WILKES-BARRE — As Old Man Winter prepared to unleash his fury on the Wyoming Valley just days before the start of spring, municipalities took action Monday to prepare.
The Luzerne County Transportation Authority and Martz Trailways will be closed, including the terminals at Martz.
The County of Lackawanna Transit System will also be closed and will not be offering bus service.
Luzerne County Council members postponed their 6 p.m. Tuesday meeting and work session until March 21 at the county courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. A council strategic initiatives committee meeting slated for 5 p.m. Tuesday was also delayed until March 21.
Luzerne County President Judge Richard Hughes closed county court offices. But Hughes said court representatives will be available to accept and process protection-from-abuse (PFA) filings and other emergency petitions.
Those with emergency filings should contact the prothonotary’s office at 570-825-1745 during business hours for instructions. After 3:30 p.m., residents should call county 911 to coordinate emergency PFA filings.
All hearings and trials scheduled for Tuesday will be rescheduled.
County Manager C. David Pedri said employees in some offices are permitted to use personal or vacation days Tuesday without seeking prior approval. But the county cannot shut down certain departments: 911, emergency management, building and grounds, the prison, road and bridge, the sheriff’s department, the boiler plant and emergency protective services for children and other vulnerable citizens.
Trash changes, parking bans
Municipalities across Luzerne County made the following announcements ahead of the winter storm:
Ashley
The borough will have no cardboard/paper pickup Tuesday; there will also be no recyclable collections Wednesday.
Residents near fire hydrants are asked to clear the area if possible, and all residents are asked to use off-street parking to allow the road department to clear the roads.
Dallas
The Dallas Area Municipal Authority will not collect trash on Tuesday; it will be collected Wednesday. All other collection days will remain on schedule.
Duryea
The regularly scheduled borough council meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been rescheduled to March 21.
Per Mayor Keith Moss, there will be no passing on roads throughout the borough until 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Emergency services, street department and police department vehicles will be allowed to pass.
Exeter Borough
A parking ban is in effect on Wyoming Avenue in Exeter through Tuesday and Wednesday.
Forty Fort
Mayor Andy Tuzinski announced a snow emergency has been declared until 9 p.m. Wednesday.
An overnight parking ban is also in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday. Vehicles not removed from roadways during the parking ban will be subject to ticketing and towing.
The parking ban encompasses the following streets in the borough:
• Wyoming Avenue
• Welles Street
• River Street (from Rutter Avenue to Wyoming Avenue)
• Slocum Street
• Shoemaker Street
• Dennison Street
• Murray Street
Residents are also reminded that shoveling or blowing snow into the roadway is strictly prohibited.
Hanover Township
Township Manger Sam Guesto said the garbage schedule is as scheduled, but residents should expect possible delays in pickup. Also, recycling pickup for Tuesday will now be March 20.
Kingston
There will be no garbage or recycling collection on Tuesday. As of Monday, there are no other changes to the weekly curbside-collection routine.
Parking is prohibited on the even-numbered side of the streets on Tuesday. Parking is prohibited on the odd-numbered side of the streets on Wednesday.
Residents and businesses with off-street parking accommodations are urged to keep their vehicles off streets. Failure to comply with the parking regulations may result in vehicles being towed at the owner’s expense.
Luzerne
Mayor James Keller has declared a snow emergency for the borough through noon Wednesday. Residents must remove vehicles from roads, where possible. All vehicles left on snow emergency routes, including Main and Bennett streets, will be ticketed and removed.
Nanticoke
There will be no trash collection Tuesday.
If residents have off-street parking spaces, they are asked to park their vehicles there.
The Nanticoke Housing Authority has announced it will be closed Tuesday.
Plymouth Borough
Along with the winter weather emergency, officials in Plymouth have instituted a temporary parking restriction until further notice.
The following restrictions are in place in the borough:
• Route 11 – Carey Avenue to Vine Street: No parking on odd-numbered side of the street.
• Route 11 – Vine Street to Driscoll Street: No parking on either side of the street.
• Academy Street: No parking on even-numbered side of the street.
• Davenport Street: No parking on odd-numbered side of the street.
• Orchard Street: No parking on even-numbered side of the street.
• Second Street: No parking on even-numbered side of the street from Davenport Street to Orchard Street.
• Franklin Street: No parking on odd-numbered side of the street.
• Moss Street: No parking on even-numbered side of the street.
• Turner Street: No parking on odd-numbered side of the street. Residents are encouraged to use municipal parking lot across from Unigraphic.
• Reynolds Street: No parking on odd-numbered side of the street. Residents are encouraged to park at the upper part of Barnes Street and Barnes Street above Second Street.
• High Street: No parking on the roadway. Residents are encouraged to park on either side of Davis Street.
• Willow Street: No parking on the odd-numbered side of the street from Eno Street to Cherry Street. Residents are encouraged to use the municipal parking lot.
• Duffy Lane: No parking on the roadway.
• Hillside Avenue: No parking on the roadway from Center Avenue to Duffy Lane.
Swoyersville
Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s garbage and recycling collections will be on Thursday and Friday.
Residents with driveways are asked to move cars off the roads, so the roads can be plowed without issue.
West Pittston
The borough is under a state of emergency. Mayor Tom Blaskiewicz issued a snow parking ban along all of Wyoming Avenue from midnight Tuesday through 7 a.m. Thursday. Vehicles not removed are subject to ticketing and towing.
Wilkes-Barre
Residents are asked to be patient during snow removal and to not shovel snow into the street.
Residents with complaints or concerns about road conditions should call 570-208-4240 to speak with a dispatcher.
Complaints and concerns can also be sent online via the “Service Request” form.
Tuesday’s garbage and recycling collection will be suspended for the North End, Heights and Brookside neighborhoods. Double collection will occur on March 21.
Wilkes-Barre fire and police departments will remain fully operational to address emergencies.
Mayor Tony George announced City Hall will be closed Tuesday.
Wyoming
Parking on Wyoming Avenue is prohibited from 10 p.m. Monday until 11 p.m. Tuesday. The parking ban may be extended through Wednesday depending upon conditions.
From 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., officials ask residents to park on even-numbered sides of the street. Shoveling or blowing snow into roadways is prohibited.
Check back with the Times Leader as more announcements are made.
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