Perry was pounded by a severe winter storm Friday, with drifting snow and low temperatures. The dangerous conditions will persist through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
The Perry Police Department said Friday afternoon that roads within the city are drifting
shut and travel is not advised. A tow ban is in effect across Dallas County, including the city of Perry.
“If you get stuck, you will need to get your vehicle out on your own,” said a spokesperson for the Perry City Hall. “We are currently experiencing life threatening weather. It is not safe for road crews or anyone. Please stay safe at home.”
The city’s snow ordinance remains in effect. The Perry Public Works and Parks departments worked diligently Friday to clean roads as much as possible, but they were forced to stop at 3 p.m.
“It’s for the safety of the drivers, as the snow is drifting too much,” said a spokesperson for the Perry Public Works Department. “Work will continue Saturday morning at 6 a.m. to clean up.”
Friday’s garbage routes for commercial and residential customers were only partially completed. If your garbage was not collected, call the Perry City Hall at 515-465-2481 on Monday morning, and a crew will collect what they were unable to collect on Friday.
The McCreary Community Building, Perry Public Library and Hometown Heritage at the Carnegie Library Museum will be closed Saturday, Jan. 13. Adult MCB members may still use the 24-hour fitness room.
Advice for motorists under the city snow ordinance:
- Do not park on the street. City workers can remove snow more safely and quickly with no cars on the roads. Since snow is predicted during the morning and daytime hours, snow
removal operations will be ongoing. - Motorists should stay back and give the snow plows as much room as possible. It can be very difficult for the operators of the plows to see while performing snow removal
operations. - The Perry Police Department will be enforcing the snow ordinance. To avoid a knock on your door or a ticket, do not park on the streets.
- With the conditions of this particular storm, please avoid driving if at all possible.
“This will be a long and continuing operation,” said a spokesperson for the city of Perry. “We will also be performing snow removal at the Perry Municipal Airport when possible. Please be patient with us and know we are doing the best we can.”
Once a snow emergency takes effect, according to the city’s snow ordinance, “No person shall park, abandon or leave unattended and vehicle on any public street, alley or city-owned off-street parking area during a snow emergency unless the snow has been removed or plowed from such street, alley or parking area and the snow has ceased to fall.”
The city code defines a snow emergency as “any accumulation of snow in the amount of one-half inch or any amount in excess thereof. A snow emergency parking ban shall continue from its inception through the duration of the snow or ice storm and the 48-hour time period after cessation of the storm except as above provided upon streets which have been fully opened.”
Property owners in the residential district must also clear sidewalks of snow, ice or accumulations within 48 hours of the end of the storm, and property owners in the business district must clear sidewalks of snow, ice or accumulations within 12 hours of the end of the storm.
If sidewalks are not cleared within the specified time, the city of Perry may perform the work and assess the costs against the property owners for collection in the same manner as property tax.
For more information, call the Perry City Hall at 515-465-2481.
