Photo courtesy of Iowa DOT.

A snow emergency issued by Washington Mayor Jaron Rosien greatly helped the city’s maintenance crew in clearing streets and alleys after Monday night’s storm.

The snow emergency was effective from 10 p.m. Monday to 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, and while there were still some vehicles parked on public roadways, Maintenance Superintendent JJ Bell says the proclamation made a big difference for the cleanup, “We actually came in last night at 6 o’clock and plowed until 11 o’clock give or take, and did the whole town. And then we decided to come back in at 4 [a.m.], didn’t get much sleep but it is what it is and we actually got done cleaning the streets probably from 4 a.m. to 9 o’clock this morning.”

Bell says nine maintenance employees were out cleaning roads and sidewalks since Monday night, as well as some parks department employees that helped do some additional clearing Tuesday night. Police Chief Jim Lester says as of Tuesday afternoon his department has placed about twenty 24-hour tow notices on vehicles that have not been moved since the emergency was issued. Officers will follow up on the notices with citations and/or towing if they are not able to make contact. Lester says towing vehicles is their very last resort, and he appreciates the support of residents in doing their best to keep cars off the street to allow for an effective snow removal process.