City of Fort Dodge, Iowa

11 hours ago

Thank you to Fort Dodge Webster County Scanner for sharing this awesome video showing the work that goes into downtown snow removal. We d like to take this opportunity to talk to you about Downtown Snow Operations.

Downtown Snow Operations: Now vs. Then

If you've been around Fort Dodge long enough, you probably remember how downtown snow used to be handled.

THEN: After a big snowfall, crews would push snow into multiple large piles throughout downtown. Those piles often blocked parking spaces and made visibility and access tougher. And because there wasn't a coordinated haul-out plan, it could take several weeks of chipping away at it before the snow was finally moved out.

NOW: Our approach is more efficient and a lot less disruptive long-term. Crews windrow snow into the center lanes first to keep traffic moving and maintain access. Then, within the next couple of days, we come back with a coordinated haul-out operation to remove the snow from downtown entirely.

That said - downtown removal isn't a "send a plow and it disappears" situation. It never has been. There's nowhere to put the snow, which means it has to be hauled out - requiring contractors, heavy equipment, trucks, and coordinated staging. During significant snowfalls, we're balancing safety, access, available resources, and timing across the entire community. So we know snow events are frustrating and we understand things may not happen exactly when people want them to happen. These challenges aren't unique to Fort Dodge, but we're handling them with a more efficient plan than we had years ago. ... See moreSee less

Likes: 63
Shares: 8
Comments: 0

1 day ago

Downtown Snow Removal Notice

A parking prohibition will go into effect on all Commercial Emergency Snow Routes from 8:00 pm TONIGHT (Sunday, February 22, 2026) to 8:00 am Monday, February 23, 2026.

Vehicles parked on commercial routes after 8:00 pm will be towed. Please move them to City parking lots away from existing snow piles.

We anticipate this will be the only night a Commercial Emergency Snow Route will need to be issued for clean up from the weekend s storm.

View the emergency snow route map: bit.ly/fdsnowroutes

Stay Informed
Like and follow @fortdodgeiowa for updates.
Text FDRESSNOW to 91896 for residential alerts.
Text FDCOMSNOW to 91896 for commercial alerts. Downtown Snow Removal Notice

A parking prohibition will go into effect on all Commercial Emergency Snow Routes from 8:00 pm TONIGHT (Sunday, February 22, 2026) to 8:00 am Monday, February 23, 2026.

Vehicles parked on commercial routes after 8:00 pm will be towed. Please move them to City parking lots away from existing snow piles.

We anticipate this will be the only night a Commercial Emergency Snow Route will need to be issued for clean up from the weekend s storm.

View the emergency snow route map: bit.ly/fdsnowroutes

Stay Informed
Like and follow @fortdodgeiowa for updates.
Text FDRESSNOW to 91896 for residential alerts.
Text FDCOMSNOW to 91896 for commercial alerts. ... See moreSee less

Likes: 41
Shares: 33
Comments: 0

4 days ago

Winter remembered how to winter... and in case you forgot: Residential Emergency Snow Routes automatically go into effect when snow reaches 2 inches. Based on the current timing, we anticipate routes going into effect late evening/overnight.

Do yourself (and your neighbors) a solid: move your vehicles off the roadways now.Winter remembered how to winter... and in case you forgot: Residential Emergency Snow Routes automatically go into effect when snow reaches 2 inches. Based on the current timing, we anticipate routes going into effect late evening/overnight.

Do yourself (and your neighbors) a solid: move your vehicles off the roadways now. ... See moreSee less

Likes: 81
Shares: 34
Comments: 0

1 week ago

City offices will be closed today, Monday, February 16, 2026, to honor the President's Day holiday.City offices will be closed today, Monday, February 16, 2026, to honor the President's Day holiday. ... See moreSee less

Likes: 7
Shares: 1
Comments: 0