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M E M O R A N D U M


DATE: October 20, 2011

TO: Public Works Committee

FROM: Darryl Kranz, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT: Snowplowing and Salting Procedures for the City of Hartford


The City of Hartford maintains approximately 88 miles of streets, however, every snow fall/storm presents a different challenge. Snow moisture levels vary based on temperature and the closer the temperature is to 32 degrees, the heavier the content of the snow. Heavy snow makes snow and ice removal much more difficult. The process is more efficient and effective when snow is dry and fluffy.

PROCEDURE: During a minor salt and snow operation of two inches or less, the Police Department will notify the Director of Public Works of the necessity to begin salting the streets. It will normally take two hours for 4 salt trucks to cover the City of Hartford during a minor salting procedure. When two inches or more of snow have fallen, a thorough plowing and salting procedure will clear the snow and ice as quickly as possible.

The Public Works Department plows the main roads first, which are most widely used, as quickly and safely as possible. With the large industrial park and many schools, it is necessary to plow certain streets earlier in the snowplowing cycle than other streets. All state trunk highways in the City and streets leading to the industrial area and schools are plowed first.

Crews can plow the entire City with nine (9) plows and two end loaders in approximately 5.5 hours. All of the City's trucks have wingplow attachments. It would take at least another hour to do a curb-to-curb plowing operation and that time-frame depends upon the time of day for the snowplowing/salting operation and the type of snow. Dead-end streets, cul-de-sacs and alleys are very time consuming. A daytime snowplowing operation takes twice as long as a night time snowplowing operation due to traffic and parked cars on the roadway.

Snow and ice removal has to be prioritized based on traffic volumes to provide the greatest level of safety to the greatest number of residents as quickly as possible. Crews will continue post-storm clean up operations following initial plowing and salting so that all streets will be cleared curb-to-curb. During warmer weather conditions it may be determined to use salt only.

Extended snow storms make snow and ice removal more difficult and less effective. Crews will concentrate on clearing the main arterial streets until the snow fall diminishes. Residents should always use extreme caution when driving during a snowstorm.

PARKING LOTS AND SIDEWALKS: There are many City parking lots from which snow must be removed. The City also maintains approximately 2 1/2 miles of sidewalks and one mile of alleys. After the streets have been plowed, City crews will use small truck-mounted plows and a skid loader to plow the sidewalks. It takes another several hours to remove the snow or salt from these sidewalks and parking lots.

AIRPORT: The Hartford Municipal Airport is plowed after the City streets are completed. It takes one truck about two hours to plow the airport.

REGULATIONS: Per Municipal Code, Section 7.11, if property owners fail to remove snow and ice from their sidewalk within 12 daylight hours after termination of any snow or ice, the City of Hartford will send out written notice. Once they receive the notice most people normally remove the snow and ice immediately. The majority of residents of the City of Hartford do an outstanding job in keeping their sidewalks clean of snow and ice, however, we have experienced problems with properties with absentee landlords failing to have snow and ice removed from sidewalks which results in complaints from neighbors.

Snow emergency and winter parking regulations go into effect between December 1 and March 31. During that time no vehicles are allowed to park on City Streets between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.

The Hartford Municipal Code also prevents citizens from blowing or shoveling their snow into the street. Violators of this ordinance are subject to a fine of not less than $172.00.

COMPLAINTS: The type of snowplowing complaints received by the Public Works Department in the past are regarding the plow hitting a mailbox, sod is torn up adjacent to their curb & gutter or crews had plowed too far away from the curb and the post office could not deliver their mail. Homeowners need to understand that they must clean out their own mailbox area in order to have proper mail delivery. All damage to mailboxes or sod caused by plows is replaced by City crews, except when it is clear the mailbox post was already rotted out from age.

Each year complaints are also received from citizens who feel that the plowing operation takes too long to get their street plowed. Snowplowing during the daytime is extremely difficult because of the number of cars on the roadways. City crews are sometimes unable to plow to the curb line because of parked vehicles. From 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. when on-street parking is not allowed, City crews can remove snow much more efficiently. The Director of Public Works responds to all complaints received from citizens after a snowplowing event. In general, however, people are very cooperative during a snowplowing event.

If you have any additional questions concerning the snowplowing operation for the City of Hartford, please contact my office.


DK:sr

PublicWorksCommittee-Snowplowing&Salting2010