Snow Information

Snowplowing

Citywide snowplowing begins after snow accumulates to two inches or more. When snowfall continues for long periods, crews concentrate on plowing main collector routes and additional routes connecting neighborhoods to State and County roads. If strong winds and drifting cause unsafe conditions for snowplow drivers, plowing stops until conditions improve.

City snowplow drivers not only plow our roads but also clear off sidewalks and trails. Sidewalks and trailA City of Ramsey snowplow pushing snow in front of Ramsey City Hall clearing typically happen after drivers finish with road maintenance. During a heavy snow event, full-scale sidewalk plowing is scheduled for the day after the snowstorm. Sidewalks and trails are cleared only on weekdays and non-holiday days. If a storm occurs on a Friday evening or Saturday, it will be tentatively cleared on Monday, depending on weather conditions.

Crews plow the entire City approximately eight to ten times during a season. They drive over 300 miles to plow and salt the streets in an average snowfall event.

Staking Property Lines (Free Stakes)

The City provides free wooden stakes for homeowners to install along their easements. The stakes should be spaced every 20 to 30 feet to help plow drivers identify the edge of the road early in the season. Drive stakes into the ground only about 6 inches because of utility lines. The lath will break off after a couple of plowing operations but will have served its purpose by helping to establish the curb line.

During regular business hours, 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., the wooden stakes are available in a barrel outside the Public Works Building at 14199 Jasper Street NW. There is a maximum limit of six stakes per household.

The Boulevard Staking Policy prohibits using metal fence posts and other non-breakaway material in the public right-of-way. They present safety risks and will be removed by Public Works personnel. Small fiberglass poles and aluminum poles with reflectors may be used.

Clearing Snow Information for Homeowners

Please avoid pushing snow and ice from your driveway into the street. This is very hazardous to other residents walking or driving on our streets. MN Statute 160.2715 prohibits depositing items, including snow and ice, in the right-of-way.

To enforce this, Ramsey Officers will issue a citation to homeowners if they see snow deposited onto the roadway. Violators will be charged with a misdemeanor, with a second offense having a minimum fine of $400. Please help us keep our streets safe for everyone.

Parking on Public Streets

Parking is not allowed on any public street between 2:00-6:00 a.m. Parking is permitted on city streets after two inches or more of snowfall once the street has been plowed to the curb line.

Vehicles in violation are cited and may be towed by patrolling police. After two inches of snowfall, vehicles parked in locations that create an extreme hazard may be towed immediately by the police or at the request of state, county, or city maintenance personnel.

Please stay tuned to the weather forecasts. In a snow event, move your vehicle from the streets whenever you can to help in our snowplowing team. 

Ice Control

City crews, in most circumstances, use straight salt on icy areas. We will switch to a salt/sand mixture during extreme cold weather. This does not guarantee ice-free streets, so drive carefully even where salting or sanding is evident. Priority areas receive treatment and all other areas are done when time permits. Priority areas include:

  • All collector street stop sign intersections
  • All other stop signs
  • Areas deemed hazardous by city crews or other city officials
  • Bridge decks
  • Intersections of city streets and county and state roads
  • Streets with hills and curves

Managing Icy Roads

View this article to learn more about the City’s process for managing icy roads.

Boulevard Damage

Property damage can occur when snowplows are operating. The City does not assume liability for damages to private improvements in the public right-of-way (ROW) (fences, vegetation, irrigation heads, landscaping, etc.) The City is not responsible for damaged sod along the boulevard or sprinkler systems placed in the right-of-way on the boulevard or along the curb. This is the responsibility of the property owner. Please remove these obstacles from the ROW. Marking them clearly will help aid plow drivers, but it is not a guarantee these items will remain intact. Mailboxes are repaired or replaced only if the plow makes direct contact (sometimes, snow from the plow can dislodge the box from the post or bend a weak post). Please ensure your post is solid and securely fastened to the mailbox.

If your mailbox or turf in the ROW is damaged, please report it to the Public Works Administrative Assistant Marsha Weidner at 763-433-9839. Depending on the location, turf damage is repaired each spring with black dirt, seed, or sod.

The City of Ramsey has implemented a policy to assist snowplow drivers in finding the edge of the pavement. Wooden lath is available to residents free of charge to help mark the edge of the pavement. Please pay special attention when staking corners, as they are difficult for snowplow drivers to judge.

Garbage Cans & Basketball Hoops

Please keep garbage cans and recycling containers off the street. Placing them in the driveway or behind the curb allows snowplow drivers to plow curb-to-curb and lessens the chance of tipping over containers. Basketball hoops should also be kept out of cul-de-sacs.