City of Halstead

❄️ Winter Gas Consumption Tips from the City of Halstead ❄️
Cold weather can cause natural gas usage to increase. As usage increases, monthly costs may also rise. Here are a few simple tips to help manage winter gas consumption and keep costs more predictable:
🔥 Set your thermostat wisely
Lowering your thermostat just a few degrees—especially overnight or when you’re away for more than 4 hours—can help reduce usage.
🏠 Seal drafts
Check doors and windows for air leaks and use weatherstripping or draft stoppers where needed.
🧣 Use heat efficiently
Dress in layers and use blankets to stay warm instead of turning up the heat.
🛠 Maintain appliances
Keep furnaces and gas appliances properly serviced to ensure they’re running efficiently.
🚪 Close unused spaces
Close doors and vents in rooms you don’t regularly use to help direct heat where it’s needed most.
💧Hot Water
Set the temperature of your water heater to warm (120 degrees) and wash your clothes in cold water.
📞 Smell gas? Act fast!
Natural gas has a strong odor (similar to rotten eggs). If you smell gas, leave the area immediately and contact emergency services.
💡 Level Pay Option
Level Pay is a billing option designed to help balance utility bills over the course of the year by providing more consistent monthly payments. Enrollment opens each May for the upcoming year. Additional details will be shared closer to the sign-up period.

Snow removal by the City of Halstead is taken care of through coordinated efforts primarily of the Public Works Dpt. with additional assistance from Police, Fire/EMS, & Parks & Rec.  Additionally, the city partners with Harvey County on snow removal activities within the city such as Hertzler/McNair, SW 36th St/6th St & Halstead Rd.  The objective of snow & ice removal is to reduce hazards of inclement road conditions to motorists & pedestrians, & to facilitate the ability of emergency service departments to respond to emergencies within & outside the city, maintain safe & passable routes for schools & businesses, & to allow residents the ability to travel in & out of the city.

Snow Removal Priorities:

● 1st Priority–Emergency & main traffic routes
Main Street from North St to 14th St, 2nd Street from Spruce St to Halstead Rd, 10th Street from McNair to Halstead Rd, 6th St from McNair to Halstead Rd, McNair from 6th St to 10th St

● 2nd Priority-Essential municipal, school, & business routes or other secondary routes
Chestnut St from 1st St to 14th St, Spruce St from 1st St to 6th St, North St from Main St to Halstead Rd, Industrial Rd, 1st St, 3rd St, & 4th St Spruce St to Chestnut St

● 3rd Priority–remaining residential streets & downtown/municipal building sidewalks
Will only be addressed as time & resources allow or upon completion of 1st & 2nd priorities, there will be no more than a one-to-two-time pass max on residential streets & streets will be cleared in a manner as efficient as possible with both manpower & available equipment

Snow removal procedures for Halstead:

• Snowfall at or less 2”–Generally snow removal will not be necessary or conducted although the city may treat some intersections or address problem areas as they are identified.

• Snowfall from 2”–6”–Generally snow removal will begin as soon as practical after snow fall has ceased, although this depends on the specifics of the snow event & timing of the weather event.  Every effort will be made to provide safe driving conditions prior to peak traffic hours in the community.  The city will mainly focus only on 1st & 2nd priorities, but may move on to 3rd priority depending on the particulars of the snow event & available equipment & manpower.

• Snowfall of 6” or more–The city will focus on clearing & maintaining the 1st & 2nd priority routes first before moving on to 3rd level priorities.  The city will move onto the 3rd priority routes as the snow event response to the other priorities & available equipment & manpower allow.  Depending on the nature & duration of the snowfall, it may be necessary to continually clear 1st & 2nd priority routes in order to ensure public safety.  1st & 2nd priorities will always be cleared before snow removal begins on streets that are 3rd priority.

Depending on the total accumulation, the city aims to try & clear all 1st & 2nd priority routes within 48 hrs after snowfall ends.  When snow events are predicted, the City requests that residents that live on priority routes or businesses do not park vehicles in the streets to allow the snowplows & equipment adequate room to operate.  If predicted snowfall is of the amount where residential streets would be addressed, the city would request that residents move their vehicles off streets to allow equipment to pass through on residential streets which are typically narrower. 

As equipment clears the roadway, some snow & ice may be windrowed or deposited in the center of the roadway or along the curbline, driveways, &/or sidewalks.  The city is not responsible for removal of this material & will not return to clear these areas of deposited snow but will make every effort to try & clear street intersections to allow for safe passage of vehicle traffic.  The city is not responsible for clearing out vehicles that are left or parked in the roadway that become surrounded by snow deposits from plows & will only move vehicles that pose an immediate & clear safety risk or are interfering with the orderly & efficient clearing of snow.

Snow is an inconvenience & can be a hazard for everyone, including those public employees responding to the weather event.  The above are general guidelines & are subject to change according to available equipment, manpower & the actual nature & particulars of the weather event necessitating response.  During heavy winter snow or ice conditions, staff responsible for snow response divide into shifts to try & cover as many hours with snow response & removal as possible & work hard to make city streets as passable & safe as possible. We appreciate everyone’s patience and focus on safety during travel, and for not parking on 1st or 2nd priority routes or residential streets during major snow events.

⚠️Utility payments MUST be submitted by 5PM TODAY, JANUARY 23RD to avoid fees & disconnection of services⚠️

⚠️⚠️ REMINDER ⚠️⚠️ All payment agreements MUST be set up by 5PM TODAY, JANUARY 22ND!!

Call for Special Meeting of the Halstead Land Bank Board of Trustees
January 21st, 2026 at 6:30pm