NEWS FROM O’FALLON CITY HALL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Snow Plowing
O’Fallon, Illinois – February 16, 2010 –
In response to the recent snow storm, plowing and ice control application for subdivision streets was authorized on Monday, February 15. By policy, when showfall is four inches or less, the City does not plow or treat subdivision streets. Only designated snow routes are addressed. Due to long range weather reports, no above freezing temperatures or sunshine was predicted for the entire week that would have melted the snow cover, so treatment was authorized.
When treating subdivision streets, cul-de-sacs are not usually addressed as their treatment slows progress significantly on the more heavily traveled through streets. The City’s older snow plows are incapable of maneuvering in the tight turning radius of cul-de-sacs. The cul-de-sacs that were plowed and treated on February 15 were done by our new plows that have the ability to make a turn in the cul-de-sacs without a three-point or more turn.
On Tuesday, February 16, the newer plows will be traveling through subdivisions and treating the snow that remains, as well cleaning cul-de-sacs.
The goal of the City of O’Fallon Public Works Department is to provide snow and ice control in a timely and cost-efficient manner. During ice or snow conditions, the Public Works Department’s Operations Group applies de-icer and plows snow. There are two phases for ice control and snow plowing: (1) when snow or ice conditions exist, salt is applied to the pavement based on public safety needs; and (2) depending on the pavement conditions and forecast, snow plowing will likely commence when four inches of snow accumulates. It is our standard practice to avoid salting roads in newer subdivisions as repeated salting of new concrete leads to rapid deterioration of that material.
Conditions such as blowing snow, continual freezing rain, accumulation, forecast conditions, or the need to assist with high priority state and township roadways vary for each snow and ice event. Accordingly, some streets or classes of streets may not be treated. Snow and ice removal goals are set primarily to afford public safety crews the ability to provide emergency services. General travel, commerce and individual convenience issues take a lower priority and are not always able to be accommodated. An ongoing assessment is made during snow and ice removal operations regarding when to discontinue removal operations.
Priority rankings are as follows:
-Emergency vehicle access to designated “Snow Routes”
-“Snow Emergency Routes” as adopted by the City Council
-Roadway surfaces serving City, Township, County, State and Federal facilities
-Roadway surfaces serving schools
-Major intersections
-Secondary arterial connectors
-Subdivision through streets
###
Additional Information Contact:
Pamala L. Funk
Assistant City Administrator
624-4500, extension 9-1112
| 
