Column: Avoid ‘the tow’ when heavy snow hits Red Wing

The city of Red Wing needs help from residents to ensure city streets are safe for passage, even in bad weather.

Typically, March is the snowiest month of the year. Last year, the city declared two snow emergencies in March.

Red Wing, like other cities in the “snow belt,” has a snow removal plan in place including provisions for declaring snow emergencies. Red Wing declares a snow emergency with the anticipation of receiving 6 or more inches of snow during a snow event.

When a snow emergency has been declared, the whole community needs to work together for the snow removal process to go swiftly and allow vehicles

to navigate safely through the city.

During the first day of a snow emergency, all streets marked with snow emergency route signs must be cleared of all vehicles from midnight to noon. For a list of these streets, please visit www.red-wing.org.

Vehicles remaining parked on these streets after midnight will be towed away at the vehicles’ owner’s expense (this also includes vehicles which have been re-parked on a street during a declared snow emergency period).

The streets without snow emergency route signs are all considered non-snow emergency route streets. These must be cleared of all vehicles on the second day of the snow emergency from midnight until noon. Vehicles remaining parked on these city streets after midnight will be towed away at the vehicles’ owner’s expense. (This also includes vehicles which have been re-parked on a street during a declared snow emergency period.)

City staff works with the local media and uses several ways to communicate about snow emergency declarations. So, as snowfall accumulations approach 6 inches during a snowstorm, be sure to tune in to local radio stations 105.9 KWNG-FM and 1250 KCUE-AM, Local Government Access Channel 6, check the Republican Eagle print edition and www.republican-eagle.com, or visit red-wing.org for current information on parking restrictions.

And, new this year, information about snow emergencies and other city matters can also be obtained by calling the City Line at (651) 385-0123.

With the help of all the drivers in the community, Public Works Department crews can effectively, efficiently, and safely clear snow off the road ways. For more information about Red Wing’s snow removal policies, please visit the Web site or call (651) 385-3674. Thank you for your help!

Tags: opinion, tebbe, snow, tow