12-20-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Little Canada: 12/14/2017 Snowplowing Policy Page 2 4. How Snow will be Plowed Snow will be plowed in a manner so as to minimize traffic obstructions. The center of the roadway will be plowed first. The snow shall then be pushed from left to right on two-way streets. On one-way streets or where there is a center boulevard, snow may be pushed in either direction. The discharge shall go onto the boulevard area of the street. Snow on cul-de- sacs will normally be plowed to the boulevard of the cul-de-sac with every attempt made to spread the snow out as equally as possible while also being efficient in cleaning the cul-de- sac. Some cul-de-sacs only have one or two areas where snow can go within reason. In times of extreme snowfall, streets will not always be completely cleared immediately. During extreme snow events, plow operators will make every effort to keep roads open and passable until the snow slows or stops and the streets can be fully cleared. 5. Snow Removal The Public Works Director, or designated representative, will determine if and when snow will be removed from the area by truck. Such snow removal will occur in areas where there is no room on the boulevard for snow storage and in areas where accumulated piles of snow create a hazardous condition. Snow removal operations will not commence until other snowplowing operations have been completed. Snow removal operations may also be delayed depending on weather conditions, personnel, and budget availability. The snow will be removed and hauled to a snow storage area. The snow storage area will be located so as to minimize environmental problems. 6. Procedures The City has divided the city in half based on 35E. One full size dump truck is assigned to each side and plows and de-ices streets. Each truck addresses major roads and roads with hills and curves first. The remaining roads are addressed based on efficiency, traffic conditions, and weather. A pickup truck is assigned to each side to plow cul-de-sacs, easements, and smaller streets if necessary. The pickup trucks usually start an hour or two later in order to work behind the dump trucks. Weather conditions and other factors could change the start time of the pickups. Two pickup trucks are assigned to plowing parking lots, trails, and the ice rinks if necessary. They typically start at the same time or up to three hours later than the dump trucks. They clear the high priority lots first – Fire Station, City Hall, and the lot at the corner of Little Canada Road and McMenemy Street, which serves as a bus stop. Another employee is assigned to sidewalk cleanup. A Toolcat utility vehicle is typically used to clear sidewalks using either a plow or a snow blower depending on the amount of snow on the sidewalks. This employee usually starts three hours after the dump trucks start so that the sidewalk mouths at streets can be cleared of the snow left by the plows. Additional plowing, scraping, winging back and/or application of ice control materials will occur as determined by the Public Works Director or designee. Whenever possible, these additional operations will continue during normal work shifts until the ice and/or snow is removed from the roadways.