Newton’s Public Works Department has begun the process of preparing to remove snow from City Streets this winter. Director Joe Grife says this past Wednesday the department held an open house for business owners to review downtown snow hauling procedures and parking restrictions under the city’s snow ordinance. Outside of downtown, Grife says Newton’s snow ordinance prohibits street parking once snow accumulation hits two inches.  

“The biggest thing residents can do to help us is keep cars off the street when we are doing snow removal. And if residents do snow removal themselves, don’t push the snow across the street or back into the street. That’s a big thing we see. We may be done with the street and now we have issues.”

Grife says his employees have about 200 lane miles to clear within the city, which is done with two, four-man crews working twelve hour shifts. Grife adds that he does bring in some seasonal help to assist with hauling snow out of downtown to a designated dump site. Hear more about the winter street clearing operations from Newton Public Works Director Joe Grife  on today’s Let’s Talk Newton.