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<br />9 <br /> <br />SNOWPLOWING FAQ <br /> <br />Q. What kind of equipment does the city use for snowplowing? <br />A. Currently the City of Ramsey has the following equipment: <br />2 motor graders <br />4 single axle trucks equipped with front plows, wings and <br />sanders <br />1 front-end loader equipped with a front plow and wing <br />7 pick-up trucks with plows (used mainly on cul-de-sacs <br />and parking lots) <br />This equipment is used to clear approximately: <br />150 miles of road <br />240 cul-de-sacs <br />720 intersections <br />numerous parl(ing lots, ice skating rinks and trails <br />Public Works staff members are on call 24 hours per day, 7 <br />days a weel( to make City of Ramsey roads as safe as possible. <br /> <br />Q. How does Public Worl(s determine when to start plowing? <br />A. The City contracts with a private weather service to give us <br />frequent forecasts during snowstorms. This service combined <br />with internet websites, MnDOT forecasts, and local TV/radio <br />information all help us plan for an approaching storm. Two <br />inches of snow is our normal trigger point, but may vary due <br />to conditions. Ideally, we as a department prefer to start at <br />2:00 a.m. The reason is that the roads are clear of most cars <br />and pedestrians at that time of the morning and crews can <br />work without much interference. This plan worl(s well if the <br />snow total ends up in the 2"- 4" range. In larger snowfall <br />events we keep trucks out clearing "main" routes so <br />emergency services can respond. In very large snow events, <br />staff will post public works plow equipment and personnel <br />with the fire department to help them respond to emergencies <br />should they arise. Our main objective is to have as many <br />roads as possible open for the morning commute and then <br />clean up the streets when the majority of residents are at <br />worl( or school. Ifwe start at 2:00 a.m. we are normally done <br />with the main roads within 8 hours, with cul-de-sacs taking up <br />to 10 hours to complete. <br /> <br />Q. What does the City of Ramsey use to control ice and snow on <br />our roads? <br />A. At this time the City of Ramsey uses a salt/sand mixture and <br />straight salt. A salt/sand mixture is used mainly on residential <br />roads because of the relatively low volume of traffic and lower <br />speeds. Sand is a short-term fix at best. It is best used in <br />very cold weather to provide temporary traction. It has no <br />real melting properties and depending on the amount of traffic, <br />the sand will be embedded in to the snow or blown to the edge <br />of the road by passing traffic. The trend in de-icing today is <br />away from using sand. Some reasons for this trend are air- <br />borne pollution, and clean up costs associated with sand. <br /> <br />Continued on Page 10 <br /> <br />CITY POLICY ON <br />SNOW REMOVAL, <br />ICE CONTROL <br /> <br />The control of snow and ice through quicl( <br />and effective snowplowing ensures safe transportation <br />for citizens, emergency vehicles, and the ongoing <br />commercial activity in Ramsey. Due to the significant <br />amount of public dollars spent on these services, it is <br />the city's goal to manage and operate winter road <br />maintenance in an efficient and cost-effective <br />manner. Because timing is critical for snow and ice <br />control, the City's goal is to achieve roads clear of <br />snow in a reasonable time period. This is always <br />dependent upon the type and amount of snow. The <br />City cannot guarantee bare, dry pavement after each <br />snowfall, or that streets will be totally free of ice or <br />other driving hazards common to Minnesota winter <br />conditions. <br />Snowplowing begins after the accumulation <br />of two inches of snow. It takes City crews <br />approximately eight hours to clear streets after a <br />"normal" snowfall of two to four inches. During <br />major snow accumulations, emergency plowing <br />operations usually begin about 2:00 a.m. In those <br />situations, lead personnel will begin plowing as soon <br />as possible so that primary arterial roadways are <br />passable by morning "rush hours". <br />The City is divided into seven routes. Major <br />collector streets are plowed first. Other streets are <br />plowed in an order determined by the driver for the <br />quickest and most practical way to open all roads. <br />Cul-de-sacs and short, dead-end streets are divided <br />into five routes and are plowed with different plows, <br />adding speed and efficiency to the operation. <br />Ice control consists of distributing a salt or <br />salt/sand mixture when and where the Police and <br />Public Worl(s departments deem necessary. The City <br />sands all main intersections, dangerous curves, and <br />steep grades as needed to control traffic. Because <br />temperature determines the effectiveness of a salt/ <br />sand mixture, sanding will not be done on extremely <br />cold days except in emergency situations. <br />Some of the main intersections along State <br />and County roads are sanded as they are plowed. <br />Others are sanded after all roads are cleared of snow, <br />because the sand is needed for weight on the trucks. <br />During ice storms when no plowing is occurring, <br />intersections along the State and County roads are <br />sanded first and all others are sanded immediately <br />thereafter. <br /> <br />The best security blanket a child can have is parents who respect each othel: - Jan Blaustone <br />