Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
When the snow starts to fall, the city snow plows start to roll.
And, unless residents want to be a little lighter in the wallet and inconvenienced to boot, they need to make sure they have their cars out of the city's snow emergency routes.
Section 8032 of the Warsaw City Code states the mayor, or the city council in his absence, "shall determine and proclaim a snow emergency before, during and after a snowfall when, in sound judgment and discretion of the mayor (or city council), the circumstances warrant the determination of such an emergency for the public safety of the city."
When a snow emergency is declared, it is a violation for the owner, driver or operator of any motor vehicle, including snowmobiles, to park, stop or stand at any time during the period of a snow emergency on any snow emergency route. If a second stage snow emergency is declared, driving on an emergency snow route is also prohibited.
The following streets have been designated as emergency snow routes when snow emergencies are declared:
All of Center Street; Market Street and Winona Avenue, from Ind. 25 to Argonne Road; Lake Street, from the north city limits to Winona Avenue; Union Street, from Winona Avenue to Kincaid Street; Kincaid Street, from Union Street to Fisher Avenue; Ranch Road, from Fisher Avenue to the city limits; Detroit Street, from Winona Avenue to Pope Street; Pope Street, from Detroit Street to Smith Street; Smith Street, from Pope Street to Winona Avenue; McClellan Street/Country Club Road, from Pope Street to city limits; Harrison Street, from DuBois Drive to Market Street; DuBois Drive, from Harrison Street to Parker Street; Parker Street, from Patterson Road to Center Street; Argonne Road, from Center Street to Winona Avenue; Husky Trail, from city limits to Parker Street; Patterson Road, from Parker Street to city limits; and all of Frontage Road.
Violation of the code carries a fine not to exceed $20 and a towing fee not to exceed $20. The fine for driving on any street during a stage two snow emergency carries a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $100.
Mayor Ernest Wiggins said the declaration of a snow emergency is a judgment call he makes in consultation with Public Works Superintendent Lacy Francis. In making that determination, as was made last weekend, they rely on weather reports.
"We keep an eye on the weather, and in consultation with the street department, I make the decision," Wiggins said.
According to the mayor, no snow emergency had been declared prior to last weekend since the code was adopted in 1978. He said the decision to declare an emergency is one he makes with a mind for the needs of the business community.
"I'm very sensitive to calling a snow emergency because the local businesses and industries are very supportive of us when we do make that declaration by closing their operations," he said. "But, I'm aware they need to be in business and their workers, by and large, need to be working, so we only make the declaration when public safety is at issue."
Wiggins added that the street department employees and community volunteers should be commended for their work in not only clearing the streets in a timely fashion, but also making emergency runs to deliver medicine or medical supplies during the snow emergency last weekend.
""I'd like to thank all the city employees and all the other citizens with four-wheel drive vehicles who helped out during the snow emergency," he said.
