I received the following message on the Blog site Tuesday from Mr. Anonymous, a prolific correspondent, and thought you may be interested in the answer. That being said, here goes:
"Bob, you have blogged about the airport, and you have blogged about the budget...so here is my question. I live on a short street (2 blocks long, but not an alley, connected to main streets at both ends, there is enough room for parking on both sides and two cars can still pass each other). The snow removal has been lax at best, and salt nonexistent. I understand that budget constraints can cause the city to cut back on the overtime hours needed to plow to the extent we have become accustom to here in NP.
"The question I have is why are City trucks plowing and salting the airport runways before all the streets are plowed? It's not just the runways, it's all the hard-surface...they even bring backhoes in and clean the individual ramps to the hangers. I compare this to plowing a driveway; the City has never cleared my driveway for me, but has often plowed it shut.
"Can you find out why the City is plowing at the airport before plowing for it's citizens?"
I talked to Mr. Fred Neff, Superintendent of the Street Department, who, among other things, has the responsibility of keeping the streets open when it snows. His folks have been busy this year, and for the most part, have done a decent job. Much of the reason for this is a formal plowing and salting policy the city is committed to and is being closely monitored this year. The guide lines are quite specific, not only on what is to be done and how, but also on the consequences if the policies are not followed. This is the first time to my knowledge that such a stand has been taken by the city and in practice it seems to be working.
Some interesting procedures which are in place this year make a lot of sense. Hills and bridges in New Philadelphia are top priority. Streets such as Donahey Avenue, Parklane Drive, Shel Mar Hill, and other hill streets are plowed first. Major downtown streets, Broadway, Front, High, are plowed at the same time. Secondary streets, Tuscarawas Avenue, Commercial, Bluebell Drive, Second Street, for example, are next on the list. The access streets like North, Fair, Providence, Minnich, finish off the list. Basically there are four routes, or areas, to be plowed, each route defined so as to prevent misses and duplication of effort. Alleys are plowed when time allows.
A long needed procedure is the plowing of major streets. These are plowed with trucks two or three abreast which moves the snow much more quickly and efficiently. Once those streets are done, the trucks then go to their assigned routes and plow. Part of the plowing routine is that no truck, while there is snow on the roadways, will travel with its blade up. It only makes sense that a snow plow traveling over a snow covered street should have the plow down and get the snow off to the side.
The point of this whole discussion is two fold. Neff has a plan on how to clear the streets of snow in an efficient, organized way which seems to be working. It should also cut back on expenses for snow removal, although the proof of that won’t be know until the spring thaw.
The second point is that, as it has been in the past, the airport is last on the list, last after the alleys are done. The City does not have an obligation to plow the runways, but does it as a service. The airport is shut down because of snow clogged runways and taxiways, and remains that way until the city streets and alleys are plowed. Corporate jets are not hangered at the airport, rather are kept at the Akron airport. So far this year, the airport has experienced long waits to have the runway and ramps plowed. And at no time has city salt been spread there.
So to answer your question, Mr. Neff and his crews have not put the airport ahead of the secondary streets and alleys of the city.
As you didn't provide your address, I wasn't able to get specific information about your particular concern.
Anyone interested in a copy of the Snow Plowing/Salting Guidelines 2010, the folks to call would be the Mayor, the Service Director, Fred Neff at the City Garage, and of course, your City Councilmen.
Thanks for the question, whoever you may be that asked.
"Bob, you have blogged about the airport, and you have blogged about the budget...so here is my question. I live on a short street (2 blocks long, but not an alley, connected to main streets at both ends, there is enough room for parking on both sides and two cars can still pass each other). The snow removal has been lax at best, and salt nonexistent. I understand that budget constraints can cause the city to cut back on the overtime hours needed to plow to the extent we have become accustom to here in NP.
"The question I have is why are City trucks plowing and salting the airport runways before all the streets are plowed? It's not just the runways, it's all the hard-surface...they even bring backhoes in and clean the individual ramps to the hangers. I compare this to plowing a driveway; the City has never cleared my driveway for me, but has often plowed it shut.
"Can you find out why the City is plowing at the airport before plowing for it's citizens?"
I talked to Mr. Fred Neff, Superintendent of the Street Department, who, among other things, has the responsibility of keeping the streets open when it snows. His folks have been busy this year, and for the most part, have done a decent job. Much of the reason for this is a formal plowing and salting policy the city is committed to and is being closely monitored this year. The guide lines are quite specific, not only on what is to be done and how, but also on the consequences if the policies are not followed. This is the first time to my knowledge that such a stand has been taken by the city and in practice it seems to be working.
Some interesting procedures which are in place this year make a lot of sense. Hills and bridges in New Philadelphia are top priority. Streets such as Donahey Avenue, Parklane Drive, Shel Mar Hill, and other hill streets are plowed first. Major downtown streets, Broadway, Front, High, are plowed at the same time. Secondary streets, Tuscarawas Avenue, Commercial, Bluebell Drive, Second Street, for example, are next on the list. The access streets like North, Fair, Providence, Minnich, finish off the list. Basically there are four routes, or areas, to be plowed, each route defined so as to prevent misses and duplication of effort. Alleys are plowed when time allows.
A long needed procedure is the plowing of major streets. These are plowed with trucks two or three abreast which moves the snow much more quickly and efficiently. Once those streets are done, the trucks then go to their assigned routes and plow. Part of the plowing routine is that no truck, while there is snow on the roadways, will travel with its blade up. It only makes sense that a snow plow traveling over a snow covered street should have the plow down and get the snow off to the side.
The point of this whole discussion is two fold. Neff has a plan on how to clear the streets of snow in an efficient, organized way which seems to be working. It should also cut back on expenses for snow removal, although the proof of that won’t be know until the spring thaw.
The second point is that, as it has been in the past, the airport is last on the list, last after the alleys are done. The City does not have an obligation to plow the runways, but does it as a service. The airport is shut down because of snow clogged runways and taxiways, and remains that way until the city streets and alleys are plowed. Corporate jets are not hangered at the airport, rather are kept at the Akron airport. So far this year, the airport has experienced long waits to have the runway and ramps plowed. And at no time has city salt been spread there.
So to answer your question, Mr. Neff and his crews have not put the airport ahead of the secondary streets and alleys of the city.
As you didn't provide your address, I wasn't able to get specific information about your particular concern.
Anyone interested in a copy of the Snow Plowing/Salting Guidelines 2010, the folks to call would be the Mayor, the Service Director, Fred Neff at the City Garage, and of course, your City Councilmen.
Thanks for the question, whoever you may be that asked.
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