Othello discusses snow removal policies

OTHELLO — Othello created an official snow removal policy to inform citizens of what they can expect each winter.

Municipal Services Coordinator Jay Van Ness said there are three phases of snow and ice removal operations.

The first phase is when there is a storm in the forecast.

When public works is aware of a pending storm, which is when at least one to two inches of snow or freezing rain are expected, the maintenance crew prepares equipment and begins snow and ice operations if necessary.

The second phase is when the storm occurs, he said.

When two inches to one foot of snow accumulates, the maintenance crew is dispatched to begin snow and ice removal, Van Ness said. The maintenance crews are divided into teams and they begin snow removal on priority routes first.

The priority routes include arterial roadways, transit and school bus routes, emergency routes, access points to freeways and park and ride lots, he said.

The second priority streets are low volume residential streets and access streets to commercial areas.

Other lower priority streets include city parking lots, alleys and remaining residential areas.

The crews keep track of the lane miles, which are the number of miles each vehicle plows, Van Ness said. On average, during a heavy snow fall, the eight plows travel between 120 and 150 lane miles because the plow is about eight feet wide leading to crews plowing roadways several times before they are clear.

They also salt signaled intersections, roadways before stop signs and intersections with state highways.

Some crew members are working up to 16-hour shifts, Van Ness said. One crew worker only got a few minutes of sleep one night due to the immediate need to plow.

“If we have to go over eight hours, then we will,” he said.

The final phase occurs when storm conditions continue with snow accumulation of up to or greater than one foot.

All functional equipment is working 24 hours per day and crew are scheduled for 12 hour shifts, according to a city document. The third phase is projected to be uncommon.

“Efforts are made to assist citizens whose vehicles are stranded and present a threat to public safety,” Van Ness said. “Abandoned or stalled vehicles blocking or impairing use of road travels may be towed.”

There were some issues with snow plowing in residential areas this winter.

One person stood in front of a snow plow trying to prevent the crew from plowing the roadway and blocking a freshly shoveled driveway, Van Ness said. Eventually the person moved and the roadway was plowed.

He also explained how the snow is plowed.

Van Ness said they plow from the center of the roadway out to prevent an accumulation of snow in the middle of the roadway that could cause traffic obstruction or potentially create ice after it begins to melt. 

If roads are deemed hazardous, they can also be closed from travel, he said. Snow and ice removal operations are only done when it is not hazardous to the crew.

Van Ness said he has an experienced crew.

Mayor Shannon McKay complimented the crew for how well they’ve maintained the streets this winter.