Snow Removal Policy

Kearney County Snow Plan for 2025/2026

This is a general plan for snow and ice removal in Kearney County and will be updated and revised as needed depending on weather conditions and approved by the Kearney County Board of Commissioners.

Any part of this plan may be altered by the Kearney County Highway Superintendent or Foreman depending on the weather conditions and/or emergencies.

The regular working hours of the roads department during the winter months are Monday thru Friday 7:30 am. to 4:00 pm.
The Kearney County Board of Commissioners as a body have delegated the responsibility for implementation of this plan to the Kearney County Highway Superintendent. It is the responsibility of the Kearney County Highway Superintendent or Foreman to instruct the operators.
The Sheriff, county board, and emergency manager will have a copy of this plan but in no way will be responsible for snow or ice removal other than in a national emergency or state emergency designated by the Governor. They will also be furnished with a list of who to call and the order in which to call.
Any information about snow removal given to the media will be the responsibility of the Kearney County Board of Commissioners or the Kearney County Highway Superintendent. Anyone other than the above-mentioned should not give information or make statements concerning anything to do with the snow and ice removal operation.
The Sheriff’s dispatcher or deputies may be called upon to advise the Kearney County Highway Superintendent of road conditions after regular working hours or on holidays and weekends.
The Sheriff’s office should notify the Kearney County Highway Superintendent when there is a situation that exists making driving conditions dangerous. The Kearney County Highway Superintendent at that time may, at their discretion, dispatch snow and ice removal equipment and crews.
Emergency plowing for fire and rescue departments will be done at the discretion of the Kearney County Highway Superintendent.
No operators or equipment will be dispatched on holidays or weekends or any other hours other than the normal 7:30 am. to 4:00 pm workday unless specifically directed to do so by the Kearney County Highway Superintendent or Foreman.
If an operator is notified of an emergency from another source, they are to check with the Kearney County Highway Superintendent or Foreman before dispatching to that location.
The Kearney County Highway Superintendent will assign snow and ice removal personnel and equipment in a manner that conforms to this plan.
All equipment will be equipped with proper lighting and flashing lights mounted at the highest point on the vehicle. These lights must be on any time the vehicle is on public roads.
All operators will have a meeting in the fall outlining their duties. They will be furnished with a map of their area of responsibility and will be furnished a copy of the snow plan and procedure.
All operators will have a map of their area with School bus routes and a copy of the procedure of what roads have priority unless otherwise specified by the Kearney County Highway Superintendent.
Snow plowing operations will not begin until after the storm has passed and winds have subsided or at the discretion of the Kearney County Highway Superintendent or Foreman.
Routes will be plowed with a systematic approach to plow the entire area. Any part of a route that is not open at the end of the working day will be done the following day and so on until all roads above Minimum maintenance have been opened.
Salting / Sanding will be done at the discretion of the Kearney County Highway Superintendent on the paved roads in Kearney County at approaches to stop signs, approaches to railroad crossings, major road intersections, curves and/or other roads deemed necessary by the Kearney County Highway Superintendent.

This plan was presented and approved by the Kearney County Board of Commissioners on this 7^th day of October 2025