Winter Maintenance

The safety and convenience of the traveling public is of major concern to the Washburn County Highway Department. The goal of the Department is to have all State and County roads passable as soon as reasonable possible within the limitations of resources, roadway & facilities protection and environmental concerns. The traveling public is reminded to exercise caution and drive with care. In winter weather, the driving hazard that's even worse than snow and ice is your inability to see what's ahead. Especially around snowplows. Best Advice: be careful- go slow. Use courtesy and common sense. The legal speed limit may not be possible depending on conditions. The public is also requested Not to Crowd the Plow. Pass plows with extreme caution and never drive into a snow plow's cloud. Remember, in bad weather, if you're out there, so is your County Highway Department.

Snow and Ice Control

1. Dispatching of winter maintenance equipment.

   Washburn County, to the best of its ability, will strive to provide passable pavement with white shoulders during the course of snow intervals. Operations will be halted when it is deemed too hazardous for our operators and the public, or, if reasonable accomplishments are not being met. Washburn County's winter snow removal or ice control during the time of emergency will normally start at 4:00 a.m. After the storm, during normal work hours, week days from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., maintenance crews will attempt to provide partially bare pavement of sufficient width near the center of the highway to give traction for traffic in both directions, as soon as practicable. Limited service on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will apply.

   Emergency plowing for fire and ambulance services will be handled on an individual basis as requested by the Sheriff's Department.

2. Operations.

   The plow operations will generally consist of three phases: a) making roads passable, b) widening and sanding, and c) general clean up.

3. Personal Properties.

   a) Mailboxes and Fences should be installed in accordance with county policies with respect to set backs and recommended materials. The Highway Department assumes no responsibility for mailboxes and fences or other similar items that may be damaged during the normal course of operations.

   b) The removal of windrows across private drives, deposited from plowing operations, are the responsibility of the resident. Citizens are also reminded that it is unlawful to plow or blow snow from driveways onto or across roadways.

   c) All highways within Washburn County are considered snow routes. If abandoned vehicles are encountered on these roadways, the Sheriff's Department will be notified for removal from the highway at the expense of the vehicle owner. It will also be Washburn County's policy to not allow any parking on the road shoulder or within five feet of the road shoulder with the exception being when a vehicle is disabled; but after four (4) hours, the owner will be required to remove the vehicle or the Sheriff's Department will be notified.

   d) The Highway Department may assist stranded motorists by contacting law enforcement or emergency personnel. The Department will not attempt to remove stuck vehicles unless directed by law enforcement personnel to eliminate a safety hazard.