Snow Season

The Owensboro Street Department is responsible for keeping Owensboro moving – even during winter storms. Snow clearing is expensive – during light and medium level storms we prioritize and clear 109 of the City’s 225 miles of streets. Heavy storms and snow emergencies may cause us to clear all streets within the City.

Priorities

How did we select the streets to clear? We started with the busiest streets within the City and then added to these the connecting streets to:

• Police and Fire Stations
• Medical Facilities
• Nursing Homes
• Ambulance Service
• Public Utilities
• Largest Employers
• Major Shopping Areas
• Streets with significant hills and sharp turns

Snow Emergency

Anticipated or heavy snow and ice storms may cause the Mayor to declare a winter storm emergency. During a state of emergency, parking is prohibited on Priority 1 and 2 emergency routes; this will aid us in clearing these most important routes. During an emergency, vehicles parked on these streets may be towed at owner’s expense and the owners may be fined. If tow vehicles are unavailable, our heavy equipment may be used to push your vehicle out of the way. See the map below to determine what streets are designated for no parking during a weather emergency.

Snow Routes

Use this map to determine the closest cleared route to your start and destination points during winter storms. These routes are designated "snow routes" and may prohibit parking during snow emergencies. Routes in Red are cleared first, followed by routes in Green.

Click here to search for streets on the priority list

Response Levels

Varying amounts of snow and ice require different responses. We always keep an eye on the weather as forecasts may frequently change. Listed below are our standard responses to snowfall:

Light Snow	0-3"	Salt	Priority 1&2 Streets
Mediun Snow	3-5"	Plow/Salt	Priority 1&2 Streets
Heavy Snow	5" or more	Plow/Salt	Priority 1&2 Streets (Possibly all streets)

We're Ready

Our employees and their equipment are ready to work 24 hours a day to clear city streets. In particularly heavy storm, the employees of the Sanitation and Facilities Maintenance Departments provide extra drivers and equipment for snow clean up.

We're Sorry!

When snow plow drivers clear residential streets, their plows will throw snow to the side and into driveways. There is no way to clear the street without this inconvenience.

Know the Right of Way

The public right of way is used by our road crews for storage of snow plowed from roadways and streets. It is not available for snow storage for individuals. The right-of-way varies in each subdivision; typically the right-of-way is approximately 6 inches behind the public sidewalk. If you have a question regarding the right-of-way location, please call the City of Owensboro Engineering office @ 687-8641.

Where to Store the Snow

What do you do with the snow from the driveways? Snow clearing contractors and private property owners should arrange to store snow in front yards outside the right-of-way and snow storage area), side yards or areas where the owner has given permission. Please use common courtesy to neighbors by not pushing or blowing snow onto their property. It is unlawful to pile snow in a manner that blocks or covers street signs, culvert inlets and outlets or other drainage structures.

Pushing Snow into Streets

Under no circumstances may snow be plowed or blown in a manner that interferes with snow removal operations, or with the public's normal use of roadways and streets. When removing snow from private property, regardless of the type of equipment used, no loose or packed snow shall be allowed to remain on the public roadway or street. Private Driveways and Entrances shall be the responsibility of the residential owner, occupant, community association, or business for snow removal. (To reduce the problem of snow being plowed back into driveways, snow should be shoveled into yards rather than into the street).

Snow Removal Contractors

Snow removal contractors for hire are listed here for your convenience. They are not associated in any way with the City of Owensboro. This is simply a listing you may pick from. Contractors desiring to have their business added or removed from the list may contact us.

Hiring a Snow Removal Contractor

The following are ideas to protect you and your property:

• Get more than one (1) estimate. Prices can vary widely and are usually based on the amount of area to be cleared. Also take into consideration shoveling or blowing snow in other areas such as sidewalks. Remember, the least expensive service is not always the best service.
• Ask the contractor about additional charges and price options. Besides the quoted price, there are sometimes additional charges during large storms. After the snow reaches a certain depth, some snow removal contractors charge by the inch, so you’ll want to find out how the company calculates the size of snowfall. Some companies offer a fixed price for an entire season, regardless of the amount of snow.
• Make sure you know what services you’re getting. Find out exactly what's included in the estimate. Are the walks and steps included? What about the cost of salt? Will the company clear only after the storm, or during the snowfall as well? If the company has to come back, is there an additional charge?
• Ask for references and check them out.
• Do not settle on an agreement over the telephone! The contractor should provide you with a written agreement. A representative of the company should come out to examine the property and make notes about the service requested and potential obstacles. Before you sign the agreement, ask who is responsible for damages, such as cracked driveways, broken gates or damaged shrubbery.
• Verify that the contractor is insured and make sure any worker coming onto your property is covered by Workers' Compensation. I've been asked many times, "How does the contractor prove he has liability insurance and Workers' Compensation"? You can verify by receiving a copy of the contractors summary sheet page of their liability insurance. Regarding Workers’ Compensation, you can get a copy of the contractor’s Workers’ Comp certificate, which includes an expiration date of coverage. If they don’t have either of these items, then don’t hire them.
• Find out how you can terminate the agreement if necessary.

Your expectations should be realistic. Keep in mind that a snowstorm makes traveling difficult for you and the contractor. During major snowfalls, workers are required to use more caution when plowing and traveling, therefore it may take longer for the contractor to reach you and do the contracted work.

Disclaimer/INDEMNITY: The City of Owensboro is not responsible for the acts and or omissions of private snow removal contractors, their employees, agents or representatives. To the fullest extent permitted by law, private snow removal contractors, it’s subcontractors, whether employed directly or indirectly, shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City of Owensboro, their officials, agents, consultants, and employees, from all claims arising out of a private snow removal contractor’s negligent acts or omissions for bodily injury and property damage which occur while the private snow removal contractor is physically on private property during work performance.