Mayor's Message December 10 2020

Mayor's Message
by Craig A. Stough

12/10/2020; "Roadway Snow and Ice Removal"

(click here to read the last Mayor's Message)

With completion of the annual leaf collection, City of Sylvania Street Division Crews are transitioning to roadway snow and ice removal. They are removing the leaf boxes from the trucks and installing snow plows, salt spreaders and brine tanks for the coming winter season.

City of Sylvania Mayor,
Craig A. Stough

Snow and ice removal is an important service for our residents and is a big job in the City of Sylvania with over 73 miles of roadways to keep clear. Last winter, Streets Division workers spent 591 hours and used 843 tons of rock salt to remove snow and ice from the roads. Our Parks Division also spent 257 hours clearing public parking lots and sidewalks. The numbers were all lower than two years ago due to a mild winter season last year.

Some of the rock salt is mixed into brine and applied to the streets a day or two before predicted storms. The brine prevents snow and ice from building up as the storm begins. Last year 13,116 gallons of salt brine was prepared and used. The City of Sylvania has two trucks equipped with liquid brine applicators and 11' wide snow plows, and five more trucks equipped with rock salt spreaders and 11’ wide snow plows.

Snow emergencies are declared whenever four or more inches of snow is forecast or accumulates on the streets. During these snow emergencies, there will be no parking permitted on City streets to allow the snow plows to efficiently clear the streets, and also keep the streets wide enough for emergency vehicles to respond to calls for service.

Any vehicles parked in the streets during snow emergencies will be subject to ticketing and towing. Residents will be notified of snow emergencies through the media and by the Sylvania Alerts System, which residents can subscribe to without cost by visiting

www.lucascountyalerts.com.

Residents are also reminded of the legal requirement to clear sidewalks in front of their property by the next morning following a snowstorm. Although most residents clear their sidewalks, the City always receives complaints about those who don't.

Snow and ice removal often keeps the trucks on the road 24 hours a day until the roads are clear. The heavier the storm, the longer the clearing process. The trucks will clear main roads first and then make one pass on all residential streets following predetermined routes, then return for a second pass to widen residential streets out to full width.

Last winter was milder with a little less snow than two years ago. Let's hope we don't have too much severe winter weather this year. When we do have storms, our City crews and equipment are ready and will be on the road working to keep them clear of ice and snow.