STE. GENEVIEVE – The city of Ste. Genevieve has remind residents about designated snow routes.
In a posting on its Facebook page, the city stated, “Please move vehicles off the designated routes to provide a clear path for snowplows during a snow emergency which goes into effect anytime four inches of snow or the prediction of four inches of snow is in the forecast.”
(sign at left is at Fourth Street at Riverview)
The posting then indicated the snow routes:
- Fourth Street from Matthews Drive south to State Highway 32.
- LaPorte Street from LaHaye Street north to Wehner Street.
- Main Street from the River Landing south to St. Marys Road.
- Market Street from Highway 61 east to Main Street.
- Memorial Drive from LaHaye Street north to Veterans Drive and Veterans Drive west to Fourth Street.
- Merchant Street from Main, west to Fourth Street.
- Robinwood Drive.
- Rozier Street from Center Drive, south to Highway 61.
- St. Marys Road south to Highway 61.
- Third Street from Market Street, north to Roberts Street and Roberts Street west to Fourth Street.
- Washington Street from Main Street west to Ridgeway and Ninth Street from Washington Street south to Market.
- Wehner Street from Main Street West to Memorial Drive.
The snow routes should be marked by signs but it is not known if they all are at this time.
Vehicles parked on snow routes may be towed or ticketed.
According to the ordinance, a snow emergency may be declared by the “street commissioner.”
According to Section 395.020 of the city code: “A. Whenever the Street Commissioner finds on the basis of falling snow, sleet or freezing rain on the basis of a forecast by the United States Weather Bureau or other weather service of snow, sleet or freezing rain, that weather conditions will make it necessary that motor vehicle traffic be expedited and that parking on City streets be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes, the Commissioner shall put into effect a parking prohibition on part of or all snow emergency routes as necessary by declaring it in a manner prescribed by this Chapter.”
However the ordinance goes on to say: “B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections (A) and © hereof, a parking prohibition shall automatically go into effect on any part of any snow emergency route on which there has been an accumulation of snow and ice of four (4) inches or more or there is the prediction that snow will accumulate in such an amount.”
and
“C. Once in effect, a prohibition under this Section shall be in effect until terminated by announcement of the Street Commissioner in accordance with this Chapter except that any street which has become substantially clear of snow and ice from curb to curb for the length of the entire block shall be automatically excluded therefrom. While the prohibition is in effect, no person shall park or allow to remain parked a vehicle on any portion of any snow emergency route to which it applies. However, nothing in this Section shall be construed to permit parking at any time or place where it is forbidden by any other provision of law.”
The ordinance also states how the snow emergency must be communicated to the residents in section 395.030:
“A. The Street Commissioner shall cause each declaration made by him/her pursuant to this Chapter to be publicly announced by means of broadcast or telecast from a station with a normal operation range covering the City and he/she may cause such declaration to be further announced in newspapers of general circulation when feasible. Each announcement shall describe the action taken by the Commissioner, including the time it became or will become effective, and shall specify the streets or areas affected. A parking prohibition declared by the Commissioner shall not go into effect until at least two (2) hours after it has been announced.
“B. The Street Commissioner shall make or cause to be made a record of each time and date when any declaration is announced to the public in accordance with this Section.”
The city code also requires signs to be posted on all “snow emergency routes” in section 395.060:
“On each street designated by this Chapter as a snow emergency route, the Street Commissioner shall post special signs at intervals not exceeding one thousand (1,000) feet with the wording: “Snow Emergency Route. No Parking During Emergency. Tow Away Zone.” These signs shall be distinctive and uniform in appearance and shall be plainly readable to persons traveling on the street or highway.”