HIGHWAY
DEPARTMENT POLICIES
No: 2000-03 Date:
November 28, 2006
Policy: Snow Removal and Ice Control
Governing
Laws: RSA 231:92-a, RSA 507-B: 2-b,
Approval
Date: June 13, 2000
Next
Review Date: November 1, 2008
POLICY: It is the goal and intent of the Town of
PROCEDURE: The objective stated above will be achieved
by implementation and execution of the procedures and tasks outlined in the
Town of
LEVEL OF
SERVICE:
It is not possible to maintain a black snow and ice-free road or sidewalk
during a storm. It is the intention of the Town to provide practical, safe
access to homes, businesses and municipal facilities during winter storms. The
Town of
It
is our policy to start to conduct snow removal operations upon accumulations of
two to three inches of snowfall, measured at the
Pre-treatment
and ice control may be addressed prior to the actual storm beginning, during
the actual storm as seen effective, and preceding the storm. It should be noted
that salt has a much slower effect on melting snow and ice at temperatures
below 18 degrees, and may not be applied until it is warmer.
After
the storm has finished, treatment of the roads will begin when all the routes
have been cleaned up. Treatment may consist of sand, sand/salt mix, or straight
salt. The Road Agent or his/her designee will determine the most appropriate
material to be use based on current weather, expected weather, time of year and
temperature.
During
storms of a long duration, the Road Agent may elect to bring the crews in for a
rest period, this rest period should occur late at night after the majority of
traffic has ceased. This period will last no longer then 4 hours and may last
for a shorter time period if weather conditions change. It will be the
responsibility of all operators to be sure and get the needed rest during this
period.
COMMAND: Direction of all winter maintenance
activities for the Town of
EXECUTION: The policy outlined above is intended to
serve as the normal operating procedures for winter maintenance, snow removal
and/or ice control for the Town of
·
Equipment Breakdown
·
Snow Accumulation in Excess of 1” Per Hour
·
Freezing Rain or Other Icing Conditions
·
Traffic Congestion
·
Emergencies
·
Personnel illness
ADOPTION:
The
Town of
________________________________
________________________________
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BOARD OF SELECTMEN
WINTER
OPERATIONS
SNOW
REMOVAL AND ICE CONTROL PROCEDURES
(Includes
Highway, Sidewalks, Parking Areas)
EQUIPMENT: The Highway Department utilizes all the
assets of the department as needed to address snow emergencies. A list of the current rolling stock assets is
included in the appendix.
ROUTES: Currently, the Town is divided into four
major plow and/or treatment routes. All
of the routes encompassing the Town’s major artery and collector roads are
assigned to one each of the Town’s equipment. Additionally, there is one small
truck with a 2-way plow used to assist in support of trucks assigned specific
routes, during major storms the Grader will also be utilized in the Prospect
Hill Area.
The
Town uses one wheeled loader in the down town area to load snow for removal as
it may restrict parking or line of sight distances at intersections. This
evolution will occur after the storm is over, sometimes several days after the
storm is over. The Town does not have any sidewalks that are maintained during
the wintertime.
MANPOWER: The Town of
MATERIALS: The Department uses approximately 200 tons of
rock salt and 2500 cubic yards of sand each season. The sand is used as an abrasive and is
applied to the road to improve the public’s motor vehicles traction. Salt is employed by the Department as a
de-icing and anti-icing agent. The
entire supply of sand is purchased each year and stockpiled beside
the Highway Department’s building. Rock
salt is purchased from a supplier as needed.
A limited quantity of approximately 15 tons is stockpiled by the Highway
Department.
APPLICATION
OF MATERIALS:
A. SAND AND SAND/SALT MIX:
Sand will be applied on an as needed basis. The main function of an application
of sand will be to assist motorists in obtaining traction on ice or snow
covered roads. Town wide sanding applications will not begin until after a
storm is over and the cleanup is finished. If, during the storm, the plow
driver encounters a slippery area then a light application may be applied to
assist the motorists. Sand may be mixed with salt, at a rate of 10 parts sand
to 1 part salt, to prevent the freezing of the sand inside the sander bodies.
This mixture will also assist the sand in sticking to the ice-covered roadway.
The sand will be applied to the center of the roadway. Sand will be applied at
a rate of approximately 2 yards per mile of road.
B. SALT: Salt may be applied
at the beginning of the storm, before plowing operations begin. Salt will be
used to stop the formation of ice buildup on the roadways. Salt will only be
used on those roads that have a sufficient enough traffic volume to work the
brine across the roadway. Salt will be applied at a rate not to exceed 400
pounds per mile. Salt will be applied to the center of the roadway, where
traffic will work the brine across the roadway. Salt has a lower working limit
of approximately 15 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit; therefore no salt will be applied
if the outside ambient temperature is below this limit. Other deicing agents
are effective to lower temperatures and salt may be treated with one of these
additives if a substantial cold snap is forecasted.
C. Magnesium Chloride: Liquid Magnesium Chloride may be applied
prior to a freezing rain storm on the paved roads. Magnesium Chloride is an
environmentally safe anti icing agent the can prohibit the bonding of freezing
rain to cold pavement. When application is practical the Highway Department
will apply a twelve foot center strip of liquid Magnesium Chloride several
hours prior to the storm starting. The road agent or his designee will make the
determination on the application of liquid magnesium chloride, after
determining that the storm is most likely to produce freezing rain at the start
of the storm. The weather conditions will dictate how long this application
will last as it will dilute over time and eventually become ineffective. At the
time this application becomes ineffective regular treatments of sand/salt mix
or straight salt will be continued through out the storm.
COMMUNICATIONS: The majority of the Public Works rolling
stock is equipped with two-way radios capable of transmitting and receiving on
a frequency of 156.045 MHZ. Each plow
and equipment operator is assigned a unique call number. A list of all call numbers is displayed in
each piece of equipment or truck. A copy
of the current call numbers is included as an appendix to this policy. Radios are also maintained at the Highway
Department garage. The Town of
SCHOOLS: The Highway Department does not have the
responsibility for the clearing of snow and winter treatment of the Elementary
School access road and parking lots. On
days when school is in session, winter maintenance efforts must be timed to
coincide with bus routing and delivery.
The
school superintendent or designated official representative shall contact the
Public Works Department to determine the condition of the municipality’s roads
in order to determine the safety of students using school buses. The school
representative(s) shall make the decision to cancel or postpone school for that
day.
PARKING: The Town has enacted a winter parking ban
effective from November 1st to April 1st of each year. This ban prohibits parking in or on the
Town’s roads or rights of way (ROW) between the hours of 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
The Town has the right to tow or ticket violators. The purpose of this winter parking ban is to
allow winter maintenance crews unobstructed snow removal and ice control
routes, as much as possible, to maintain the maximum effectiveness of their
efforts.
A. School bus routes will be given a priority
during school days. It takes approximately 2 to 3 hours to properly prepare a
route for bus traffic; the timing of the storm could have an effect on proper
preparation of all routes. Each plow route will make every possible attempt to
see that the best possible snow clearance will be completed on their route. The
B. The
C. Public parking areas at the Town Offices, and
each municipal department, will be maintained by plowing during the winter
storm. The application of slip resistant materials will be applied after the
storm as determined to be needed by the Road Agent.
D. Transfer Station/Recycle Center: Transfer
station personnel may be required to assist with the Town’s general winter
maintenance operations. If the facility is open during the snow or ice storm,
personnel will plow this area prior to opening for public use. Public areas
shall be kept as clear as possible to provide as safe access as reasonably
possible. Sand and other slip resistant materials shall be used in public
areas. It often will not be possible to maintain clear ground, but a reasonable
effort will be made during storms.
E. Fire Hydrants:
Fire Hydrants will be cleared on an as needed basis and will not commence until
the Water Commissioners have given approval
F. Hancock
Meeting House: The entrance to the Hancock Meeting House will be maintained
Monday through Friday by the Town of
ROADS AND
SIDEWALKS NOT RECEIVING WINTER MAINTENANCE: The Town of Hancock does not
maintain a number of roadways and sidewalks as part of its ongoing winter
maintenance activities. The areas not
maintained by the Town include:
a. Town
roads classified as Class VI roads
b. Private
roads
c. Antrim Road (From the
Intersection of Birch road to the town line): summer maintenance only.
d.
e. Parking
Area and Side walks for The United States Post Office
SALT FREE
AREAS:
The Town of
a. Gravel roads will not be treated with salt at any time. (This is to prevent the frozen gravel from melting)
b. King’s
Highway from the intersection of
c. Windy
Row, in the vicinity of the spillway bridge
D.
e. Kimball
and Cavender Roads
f. Antrim Road, from the intersection
of
g. Jaquith
Road, Depot Road, Cross Street, School Street, Wilder Road, Hosely Street,
Carriage Hill Road, and Reavely Road
DAMAGE TO
PRIVATE PROPERTY: Although the
In
the event of personal property damage, the Town of
SNOW
OBSTRUCTION POLICY: The Town of
POST STORM
OPERATIONS: As determined by the Road Agent, the snow
banks resulting from the previous accumulations shall be pushed back, or
shelved, using the plow and wing of the grader or other suitable equipment to
make space for future snow storms.
Snow
Removal from the Town Center: (The Area Around The Library and The Market)
During the initial stages of the storm, only the roadways through the town
center will be plowed, these will be plowed by NH DOT as this is their roadway
(As parking areas along the businesses are free of parked vehicles, snow
removal equipment may swing wider through the street to push back large amounts
of accumulated snow.)
A. During the months of October 15th through
April 15th snow removal of parking areas in the
1. No snow removal operations will be
conducted in the area of vehicles until they have been removed.
SIDEWALK SNOW
REMOVAL:
the Town of
APPENDIX
A
PLOW
ROUTES
Road
Agent
Kurtis J Grassett
Radio Call # H-1
Route
#1 Route
#2
Truck
#2 Truck
#1
Radio
Call #: H-2 Radio Call #: H-4
Operator:
Albert Anderson Operator:
Jason Roiko
Route
#3 Route
#4
Truck
#3 Truck
# F-550
Radio
Call #: H-3 Radio Call #: H-5
Operator:
Allen Young Operator:
Mike Greene
Route
#5
Backhoe
Radio
call #: H6
Operator:
Justin Cole