The post Morgan Lake Road Safety first appeared on UNION COUNTY.

Our intension is to provide helpful information in an attempt to limit frustration to those living in Union County during winter months by providing you information and education during snow plowing season. Please know that our staff is made up of local people that work, live, and play in our local community. Our crews take their job very serious and strive to do the best they can with what resources are available.

For snow removal on private driveways, public access roads, and road approaches there are many private contractors that provide these services. Also, we encourage you to make friends with your neighbors and help each other out during heavy snow events.

It is highly recommended that all vehicles be supplied with tire chains or other traction devices and that travelers become familiar with using them. Please drive cautiously when snow and/or ice are on the road, avoid driving in inclement weather when possible, and always carry emergency supplies in case you become stranded.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Union County Public Works Snow Removal Policy

ADDITIONAL WINTER DRIVING INFORMATION

ODOT Trip Check Map

The Oregon Winter Driving Guide

AAA Winter Driving Tips

WINTER SNOW SERVICE PRIORITIES

Our winter snow service is a guideline for normal and routine winter events. Union County is not resourced with staff and equipment to maintain county roads at the standards described for large winter storms and widespread events. Standards may differ during large winter storms and widespread events.

Local and residential roads are not expected to be plowed the first day of a major snow event and may take up to three to five days before being plowed, depending on the amount of snowfall. Please be patient. Our resources are not available to respond to individual requests for plowing and sanding, however, snowplows will be reassigned when needed for emergency service access.

Union County roads will be cleared and maintained based on service level priority. The following factors are taken into consideration in establishing service priorities.

• The first consideration shall be safety of the citizens of Union County
• Second is the maintenance of bus routes for public schools
• Third is maintaining other arterial roads
• And finally, the opening of all county roads. Opening all county roads may take three to five days once a weather event has concluded.

 
Other factors taken into consideration are:

1. Road functional class
2. Traffic volumes
3. Availability of alternative routes
4. Steep grades, sharp curves, intersections, or potentially hazardous areas
5. Roads with adequate room to turn county equipment around
6. Emergency vehicle accessibility

Our maintenance district descriptions are:

1 Roving plow truck

1 Support vehicle (for responding to traffic accidents/hazards/emergencies, fueling snow equipment etc.)

District 1 – La Grande 219.20 miles

1 Grader and 2 one-ton pickup plows

District 2 – Imbler/Summerville 75 miles

1 Grader and 2 plow trucks

District 3 – Elgin 117.40 miles

1 Grader and 2 plow trucks

District 4 – Union/Cove 101.47 miles

1 Grader

District 5 – North Powder 72.95 miles

1 Grader

 
For all districts, efforts may be discontinued when blizzard or other severe forms of weather make operation of maintenance equipment and motor vehicles unreasonable and unsafe.

Please do not hesitate to call to report problems or concerns to the Public Works Department during business hours (Monday through Thursday, 7am to 5:30pm) at 541-963-1016, or by contacting the Sheriff’s non-emergency number after hours, weekends, and holidays at 541-963-1017.

OUR GOALS

1. To provide access for emergency vehicles to as much of the county as possible.
2. To mitigate unsafe road surface conditions to the greatest extent possible with available resources.

WINTER MAINTENANCE HOURS OF OPERATION

Union County Public Works normal working hours during the winter is 6:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Thursday. We do not have the resources or budget to provide 7 days a week or 24 hours a day service coverage. We can extend the normal working hours with overtime by starting as early as 4:00am and finishing as late as 6:00pm but we do not provide 24 hour plow services.

LOCAL ACCESS ROADS

Local access roads are public roads that are not maintained by the county. Please know that snow and ice control operations will not be performed on local access roads.

SNOW REMOVAL AT MAILBOXES AND IN DRIVEWAYS

Our crews during winter snow events are working extremely hard to clear roads. All driveways are the responsibility of the property owner. Property owners should exercise caution during the removal of snow and ice from driveways. Snow from driveways shall not be plowed into the roads because accidents may occur and a legal liability may be placed on the individuals who placed the snow and ice in the roadway.

The county does not shovel or clear driveways that become encumbered with snow due to plowing, nor is it responsible for ensuring mailboxes are accessible. While we realize this may cause an inconvenience to homeowners, renters, and/or postal carriers, the department does not have the resources to provide snow removal services at this level. The primary purpose of plowing snow is to provide an open travel lane for the flow of traffic and commerce.

We are more than happy to reinstall mailboxes that are physically hit by county equipment but mailboxes knocked down by flying snow will not be reinstalled.

It is the responsibility of the property owner to provide clear access up to the mailbox for the postal carrier.

The county is not responsible for opening driveways that have access onto county roads. This is the responsibility of the property owner and property owners should not move snow onto the public roadway.

DAMAGE PRECAUTIONS

Signs and Posts – Caution will be taken to avoid damage to signs, mailboxes, posts, and delineators during snow removal.

Buildings – Snowplow operators will reduce speed where adjacent buildings or facilities might be damaged by the flying snow.

Parked and/or Unattended Vehicles – Care will be exercised in removing snow in the vicinity of vehicles parked adjacent to county roads. Even though vehicles are illegally parked on the travel way, reasonable care will be taken consistent with the necessity of completing the required work.

Residents are advised that it is illegal to park along a county road during snow accumulation, i.e., during a snowstorm. This is to ensure that a snowplow or motor grader can service the road without encountering a hindrance or creating a danger by leaving a berm within a traffic lane. Please give the Public Works office a call if for some reason you do need to leave a vehicle parked on a county road for a short period of time and we will do what we can to work with you. Although, vehicles left parked along a county road during a snowstorm may be subject to towing at the owners expense.

PROPERTY DAMAGE

Public Works is not responsible for damage to privately owned landscaping or structures, including but not limited to fences, signs, and wires that are installed within the public right-of-way.

The post Winter Snow Service first appeared on UNION COUNTY.

UNION COUNTY
PUBLIC WORKS (UCPW)
SNOW REMOVAL POLICY

Realizing the extreme variances in the harshness of winters in eastern Oregon, Union County’s Snow Removal Policy shall be based on a series of priorities.

• The first consideration shall be safety of the citizens of Union County.
• Second is the maintenance of bus routes for public schools.
• Third is maintaining other arterial roads.
• And finally, the opening of all county roads. Opening all county roads may take three to five days once a weather event has concluded.

 
Financial constraints make it impossible for the county to maintain enough equipment to meet the above priority list in severe winters. When this occurs, it shall be the policy of Union County to maintain these priorities starting from the first and working down the list as resources permit.

Due to weather variables, the time required to clear snow and ice from roads will vary. Union County Public Works may not plow / sand roads at the same time each day or, on occasion, even the same day as the storm depending on the following conditions; snow storm intensity, snow storm duration, temperature, time of day, traffic conditions.

To assist the local public school districts in their efforts to remain open during periods of extreme snowfall or windy conditions, it shall be the County’s policy that the Director of Public Works or his representative meet with the Superintendents of the Public Schools and work out a plan to help meet each school’s needs.

The following snow removal procedures will be adhered to whenever possible.

1. District operators and other assigned personnel may begin at 6:00 a.m. to get school bus routes opened. During a major event the same personnel may be required to plow until the busses return at night, but not to exceed 6:00 p.m.
2. Plowing and sanding will not be done on weekends unless the weather conditions are extreme.
3. Hills and intersections will be sanded as needed but sanding of roads full length will not be done.
4. Driveways and private roads will not be plowed except for emergency conditions.
5. Mailboxes installed along roadways are at the risk of the owner. Mailboxes damaged from lack of owner maintenance, snow load from plowing, or vandalism are not the responsibility of Union County Public Works. Postal regulations,-require residents to clear snow in front of mailboxes to allow mail delivery.
6. UCPW will not make special call outs to pull out vehicles stuck unless it constitutes an emergency. The vehicle may be towed at the owner’s expense if the vehicle is impairing safety. This will occur only if the owner cannot be reached and/or if the owner is unwilling to retrieve the vehicle.
7. After hours, if a disabled vehicle is reported to 911/dispatch, the priority is to ensure the safety of the stranded individual(s). If the individual is not in danger, the vehicle will be addressed during business hours. When possible, dispatch will call and/or leave a message with UCPW with vehicle location and owner information.
8. For after-hours emergencies, 911/dispatch will assess the situation and contact the appropriate agency (Ambulance/Quick Response Team, Emergency Services, Search and Rescue). UCPW will be contacted by dispatch when assistance is required.

Communications:

The process of notifications may include:

1. Maintaining contact with Union County Dispatch Center, Emergency Services and Public Works.
2. Emergency Services may support Public Works when requested by assisting with press releases and/or updates to the media and the public including social media messaging.
3. During rare and extreme circumstances, Union County’s emergency notification system may be utilized.
4. Methods of public communication may include any of the following or any combination of the following depending on the situation: radio, social media, newspaper, county website, posting of notices at key locations, direct notification to affected citizens, or emergency notification system.

 
The National Weather Service (NWS) is the responsible agency for issuing all weather related warnings. NWS utilizes a variety of platforms to notify the public. Union County may notify the public of hazardous driving conditions, visibility concerns, road closures or other travel related issues, as conditions warrant. Notifications are intended to increase the public’s awareness and highlight safety concerns.

The post SNOW REMOVAL POLICY first appeared on UNION COUNTY.

Union County will begin our roadside spraying program in the month of March to control vegetation and noxious weeds that are encroaching on road shoulders and right of ways. In most locations, spraying will extend four to eight feet from pavement edges.

Property owners who do not want herbicides applied near their property must sign an “Owner Will Maintain” agreement with the county which must be updated annually. The county will provide signs for the owners participating.

Property owners wishing to participate can sign up for the “Owner Will Maintain” program at the Union County Public Works Depart¬ment located at 10513 N. McAlister Road in Island City. Any questions, please call 541-963-1016.

The post Roadside Vegetation Spraying first appeared on UNION COUNTY.

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