Roads Department of Fillmore County is responsible for providing snow removal for approximately 840  miles of county roads. The Roads Department does not guarantee that county roads will be free of snow and ice after plowing.  Bare, dry roads should not be expected and will not be provided. The Roads Department attempts to maintain adequate traction for vehicles properly equipped for winter driving conditions.

Planning for a winter storm is difficult. The differences in rate of snowfall, moisture, content, temperature, time of day and wind velocity make each storm unique.

However, it is the intent of this program to establish general policies and procedures to make travel within the County as safe as possible.  Safety is the primary concern and all persons involved with this plan shall consider Safety first in their operating procedures.

The Fillmore County Highway Superintendent is responsible to format and implement this Snow Removal Program and Policy with the input and approval of the Fillmore County Board of Supervisors.

SECTION 2, PREPARATION:

2.1 - The Fillmore County Highway Superintendent will evaluate the Roads Department's efforts from the previous winter. Any adjustments necessary to improve the overall Snow Removal Program and Policy will be made.

2.2 - Fall preparation shall include review of the equipment required to perform snow removal operations.  This equipment shall be maintained in top operating condition while it is being used in other operations during the Spring, Summer and Fall months.

2.3 - Fall preparation shall also include a meeting of all Fillmore County Roads Department Employees.  This meeting shall be used to review equipment operations, safety issues, equipment maintenance, review the efforts from the previous winter and to review all Priority Snow Routes.

SECTION 3, CLASSIFICATION OF COUNTY ROADS:

3.1 - PRIORITY ONE.

The County Roads designated PRIORITY ONE includes all SCHOOL BUS ROUTES within the County as established by the School Districts and with the input of the County Board of Supervisors.

3.2 - PRIORITY TWO.

The County Roads designated as PRIORITY TWO includes all MAIL ROUTES within the County as established by the area Postmasters and with the input of the County Board of Supervisors.

3.3 - PRIORITY THREE.

The County Roads designated as PRIORITY THREE includes OTHER ROADS that have an occupied residence within the mile or a portion of a mile without School Bus Service and Mail Delivery Service.  These miles are established by the County Highway Superintendent and with the input of the County Board of Supervisors.

3.4 - PRIORITY FOUR.

The County Roads designated as PRIORITY FOUR includes all OTHER ROADS that have no occupied residence within the mile. These miles are established by the County Highway Superintendent and with the input of the County Board of Supervisors.

SECTION 4. LEVEL OF SERVICE:

4.1 - PRIORITY ONE COUNTY ROADS. 

Plowing should begin on PRIORITY ONE County Roads when the accumulation of snow on the roadway exceeds three (3) inches. The roadway accumulation is generally independent of the total accumulation of snow in the area. PRIORITY ONE County Roads should be plowed road edge to road edge before or in conjunction with plowing other areas.

4.2 - PRIORITY TWO COUNTY ROADS.

Plowing of PRIORITY TWO County Roads should begin in conjunction with PRIORITY ONE County Roads.  In some cases, PRIORITY TWO County Roads are also PRIORITY ONE County Roads and they will have already been plowed.

4.3 - PRIORITY THREE COUNTY ROADS.

Plowing operations should begin on these County Roads after the completion of plowing operations on all PRIORITY ONE and PRIORITY TWO County Roads if they were not done in conjunction with the plowing of PRIORITY ONE and PRIORITY TWO county roads.  If snow continues, plowing operations may have to be redirected to PRIORITY ONE and PRIORITY TWO County Roads before the completion of plowing operations on PRIORITY THREE County Roads. At times PRIOITY THREE County Roads will be plowed in conjunction with PRIORITY ONE AND PRIORITY TWO county roads.

4.4 - PRIORITY FOUR COUNTY ROADS.

PRIORITY FOUR County Roads will be plowed, but may be plowed after PRIORITY ONE, PRIORITY TWO and PRIORITY THREE county roads have been plowed. Plowing of PRIORITY FOUR county roads for access to livestock will not take priority over PRIORITY ONE, PRIORITY TWO and PRIORITY THREE county roads.

SECTION 5. SNOW REMOVAL PERSONNEL:

5.1 - Snow removal operations will generally be conducted between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., seven days a week as needed.  Equipment operators and supervisors should also be ready to commence snow removal operations at any time it is determined that operations must begin.  The Fillmore County Highway Superintendent shall decide when to call snow removal personnel to work and how long they shall work.

5.2 - Primary responsibility for snow removal planning, operation direction and snow fighting decision-making will be that of the Fillmore County Highway Superintendent with the assistance of the Fillmore County  Assistant Highway Superintendent. There will always be one (1) person at a time in charge of operations and that person will have all authority and responsibility to conduct snow-plowing operations as outlined in this policy.

5.3 - If the decision to commence snow removal operations is made during the normal work day, operators and supervisors shall be prepared to cease the activities they are engaged in and begin snow removal preparations and operations.

5.4 - If the conditions become such that snow removal must begin after normal working hours, the Highway Superintendent or the Assistant Highway Superintendent will notify the necessary number of operators to man the operations.  In case of an emergency, the Sheriff’s Department will notify the Highway Superintendent or the Assistant Highway Superintendent, who will then notify the necessary number of operators to man the operation.

5.5 – Meal breaks will be taken at the discretion of the employees.  Employees will normally be limited to a maximum of 12 hours of continuous snow plowing. This is in consideration of the safety of the operator, the public and liability exposure to the County.  Employees may be requested to work longer than 12 hours during a SNOW EMERGENCY.

5.6 - Cooperation and communication between the Sheriff's Department and the Fillmore County Roads Department is critical during a winter storm. There will be close contact between the two departments during snow emergencies.

SECTION 6. SNOW PLOWING OPERATIONS:

6.1 - There are several factors to consider when deciding whether snow-plowing operations should commence. The general rule to be used however, is when accumulations have reached three (3) inches on the road surface itself and snow is falling or forecast predicts additional snowfall, operations should commence at the discretion of the Highway Superintendent or the Assistant Highway Superintendent.  Snow plowing operations may not commence, or may cease, because of high winds or blowing snow.

6.2 - Every County Road in the County will be assigned a plowing priority classification. In any given area, PRIORITY ONE County Roads will be plowed before or in conjunction with PRIORITY TWO or THREE County Roads.  If operations have begun and it continues to snow with sufficient additional accumulation to require re-plowing, then PRIORITY ONE County Roads will be re-plowed before or in conjunction with plowing operations on PRIORITY TWO or THREE County Roads.

6.3 - All supervisors and equipment operators are expected to know the areas they are assigned to plow.

6.4 - Equipment operators are responsible for their equipment and shall inspect this equipment prior to beginning plowing operations to insure it is in proper working order.  All malfunctions must be reported to the mechanic.  When a vehicle is out of service the supervisor may make vehicle reassignments in order to plow other areas.

6.5 - Fueling of equipment will occur at the end of each shift to prepare for the next shift's operation.  In the event fueling becomes necessary before the end of the shift, fuel can be hauled to site by county workers.

6.6 - Equipment operators shall obey ALL traffic laws during snow plowing operations.

6.7 - If an employee for the Fillmore County Roads Department comes upon an abandon vehicle during snow plowing operations, they shall contact the Highway Superintendent or the Assistant Highway Superintendent.  The Highway Superintendent and/or the Assistant Highway Superintendent, with the assistance of the Sheriff's Office will try to locate the owner of such abandoned vehicle to get it moved.   If an emergency exists, the Highway Superintendent may instruct the employee to remove the vehicle by using the best method available.

6.8 - If an employee comes upon a stuck vehicle with occupants and the employee is asked to assist to remove the stuck vehicle, the employee shall contact the Highway Superintendent and/or the Assistant Highway Superintendent for instructions.  The Highway Superintendent and/or the Assistant Highway Superintendent  shall instruct the employee as to what procedure they may take to remove the stuck vehicle.  No County Employee shall hook a chain or tow strap/cable to a vehicle without the authorization of the Highway Superintendent and/or the Assistant Highway Superintendent unless it is a life-threatening situation. The employee shall have the occupant of the stuck vehicle sign a waiver before hooking and towing begin.

6.9 - Operators who are involved in an accident are required to report the accident immediately to the Highway Superintendent or Assistant Highway Superintendent.  Should such accident be an emergency, the employee involved in the accident may contact the Sheriff’s office direct.  Operators must also complete an accident report and submit it to their supervisor before the end of their shift.

6.10 - Operators are required to submit time card reports at the end of each week. Items to be included in these reports are:

•   date, time and duration of shift
•  breakdowns
•  any deviations from the assigned route
•  reason for the deviation
•  other applicable comments

SECTION 7. ADJACENT DRIVEWAYS AND TOWNSHIP ROADS:

The cleaning of adjacent driveways to County Roads is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. When plowing snow, several passes are sometimes necessary before a County Road is clear.  Every effort is made to prevent plowing snow into driveways, however, the Roads Department will not clean driveways adjacent to County Roads.  Cleaning driveways that are plowed in by the Roads Department plows is the responsibility of the adjacent property owner.  It is generally best to open driveways AFTER the snowplows have completed their operations.

Fillmore County Roads Department shall not clear Township Roads without the permission of the Highway Superintendent or the Assistant Highway Superintendent or without having an Inter-Local agreement with said Township.  In the event of an emergency the Fillmore County Highway Superintendent or the Assistant Highway Superintendent may give permission to clear a Township Road without said Inter-local Agreement.

SECTION 8. SNOW REMOVAL PROGRAM  AND SNOW ROUTE MAPS:

A copy of this Snow Removal Program and Policy and Maps indicating all PRIORITY ONE, PRIORITY TWO, PRIORITY THREE, and PRIORITY FOUR County Roads will be kept at the Fillmore County Roads Department.

SECTION 9. CITIZEN COOPERATION:

9.1 - In order to achieve the best possible result and in the most efficient manner from the Fillmore County Roads Department's snow  removal operations, all citizens of Fillmore County are requested to cooperate fully with the Roads Department.  During SNOW EMERGENCIES and winter storm conditions, all residents are asked to remove their parked vehicles from all County Roads if possible.  This will allow snow plows an opportunity to clear the County Roads quicker and with fewer passes , saving both time and money.

9.2 - Operating a snowplow can be a frustrating and scary task.  When ice creates treacherous driving conditions and high winds blow snow into the driver's view, the snowplows require tremendous skill and courage to operate.

These conditions or motorists driving too quickly can force the snowplow from the road.  Motorists driving too fast for conditions can lose control, compromising the driver's safety. This is tragic not only to the driver but to those on the route whose road plowing must be delayed.  Motorists should always allow plenty of space near the snowplows and avoid passing whenever possible.

9.3 - As outlined under SECTION 6. SNOW PLOWING OPERATIONS, 6.7, if a Fillmore County Employee while they are plowing snow comes upon an abandon vehicle that is blocking a county road and must be moved, all attempts will be made to locate the owner to get vehicle removed.  If the owner cannot be located and the vehicle must be removed, steps will be taken to move the vehicle.   Fillmore County or the employees of Fillmore County can not be held liable for damages caused by removing the abandoned vehicle.

9.3 - As outlined under SECTION 6. SNOW PLOWING OPERATIONS, 6.8, if a Fillmore County Employee while they are plowing snow comes upon a stuck vehicle with occupants that is blocking a county road and is asked to assist the owner in removing the stuck vehicle and is instructed by the Highway Superintendent and/or the Assistant Highway Superintendent to assist, the owner of the stuck vehicle shall make the hookup of the chain or tow strap/cable to their vehicle.   Fillmore County or the employees of Fillmore County can not be held liable for damages caused by assisting a stuck vehicle.

SECTION 10. DEPARTURE FROM POLICY:

Fillmore County acknowledges the policies as set forth in this program are of a general nature and recognizes conditions may be so unusual or unexpected that a departure from this general program may need to be authorized.  When conditions warrant, the Fillmore County Highway Superintendent may order a departure from these general policies when conditions are such that the departure from this policy is necessary and warranted for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Fillmore County.  The Fillmore County Highway Superintendent or his designee is authorized to publicly announce that non-emergency travel is not recommended when conditions warrant such a warning.

SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS:

This policy is not, nor is it intended to encompass all details of Fillmore County's snow removal and control operations.

SECTION 12. POLICY PRIORITY:

To the extent that any previous rule, regulation, policy or past practice, written or unwritten is in conflict with the provisions of this policy, such is hereby withdrawn and voided and all personnel shall conduct themselves in conformity with this policy.

SECTION 13. EMERGENCY CONTACTS:

• Fillmore County Roads Department   402-759-3611              
• Fillmore County Highway Superintendent   402-759-2454
• Fillmore County Assistant Highway Superintendent  402-366-5310
• Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office  402-759-4441