Pennington County commissioners took up two proposed ordinances intended to clear vehicles hindering snow removal and to set procedures for 'prospective snow events.' County highway staff said leaving vehicles in the traveled way creates safety hazards for plow drivers and the public. Joe Miller described cases where vehicles parked in rights of way produce drifts and make snow removal inefficient.

Tyler Sobczak, representing the state’s attorney’s office, told commissioners the county likely lacks the municipal authority the draft requires for proactive towing during an imminent snow event and recommended relying on abandoned‑vehicle statutes and other existing remedies. He suggested a short‑term approach of tagging vehicles under the abandoned‑vehicle statutes and pursuing legislative changes to authorize a prospective snow‑event towing power for counties.

Commissioners discussed stepped enforcement (public alerts, text and social‑media notifications, postcards to Rapid Valley residents) and non‑towing penalties as an alternative to immediate towing because of possible costs and liens. After debate the board substituted a motion to deny the towing amendment (reverting to the existing ordinance and enforcement process) and directed staff to prepare revised language and outreach, plus prepare for potential state‑level statutory changes.

Next steps: staff will produce redlined ordinance language indicating any feasible changes, develop a public‑notification campaign for Rapid Valley, and consult with legislators about statutory amendments to grant counties explicit towing authority for certain snow‑event conditions.