Street Division
Questions and Answers
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Why don't your drivers put the blades down and plow all the snow off down to the pavement?
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It seems like we're always plowed last. Why can't we be first sometimes?
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When is it o.k. to park on my street again after it's been plowed?
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Why don't you just tow the cars off the street that don't observe the snow emergency parking bans?
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What can you do to get the public to shovel their sidewalks?
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My street was plowed poorly because of parked cars. Can you come back and plow again?
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I didn't know you would be plowing and I think it's unfair that I got a ticket
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I'd like to make a suggestion on snow removal. Who can I send it to?
WHY DON'T YOUR DRIVERS PUT THE BLADES DOWN AND PLOW ALL THE SNOW OFF DOWN TO THE PAVEMENT?
The Street Division uses "gravity" plows that can be mounted on the same trucks we use during the summer. These plows tend to ride on top of compacted snow.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ALWAYS PLOWED LAST. WHY CAN'T WE BE FIRST SOMETIMES?
That's a good question. If you will refer to the sequence of residential plowing you will see we have a method to cover the areas in a fair and equitable plan.
WHEN IS IT O.K. TO PARK ON MY STREET AGAIN AFTER IT'S BEEN PLOWED?
You can park on both sides of the street as soon as it's been completely plowed to the curb, or its full width. Be careful, it takes more than one pass of the plow to get the job done completely.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST TOW THE CARS OFF THE STREET THAT DON'T OBSERVE THE SNOW EMERGENCY PARKING BANS?
We try to. It's just too time consuming. It involves the Street Division, the Police Division, a towing company, and considerable paper work. If there's a car on your street that's never moved, call the Police Division at 644-8700.
"SUCH A LOUSY JOB". HOW COME I HAVE TO PAY SUCH HIGH TAXES?
We are continually trying to improve our services without increasing the costs. Our budget has remained constant for the past few years. If it does not snow and the overtime is not needed it will not be spent.
CAN'T THE CITY REMOVE THE SNOW THEY PUT IN MY DRIVEWAY?
When you consider the large number of driveways in the city, it's just too costly and time consuming to use additional people and equipment to perform this service. The previous questions address this.
WHY DO THE PLOWS GO SO FAST AND THROW SNOW ON MY SIDEWALK?
Plows do have to go a minimum speed in order to throw the snow off to the side. We do tell our drivers to not throw the snow any further than necessary. In some cases, however, the sidewalks are too close to the curb to avoid getting snow on them. Snow normally flies one foot for every MPH of speed.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET THE PUBLIC TO SHOVEL THEIR SIDEWALKS?
City ordinance requires property owners to shovel their sidewalks. We try to follow up on all sidewalk complaints, but like the parked autos it takes a number of people to enforce them. If you do see an unshoveled walk that is dangerous to pedestrians, call the police at 644-8700.
MY STREET WAS PLOWED POORLY BECAUSE OF PARKED CARS. CAN YOU COME BACK AND PLOW AGAIN?
We will certainly try to when time permits. Call us at the Street Division, 844-2180.
WHY DOESN'T THE CITY PLOW SIDEWALKS?
It's simply a matter of money. There's not enough funds available to pay the people or buy the equipment to remove snow from all sidewalks.
I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME AND I THINK YOU DO TOO MUCH SNOW REMOVAL. CAN'T YOU ELIMINATE SOME OF IT AND LOWER THE TAXES INSTEAD?
We try to keep our plowing, sanding, and removal services at a high level and at the same time balance things to keep our cost under control.
WHY DOES THE CITY SNOW PLOW HIT MY MAILBOX ALL THE TIME?
We have instructed all operators to be very cautious near mailboxes. Steps have been taken in past years to cut the corners off every snowplow which would hit a properly installed mailbox. In almost all cases it is the weight of the heavy wet snow which moves mailboxes, not the truck plow. A properly installed mailbox will have the face of the box directly above the back of the curb and the shelf of the box 38" to 42" above the gutter line. A survey a few years ago found more than 25% of the mailboxes to be improperly installed. Many are not securely fastened and therefore the weight of the average snowfall will cause them to become dislodged.
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT. WHY DON'T YOU DO MORE PLOWING AND ELIMINATE THE USE OF ALL THE SAND AND SALT?
Plowing and sanding don't serve the same purpose. You need to do both for large snowfalls. Sanding and salting are much more economical for small amount of snow.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WOULD BE PLOWING AND I THINK IT'S UNFAIR THAT I GOT A TICKET
We try to give Snow Emergencies as much publicity as we can. The news people are very cooperative with us on this. Try to anticipate a Snow Emergency declaration and be on the lookout for news from your radio, TV, or newspaper. Maybe your neighbor thinks it's unfair the street wasn't plowed where your car was parked.
WHO CAN I CALL IF I'VE GOT A COMPLAINT OR A REQUEST?
For plowing or sanding call 844-2180. For parked cars or sidewalks call 644-8700. All emergency maintenance requests after normal working hours should go to 644-8700.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION ON SNOW REMOVAL. WHO CAN I SEND IT TO?
We'll be happy to get your suggestions. Send them to the Norfolk Street Division, Transportation, Building, & Grounds Director, 1010 South 8th Street, Norfolk, Nebraska 68701-5827.