Ozark, MO. -- Although it might not quite feel like it outside on certain December days, it is winter indeed. And it’s only a matter of time before we have a snow event in Ozark. With that in mind, Public Works would like to inform citizens of its snow removal policies.
Our city's crews are committed to providing efficient snow removal services while being mindful of expenses. To achieve this, we have established clear policies that prioritize safety and accessibility for residents.
Ozark’s paved roadway network covers approximately 97.22 centerline miles of pavement. Our crews will begin clearing emergency roads first, followed by secondary roads and then residential subdivision areas.
For snowstorms accumulating 2” or more, the policy steps go as follows:
- Emergency routes will be plowed and treated first without exception until at least 75% clear before moving to secondary roads.
- Secondary routes will be plowed and treated until at least 50% clear. Crews will then move to subdivisions.
- Operators will make one (1) pass in and out on every subdivision street, only treating intersections and any spots deemed unsafe by the plow truck operator.
- Once these 3 areas have been plowed, crews will return to emergency routes and clear those. Followed by secondary streets and subdivisions again, pushing all roads’ full-width or curb-to-curb, depending on the street.
In the event of 2” or less of snow accumulation, crews will remove snow from emergency and secondary routes first and then move to subdivisions if warranted.
Additionally, the Public Works Department will pretreat all intersections where a stop sign is placed, all up or downhill slopes greater than a three (3) percent angle, and any area within city limits that is a safety concern during a snow or ice event.
With a crew of seven (7), the Public Works Department has limited personnel and resources to reach every street immediately after a snow event. The city is divided into six sections for snow removal. Each section takes about 8 hours to make one full pass. Pushing curb-to-curb and clearing cul-de-sacs, can add another 8-12 hours per section.
But we assure you that crews will work to reach as many streets as possible, starting with priority routes to ensure the safety of all citizens.
Also, keep in mind that the city does not have jurisdiction over some of the main roads through our city. For example, W Jackson/Highway 14, S. 3rd St, and W South St are MoDOT roads. Other major streets might be Ozark Special Road District. Please see map for street ownership: Whose road is it anyway?
See map for the Cooperative Snow Removal Agreement.
We ask for the cooperation of citizens in moving their vehicles off the streets during snow removal operations. Our crews are dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens during the winter season. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
City of Ozark Snow Removal Policy