Snow Removal Procedures

The main objective of our snow removal plan is to allocate sufficient manpower, equipment, and materials to the snow removal effort to provide an “open road” objective.  An “open road “ objective provides that the streets  should be passable with only a reasonable amount of inconvenience, based upon the actual storm conditions, and should provide a safe driving surface, if reasonable driving caution is taken considering the weather conditions.  An “open road” objective should not be confused with a “bare pavement” objective as a “bare pavement” objective would allocate increased manpower, equipment, and especially chemicals, to maintain bare pavement conditions on all streets, at all times during storm conditions.  Within the “open road” objective, the priority system is used to distinguish the difference in service levels that streets with different characteristics receive.  The minor arterials are cleared to bare pavement as soon as possible.  Plowing and salting are provided on a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week basis.  On collector streets, providing salting and plowing as necessary to maintain pass ability.  However, curb-to-curb, bare pavement during the storm is not the main objective.  On local streets, especially those with cul-de-sacs, we strive to maintain pass ability.  Accumulations of 2 inches on the streets are a possibility during a 1-inch per hour snowfall.  Due to the priority system, that has been established, if snow continues to accumulate over 6 inches, we must pull equipment from working on local streets to maintain pass ability on minor arterial and collector streets.  This can cause accumulations of over 3 inches on some local streets and cul-de-sacs.  Our goal is to have all streets cleared and curbed within 8 hours after a storm event.

The size of snow removal operations, in terms of equipment and drivers, is dependent upon the allowable snow accumulation and upon the intensity of the snow storm.  Our plan has been developed based on a 2-inch accumulation on streets, a 3-inch accumulation on cul-de-sacs and a storm-intensity of 1-inch per hour snowfall.  An accumulation of 2 inches means that a truck must repeat its route every 2 hours.  At a plow speed of 15-miles per hour, and the need to make 3-4 passes to clear the street, this calculates to a truck’s route of 6.1 miles in length.  At this rate, approximately 6 trucks will be needed for the operational period.

ICE MELTING — Anti-icing procedures (also referred to as pre-salting or salting of the streets), is a proactive approach to prevent the bond between snowfall and pavement, to expedite the plowing operations and minimize the use of salt.  In the past, salt was added after snow began to accumulate to break the bond between the snow and the pavement. Intersections, hills, curves, and primary routes will receive priority attention. During a salt only event the Village will be divided into two areas: East to include White Oaks Bay, Hickory Falls, Deep Springs, Shore Hills and Wonder View, the East area will be covered by the contractor. West to include Meadows of West Bay, Woods Creek, Deerpath, Estates One & Two and Sunrise Ridge, The West area will be covered by the Village manpower permitting.      

PLOWING — Plowing operations normally begin as soon as snow begins to accumulate to 1” (one) and will start on all snow routes concurrently.  Snow will be plowed in assigned snow removal routes throughout the Village, side streets and cul-de-sac areas are secondary.  If snow removal operations start during the day and are expected to continue beyond a 14-hour shift because of forecasted snow accumulation, one-half of the crew leaves after a 10 hour shift to rest, then will return 4 hours later, at which time they will relieve other employees.  Backup personnel are brought in as necessary.  As mentioned earlier, removal operations on local streets that are passable, but not completely curbed, will cease at midnight so that the crews can concentrate on primary streets.  If snow removal operations on primary streets cease at midnight, crews will return between 5-6 A.M.   If accumulation is expected to exceed 6 inches, contractor would utilize their reserve equipment and switch from some of their plowing vehicles to the wheel loaders for snow removal if needed.

INTERSECTIONS, CORNERS AND BUS STOPS — During heavy accumulations of snow, the stacking of snow at intersections becomes a concern.  Every attempt is to be made during plowing operations to minimize the amount of snow stacked at intersections.  Additionally, as part of our cleanup operations during heavy accumulations of snow, we will return to the intersections after streets have been cleared and push back the snow to improve visibility.

VILLAGE EQUIPMENT AND OPERATORS — When manpower permits the Village will provide the trucks and operators to complete operations to include plowing and salting for the following areas Deerpath, Sunrise Ridge Estates subdivisions, and all Village sites, to include Fire lane, well houses, and municipal buildings. Police personnel and Manhard personnel will be responsible to clear walks and door ways at their locations, and Public Works personnel will clear walks and door ways at Shop and Parks facilities.

SAFETY — The highest priority will be given to the safety of the Public and operators of plowing equipment. It will be the responsibility of the contractor to insure all operations are completed in a safe and efficient fashion.  

VILLAGE FACILITIES

Municipal center            4444 Thompson Rd
Public Works & Parks            4200 Thompson Rd
*Well House                    9607 Creekside
*Waste Water                     Creekside
Fire Lane            Shady to Creekside
Well House                    8805 Shady
Well House                    9021 Memory Trail
*Well House                    8601 W. Wonder Lake Rd.  Meadows West Bay
*Waste Water            4801 W. Wonder Lake Rd.  Meadows West Bay
*Well House            7316 North Wood Dr.    

All Village facilities will receive secondary priority with the exception of the Municipal Center, during normal operating hours Monday thru Friday    8am to 3pm an effort should be made to keep the area cleared. The contractor will be responsible for the areas identified with an asterisk during normal operations. However at the request of the Public Works Director or Designee additional areas may be required on a time and material basis.       
— Revised 12-22-09