GRAPHIC VIA THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Marshall County was expected to see substantial snowfall on Wednesday according to projections from the National Weather Service.

Residents who live on emergency snow routes in Marshalltown need to have their vehicles removed from the roads. City officials asked for the vehicles to be moved before the snow emergency parking restrictions went into effect at 3 a.m. this morning.

Marshalltown Street Superintendent Rick Legg said if a vehicle is not moved from the emergency snow route, it draws out the process of clearing the roads.

“We have to slow down, go around and be careful not to hit it,” he said. “It just takes a lot longer to complete the plowing of the streets.”

According to Legg, all of the city’s snow removal vehicles will be on the streets, including 12 truck plows with wings, two motor graders for uptown areas, one skid steer loader and one pickup truck plow.

After the snow stops, he estimates it will take two to three hours for everything to be cleared. However, the National Weather Service forecasts the snow will stop at midnight tonight, resulting in a 5-to-7-inch accumulation.

The parking restrictions will be lifted once the snow emergency ends. People are asked not to park on the streets even if a city snowplow goes by. Vehicles parked on emergency snow routes, designated blocks and cul-de-sacs will be towed at the owner’s expense.

In addition to a $25 city fine, Legg said the average cost of a vehicle to be towed ranges from $150 to $250. Four-wheel-drive vehicles will carry a higher tow cost.

Legg said it would also be helpful for people to not park on side streets, as well.

“That gives us fewer obstacles,” he said. “The quicker we get it done, the more money we save the taxpayers.”

Besides not parking on a city street, residents are also asked to clear the sidewalks by their homes within 24 hours after the snow ceases. Legg said otherwise the city will have to send a contractor to clear the sidewalks, which will cost the resident at least $176.

“We have a minimum of 100 properties that do not shovel the sidewalks,” he said. “It behooves them to clear the sidewalks within those 24 hours.”

Property owners are also reminded to not push snow into public streets as it may result in a city fine with a maximum of $650.

EMERGENCY SNOW ROUTES:

Vehicles should not be parked on these Marshalltown roads until the snow emergency is lifted.

Avenues:

• North Third

• South Seventh from East Church Street to East Main Street

• South 12th/Governor Road

Streets:

• South Sixth/South Third to West State

• South Ninth

• South 12th from Lincoln Way to Olive

• South 13th between Summit and Main

• Boone from South Ninth to Center

Center Street

• Church from South Ninth Street to South Seventh Avenue

• Edgewood

• Iowa Avenue West

• Linn from South Third Avenue to South Third Street

• Main Street

• Marion from Swayze Street to 18th Avenue

• Olive from South 12th Street to 18th Avenue

• Summit

Other roads:

• Edgebrook Drive

• Lincoln Way

• Southridge Road from South Sixth Street to Governor Road

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.