County approves snow removal policy, ordinance

In recent weeks the Lincoln County Commission approved a policy and an ordinance that pertain to snow removal activities.

On Nov. 15 the Commission passed Resolution No. 997. Otherwise known as the Lincoln County Snow Removal Ordinance, it evolved out of a revision of the county’s snow removal policy, which was approved Nov. 1.

The ordinance “was the one that the road foremen were really looking for, because we had nothing at all on the books for that,” County Administrator Darren Coldwell said Nov. 15 during the ordinance’s final reading.

The ordinance allows a district road foreman to order the removal from a county roadway any item that may impede snow removal crews or emergency responders during snowy conditions. These items can include “snow debris, construction materials or litter” as well as unattended vehicles, which “may be subject to towing at the owner’s expense.”

The ordinance states that County employees will first try to find a vehicle’s owner so long as the vehicle is visible to oncoming traffic and is not “unreasonably” blocking other vehicles from using the road. The ordinance also states that the County will not be liable for any damages to removed items, including vehicles.

The ability to order the removal of vehicles and to not be held liable for damages were key reasons Libby Road Foreman Marc McCully, during discussion at the Nov. 1 County Commission meeting, suggested that an ordinance be crafted separate from policy.

“Policy does not have any teeth in it,” Coldwell said that day. “Whereas if we make an ordinance the Sheriff’s Department can do something” to enforce certain items.

The ordinance does not prohibit items left out for “normal trash pickup,” and is not intended to police people who shovel small amounts of snow into the street while clearing a driveway or sidewalk.

The snow removal policy the Commission approved Nov. 1 was a revision of an existing policy that McCully said was “pretty generic” during an Oct. 25 discussion. Among other items it outlines level, sequence and limitation of service.