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Town of Normal, Illinois. Committed to Service Excellence.

Snow And Ice Removal

The responsibility for providing snow and ice control for the Town-owned parking lots and 409 lane-miles of streets rests primarily with the Department of Public Works.

Snow and ice control is considered emergency work in that pavement must be cleared any time of the day or night. Because of the potential hazard to the motoring public and high incidence of overtime involved in this program, careful planning and preparation must be done prior to the snow and ice season. This planning process is made considerably more difficult due to the variable conditions encountered during each storm. Such things as the rate and accumulation of snowfall, moisture content, temperature, time of day or night, wind direction and velocity and duration are all factors that interact to create a unique aspect for each storm with the result that no two storms are ever identical.

Goal and Objective

The goal of the Public Works Department is to make all Town-owned facilities safe and accessible during the winter season. Additional caution is advised, however, when using Town facilities during the winter season because of the potential for hazardous conditions caused by snow, wind, and freezing temperatures.

The Public Works Department is to make all streets, courts and cul-de-sacs safe and accessible for vehicles properly equipped for winter driving conditions during and after a storm, in accordance with the guidelines set forth herein. We will attempt to clear all arterial and collector streets to bare pavement, and maintain a clear bare driving track on either side of the centerline on residential and local streets. It is the Public Works Department goal to complete a Category 1 or 2 storm cleanup within 18-24 hours and a Category 3 or 4 within 36-48 hours after a typical winter storm ends.

During and after the storm, some streets may be snow-packed and snow can be expected to accumulate adjacent to the traveled portion of a road to the extent that a motorist's sight distance may be greatly reduced or impaired.

Because the Town cannot economically justify the cost of providing the same response on every street, the Town's snow control plan provides for a priority system based on public need. The following priorities set the guidelines for snow control activity:

Priority 1 - All arterial and minor arterial streets considered to be the minimum network which must be kept open for emergency vehicles (over 176 lane miles).

Priority 2 - All remaining minor arterials, selected collectors, bus routes, and streets around schools (over 31 lane miles).

Priority 3 - All other selected collectors completing the network covering the major traffic volume streets and selected "hot spots" such as intersections, hills, and known handicapped routes (over 40 lane miles).

Priority 4 - All remaining streets such as residential local streets and cul-de-sacs (over 162 lane miles).

The Public Works Department has developed a procedure for performing snow and ice operations for all varying weather conditions. Personnel will respond each time we are notified that weather conditions include the possibility of creating a hazard for the public. Depending on the severity of the storm, as few as two (2) employees and two (2) trucks to as many as forty-two (42) employees and twenty-one (21) pieces of Town-owned or rented equipment can be made available to combat a storm.

This Snow & Ice Control Plan recognizes four storm categories:

Category 1 - One inch or less of snow resulting in icy conditions. All snow routes rated priority 1-3, such as collectors, bus routes, around schools, hazardous stops, hills, and all emergency facilities are treated with de-icing material. Plowing is typically not required.

Category 2 - Two inches of snow resulting in sleet and slushy conditions. All snow routes rated priority 1-3 are treated with de-icing material and plowed if necessary. All streets rated priority 4 are plowed (de-icing materials are not used) if necessary after the storm subsides.

Category 3 - Three inches or more with or without wind causing blizzard conditions. All priority 1-3 streets are plowed, and treated with de-icing material until the storm subsides. Then streets rated priority 1-3 are again treated with de-icing material and plowed if necessary before priority 4 streets are plowed.

Category 4 - A major snowstorm amounting to six inches or more. Concentration is focused on all priority 1 streets and emergency facilities. Priority 2-3 streets (collectors, bus routes, and around schools are treated with de-icing material and plowed as soon as possible thereafter. Priority 4 streets are plowed next, and if needed, treated with deicing material at the discretion of the Director of Public Works or the Supervisor of Street Maintenance.

A key element in implementing an efficient snow and ice control program is receiving timely weather information. Accurate weather forecasting is imperative in deciding which of the various operational procedures will be followed. The Public Works Department has equipped the Emergency Operations Center/Snow Command with a live weather radar system to further assist in the deployment decision making process for the mobilization of personnel and equipment.

At a minimum, the department will initiate a two-truck patrol upon the receipt of a storm warning. An operation may be initiated in advance of precipitation or freezing conditions depending on the estimated start time or intensity of the storm. These forecasts, together with the National Weather Service reports, live weather radar and condition reports from patrolling police officers will greatly assist in increasing the effectiveness of the snow removal and ice control program. The Public Works Department will continue to rely upon these two services plus actual field reports by departmental personnel in the immediate area to determine what equipment and material to utilize during the course of the storm.

Alerting Snow and Ice Control Personnel

Technically, snow and ice control operations fall under the jurisdiction of the Supervisor of Street Maintenance; however, all Public Works personnel have a part in these operations. Personnel are assigned to twelve-hour shifts that continue until the snow emergency has been eliminated. Shift change is 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. In an effort to maximize the use of Town resources, personnel from other departments (Water and Parks & Recreation) are sometimes asked to assist during extreme snow emergencies or to fill vacancies.

Snow and ice operations may be conducted on a 24-hour basis, 7 days per week. In the event of an impending storm, the Supervisor of Street Maintenance (or Assistant Supervisor) will consult with the Director of Public Works to determine the most effective operation.

The Supervisor of Street Maintenance (or Assistant Supervisor) will report to the Public Works Emergency Operation Center/Snow Command to notify the required personnel through the use of a current telephone call list. The Emergency Operation Center/Snow Command will be staffed with a Supervisor and operational for any call out requiring Operation 4 through 6. Once the snow and ice control program is started, the Supervisor who initiates the program will notify the Director of Public Works as to the starting time, type of procedure recommended and projected duration of the operation. The Public Works Department is prepared to shift from normal work procedures any time it becomes necessary to institute snow and ice control operations.

General Snow and Ice Procedures

When the department is notified of an impending snowstorm, a decision is made to implement one of seven different operations for clearing Town streets. Each operation varies in the amount of service performed and the manpower and equipment necessary to perform it. A patrol operation (1 -2) would be initiated in advance of a storm or if there was a low probability of a storm developing. A salting operation (3-4) would be initiated if the potential for freezing conditions existed, to melt snow or ice accumulated to a depth less than approximately 1 inch or to prevent the bonding of packed snow to the pavement. A plowing operation (5-7) would be initiated if a snow accumulation of approximately 2 inches or more existed.

Operation 1: Two-Truck Patrol
Operation 2: Three-Truck Patrol
Operation 3:: Five-Truck Salting
Operation 4: Eleven-Truck Salting
Operation 5: Eleven-Truck Salting and Plowing
Operation 6: Fifteen-Truck Plowing and Salting
Operation 7: Full Call Out

It can be expected that snow will be plowed into driveways as a normal part of snow removal operations. Attempts will be made to keep excessive amounts from accumulating; however, each driveway will receive a certain amount of snow. Because of the large amount of courts and cul-de-sacs Townwide, and the amount of time needed to clean each one, residents in these areas can expect a nominal amount of snow in their driveways as well.

Supplemental Operations

Municipal building parking lots are normally plowed and salted in conjunction with Town streets; however, in the event of an emergency they would be done on a lower priority.

The Director of Public Works may retain private contractors to supply additional operators and equipment should storm conditions become long (longer than 24 hours) and severe. Such action would only be taken in extreme emergencies, and only at the discretion of the Director of Public Works in consultation with the City Manager. It is an important option that must be available to the Public Works Department in case of equipment breakdowns or if a succession of winter storms pummels the Town.

Snow Emergency Reporting

A unique aspect of the Town's snow and ice control program is the availability to residents of a telephone "hot line" for weather related emergencies. This telephone (phone number: (309) 454-9578) is attended by an employee during regular office hours and would be activated with an automatic message system with a recorded status report prepared by the Supervisor of Street Maintenance (or Assistant Supervisor) at all other times.

During Operations 5 or greater, a member of the Public Works clerical staff may be assigned to attend the "hot line" outside regular office hours. This "hot line" allow residents to notify the Emergency Operations Center/Snow Command directly of hazardous conditions that exist with the Town.

Parking Policy

During snow and ice control operations, residents are permitted to park vehicles on Town streets during a snow event. The guidelines for this are as follows:

  1. It is permissible to be parked on a Town street after fewer than or up to two (2) inches of snow has fallen.
  2. If the vehicle is lawfully parked on a street and does not prevent a snowplow from plowing the street, the snowplow will plow around the parked vehicle and return at a later time, when the vehicle has been moved, to clear the snow from the street at that location.
  3. If a vehicle is parked on a street after a two (2) inches snowfall and blocks the entire access to the street by an emergency vehicle or snow plow, the Department of Public Works will notify the Police Department which will attempt to locate the owner of the vehicle in order to move the blocking vehicle. In the event the owner of the vehicle cannot be located in a reasonable period of time, a ticket may be issued and the vehicle may be towed. Ticketing and towing is solely at the discretion and direction of the Police Department.
  4. After a minimum of two (2) inches snowfall and when conditions warrant, the Director of Public Works can declare a snow emergency (a "no parking" ban on all Town streets goes into effect when a snow emergency is declared). The Supervisor of Street Maintenance then coordinates with the Police Department for the ticketing and towing of all vehicles parked on Town streets, which interfere with operations after the declaration.

Additional ordinances passed for the purposes of supporting snow and ice control efforts and other related ordinances which could be enforced during all out emergencies are listed below. The text of these documents can be found in Municipal Code:

Property Damage

During the course of operations throughout any given winter, snow removal forces may incur a certain amount of damage to Town and private property. In the event that parkway damage is sustained due to a plow riding over a curb, the Public Works Department will repair said damage as soon as weather conditions permit. If the parkway sod was rolled back in such a way that it could be re-used; representatives of the Department will restore it. If the sod is damaged beyond repair, the Public Works Department will restore the area at the earliest appropriate weather and availability of material. Topsoil and seed will be used in the damaged area. Any damage sustained due to salt brine inadvertently splashed onto a parkway during the course of the winter will not be treated or repaired by the Town.

If a Town plow or truck damages a mailbox either through direct contact or due to the force of the snow rolling off the plow, the mailbox will be repaired or replaced in accordance with established guidelines with a standard-type mailbox. The Town cannot replace decorative mailboxes. A standard design will be used for all mailbox replacements. A property owner who installs decorative materials on the parkway does so at his or her own risk.

Assistance to Private Property

Under no circumstances will a Town employee be allowed to use a Town-owned vehicle to push, pull, or tow a stranded private vehicle from a roadway or parking lot. The employee may, if a hazard exists, use his radio to notify Metcom of the hazardous condition. Likewise, under no circumstances will a Town employee use a Town-owned vehicle to perform any snow removal or ice control operation on private or commercial property and the employee will not be allowed to use personal equipment during working hours.

Departure From Policy

The Town recognizes that conditions may be so unusual or unexpected that a departure from these general policies should be authorized. Therefore when conditions warrant, the Public Works Director in consultation with the City Manager, or his/her designated representative, may order a departure from these general rules when, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works, conditions require such action.

No Duty or Right Created

The purpose of this policy is to establish goals for the Town of Normal employees regarding snow and ice control. It's not to be construed to create any duty to any individual, person or entity. This policy does not provide any special protection or service to any particular individual or group of individuals. No additional rights shall be granted any individual or entity simply by adoption and enforcement of this policy. This policy may be effected in total or in part, as a result of acts of God, strikes, equipment breakdown, weather conditions, inadequacy of equipment, state or federal regulations, shortage of personnel, and any other unforeseen, uncontrolled or unanticipated acts.

Policy Priority

This policy dated November 1, 1999, supersedes all others and, to the extent that any previous rule, regulation, policy or past practice, written or unwritten, is in conflict with the provisions of this policy, such is hereby withdrawn, voided and all personnel should conduct themselves in conformity with this policy.

This page last modified 05/14/08.