Announcements

Snow Removal Plan

Winter 2007/2008

Every year, the Street Maintenance Division conducts a practice of the snow removal plan. For the 2007/2008 winter weather season, review of the plan was held on Tuesday, November 6. Employees from the Street Maintenance Division inspect equipment, locate the required gear and travel their assigned routes streets.

The annual practice provides an opportunity to review the plan and incorporate approximately ten new miles of street as well as train employees.

Snow removal and ice control plan

The snow removal and ice control plan allows for 24 hour operations when necessary. The map attached shows Priority #1 routes in all areas. Routes generally follow a priority order from most traveled streets to least traveled streets. Criteria used to establish priorities are traffic routes, bus routes, schools, and major employment centers. In general, winter operations progress from arterial streets (such as Iowa or 6th Street) to collector streets (such as Tennessee or Lawrence Avenue) to areas around schools than residential streets and cul-de-sacs.

Map of snow removal areas and priority sand / salt routes

Snow plowing operations are generally not effective if there is less than a three inch accumulation of snow. Crews follow the same routes for spreading sand and salt for icy conditions and small accumulations of snow.

Map of snow plow routes

Snow plowing -- parked cars and driveways. When snow accumulations require plowing, crews plow snow around cars that are left parked on the street. Persons wishing access to those vehicles should move them off the street prior to plowing operations (approximately three-inch accumulation) or they will be responsible for digging them out.

There is a windrow of snow left at the curb when city crews plow snow. Unfortunately, the windrows do block driveways. Residents and businesses who need access to those drives will be responsible for removing the windrow after crews have plowed the street.

Citizen responsibilities

As winter weather approaches, Lawrence citizens are reminded of the snow and ice removal ordinance. To make public sidewalks safe for pedestrians, the owner or occupant of property immediately adjacent to a public sidewalk is responsible for the removal of any snow or ice that accumulates on the sidewalk. Removal must be done within 24 hours after the ice forms or the snowfall ends.

In the event that removal of ice is impossible, the property owner or occupant is required to place sand on the sidewalk within 24 hours.

In a situation where a property owner or occupant fails to comply with the ordinance and the Department of Neighborhood Resources receives a complaint, an inspector will notify the occupant and property owner with a written notice of the violation and order the prompt removal of snow or ice. Failure to remove the snow or ice within 5 days after the violation notice may result in a citation. Property owners will be assessed a fine of $20 for each day the violation occurs, if found guilty of the violation.

For more information on the snow and ice removal ordinance, contact the Department of Neighborhood Resources, (785) 832-3100.

Please be a good neighbor. Residents are responsible for the snow removal in driveways and maintenance of sidewalks adjacent to their properties. There is no formal organization to assist people with these responsibilities. The City would like to encourage everyone to be a good neighbor. Think about neighbors and friends who do not have the ability to shovel snow from their own walks and drives. Let neighbors know ahead of time if you are willing to help. And remember, snow plows will create a blockage even after the drive has been cleaned.

Trash services

City crews will operate normal residential and commercial trash services as conditions allow. If conditions become too hazardous to crews and equipment, operations will be suspended until the following day. In commercial areas and parking lots, owners need to remember not to block enclosures when having the lots plowed, or crews will not be able to empty the containers.

For more information about the Public Works snow removal plan, contact Tom Orzulak, street division manager at (785) 832-3021 or Chuck Soules @ 832-3123.