Snow Plowing

When to Trigger Plowing

We have made some small but substantial changes to our snow plowing requirements. Last season, our streets became quite treacherous from the same climate conditions that caused the roof ice dams. A few years back, as a result of one snow removal contractor continuously plowing our streets even when there was literally nothing to plow, we required new snow contractors to plow streets only when snow accumulations were 2” or more. This worked quite well for a few years, but not well at all last year when small accumulations were packed down by vehicles one layer after another with thaw-freeze cycles in between, creating a sheet of non-removable glare ice on all of our streets. Even the plowing contractor was dismayed, as according to his judgment he would have plowed more often. This year we have relaxed the 2” requirement and have instead worked out a plan to plow “as needed” based on snow accumulation, weather, and road conditions rather than snow accumulation alone.

Ice Melt Application

The application of ice melting substance to our entrances was also initiated a few years back and has been well received and unanimously approved for subsequent years at our annual homeowners meeting, even though it has added to the cost of snow removal contracts. We have even heard requests from our residents at the past few meetings that we apply ice melt even further up the streets or, indeed, on all streets. Unfortunately, costs for ice melt application limit just how far we can go with this approach. However, we have stressed to the contractor that the most important part of the ice-melt job is to keep the intersections with Springhill Road safe, including applying ice melt evenly across the streets and up as far as we together deem appropriate.

Resident Obligations

As residents, we can all ensure that we are taking steps to keep the costs of snow removal lower (remember, we pay by the hour) and the quality higher. Three simple steps are given below:

Off-Street Parking

It is very difficult for a plower to work around cars, trailers, or other items left on the streets or in cul-de-sacs. It is thus vitally important that we park all personal items on our properties, not on the streets or cul-de-sacs.

Garbage Container Placement

We can all imagine how tough it must be to plow on garbage pickup days when containers are all over on the streets. It is impossible for the plower to do a good job in such situations, and it takes substantially more time (and thus cost) to plow. Suggestions for limiting garbage container issues include:

• Do NOT put the container out the night before garbage day; instead put it out as you leave for work in the morning. In many cases, the plower will have done your street before you leave for work.
• Place your container as far back from the street as possible on the shoulder. Of course it must be within reach of the garbage truck as well.
• Remove your empty container from the street as soon as possible on garbage day. This will ensure that the container is not an obstruction early the next morning if an overnight snowfall occurs. Also, the plower may be called to remove snow in the evening if a heavy daytime accumulation has occurred.

Driveway Entrance Snow Removal

Every year we have complaints from some residents about other residents shoveling snow onto the street from their driveways, particularly after streets have been plowed. This usually happens as the result of a simple misunderstanding. It could easily seem to us that the plower is being totally rude and obnoxious by leaving our driveways obstructed as a result of plowing, especially if we have just cleared our entire driveway. This is, however, not the case. Our contract with the plowers always stipulates that they be as considerate of residents as possible, but not to make concerted effort to keep driveway entrances clear. This allows them to move quickly through the streets at a speed that pushes snow farther off the sides. The cost of ensuring that all driveway entrances are left clear would be prohibitive. Individual residents can on their own certainly contract with the plower to have their driveway cleared after all streets have been plowed.

Lending a Hand

Some of the best help in all aspects of subdivision maintenance comes from personal initiative. If we see that access to our group of mailboxes is dicey because of recent snow, we can apply our own shovel, sand, and or ice melt around that area to make it safer for the mail carrier. When we take our daily stroll, we can take a grocery bag along, and if we encounter trash, we can pick it up. If we see that weather conditions have made the entrances at Springhill road slippery between plowing cycles, we can park in a safe spot and spread sand and ice melt from the garbage cans located near the entrances (which will be filled by the board). Everything is made a little (or a lot) better if we realize that our subdivision is just an extension of our personal property and we treat it that way!