Planning for Snow and Ice Removal

Snow plowing and ice control for the miles of streets are top priority items during the winter season. Dedicated routes have been established to ensure major thoroughfares and residential and industrial areas receive proper attention during snow and ice storms. We are happy to announce that the Public Works Department hired a contractor who specializes in routing software. With their help, new, more efficient routes have been created to increase the efficiency of the crews when plowing the streets.

A primary goal is to attack the storm early on and not wait until it is too late. This results in safe streets plowed from curb to curb, while other towns are just getting started.

Snow Removal Operations

"How does the Village decide when to start plowing streets? Which streets get cleared first?"

Should snow continue to fall and salting by itself is no longer effective, the road supervisor will contact the Streets Superintendent who will mobilize the department for a snow removal operation. For snow removal operations, the Village is broken down into various sections. The number of employees and equipment assigned to a snow removal operation will vary depending upon the type and intensity of the storm. If a snow removal operation is anticipated to last an extended period of time, the workforce will be split into shifts, working a twelve‐hour work shift. After the twelve‐hour work period, employees must have eight hours of rest. Generally, if a shift works through the night, they will be sent home at 7:00 a.m., and the second shift will then work until 7:00 p.m. If the storm has continued, the first shift will return to work at 7:00 p.m. to continue snow removal operations.

In rare instances, when a single storm event with extreme blizzard type conditions, or when a series of severe snow storms occur in rapid succession prior to full recovery from the previous storm, it is anticipated the physical conditions caused by these natural events will exceed the capability of existing Public Works staff and equipment.

In such circumstances, the Streets Superintendent or Director of Public Works will activate the Emergency Snow Clearance Plan in concurrence with the Village Manager. Under this plan, snow plowing services shall first be concentrated on opening arterial, collector, significant roads, and bus and snow routes within the corporate limits. Snow removal equipment will be staffed around the clock by reassigning personnel to one of two twelve hour shifts as provided above.

When plowing under adverse conditions, initial opening of heavily drifted areas may require a tractor mounted reversible plow or high capacity snow blower. In extreme circumstances, contractual assistance may be necessary. Clearance of all streets is hereby designated on the basis of five levels of priority services as detailed.

Priority One Streets