"A winter storm watch has been activated with snow fall accumulations predicted to be in the five (5”) inch range for the Joliet area, residents are reminded of the City of Joliet snow removal policies and actions for 2011-2012 winter season. Please take caution during this snow storm if you need to be out driving on the roadways. If at all possible please remain home during the times when it is snowing. The City of Joliet Roadways Division will be out plowing to combat this storm however there will be hazardous conditions until all the Cities thoroughfares have been treated.
Residents can assist Roadways Division crews in their efforts by doing the following:
• Residents should not park on the street during a winter snow event. On street parking is prohibited by a recently passed ordinance that appears at Section 19-142 of the city code for any snowfall accumulations of 2 inches or more. Parked cars are an obstacle to the snow plows. In addition, plowing around parked cars leaves large areas of snow and ice on the roadway. Roadways crews will not return to streets when parked cars are moved until the following day upon notification from the residents. See the note at the end of this media release for information regarding the enforcement of the on-street snow parking ban.
• Property owners are responsible for plowing commercial parking lots, driveways and public sidewalks adjoining their homes and businesses. Not keeping sidewalks clear is a city code violation.
• Shovel snow from driveways into the parkway and not into the street. This will help to avoid creating dangerously slippery conditions for both motorists and pedestrians. Shoveling snow into the street is a city code violation.
• Shovel out fire hydrants that are in or around your property and around meters to aid utility meter readers.
• Clear sidewalks of snow for the safety of pedestrians and children walking to school.
• Uncover your mailbox.
• Help your neighbors. For many residents, age or medical conditions make it difficult to shovel snow without risking health.
The Roadways Division of the City of Joliet offers the following guidelines and helpful hints during a winter snow event:
During Snowfall Events: The City of Joliet Street Division will mobilize its crews when there is a measurable accumulation of snowfall or if the winter mix is causing a hazardous driving situation such as freezing rain. The Street Division is responsible for over 500 miles of roadway with a fleet of 40 snow plow trucks and a crew of 34 employees. Joliet has a goal of clearing all streets within twenty-four (24) hours after the snow stops falling. Heavier snows often take longer to clear. The City of Joliet crews plow most streets within the City limits, however there are a number of roads that are the responsibility of other governmental agencies. For example the State plows Larkin Avenue, Plainfield Road, Chicago Street south of 5th Avenue, Jefferson Street west of Larkin and Theodore Street east of Cedarwood. The County plows Caton Farm Road, Briggs Street and Black Road west of Essington.
Streets
Street plowing operations are performed in the following order:
1. Major Arterials, hospital routes, hills and the bridges.
2. Subdivision Mains and collector streets.
3. All remaining subdivision streets.
4. Cul-de-sacs and dead ends.
Snow removal crews work long hours to keep the streets clear and safe. We ask for everyone’s cooperation to help keep streets safe as well. Remember, snowplow trucks cannot stop or turn as readily as most vehicles. Due to the cost of de-icing materials, it is Street Division Policy to utilize salt on major arterials and subdivision mains at intersections and mid blocks only and utilize a mixture of salt and sand at the intersections only on the subdivision streets. Therefore, it should not be expected that these streets would immediately be clear to pavement. A mixture of sun and traffic is utilized to help with the de-icing procedures. Some snow is left on the street after plowing because allowances must be made for manhole lids and other above-pavement obstacles to avoid damaging snow plow blades.
Chemicals Used in Snow Fighting
The City of Joliet utilizes a mixture of rock salt and organic liquids containing sugar beet juice in the fight against snow accumulation and freezing on the roadways. This combination allows for the material to be effective down to a temperature of minus thirty degrees (-30) Fahrenheit. In addition, this mixture will be less corrosive to the streets, vehicles and vegetation within the City of Joliet. Residents should expect to see a brownish residue on the streets as opposed to the white residue. As with the salt this material is easily washed off vehicles.
Driveways
When plowing is required, snow “berms” are created across driveways. The plow operators do not have control over the windrow of snow coming off the edge of the blade. The Street Division tries to keep this problem to a minimum. The citizens of Joliet need to be patient and recognize that during the winter months there is bound to be some inconvenience. Snow operations are labor intensive and equipment does fail on occasion. To minimize the frustrating problem of the snowplow covering your driveway with snow after you’ve just shoveled it stand facing the street and shovel snow into the yard instead of the street. Residents are reminded that shoveling or plowing snow into the street is strictly prohibited by local ordinance.
Private Snow Plowing
Property owners should be aware that placing, dumping or pushing of snow onto City streets or right-of-ways from adjacent properties is prohibited as per City of Joliet Ordinance 26-209.
Sidewalks
The City of Joliet provides some sidewalk clearing in the downtown only. The City does not clear sidewalks in residential or business neighborhoods and applauds citizens and proprietors for clearing sidewalks to help their neighbors and customers weather the storm. Sidewalks should be cleared to the pavement at least one shovel’s width within 24 hours after a snowfall event. This makes it easier for children to walk to school or the bus stop. Please lend a hand to elderly or disabled neighbors who cannot clear their own sidewalks, porches and steps.
Mailboxes
The City of Joliet Snow fighters make every effort to clear the roads from curb to curb where cars are not parked on the street. In many cases of wet snow the snow or plow blade may damage/remove mailboxes that are set close to the street. This is unavoidable. Mailbox damage complaints will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The City of Joliet will not reimburse for any mailbox damage on improperly located mailboxes. The standard and accepted mailbox placement should be 42 inches measured from the ground surface to the bottom of the mailbox. The mailbox should be located so the front of the box is no closer than 6 inches from the back of curb. Any questions regarding the placement of mailboxes should be directed to the Joliet Post Office at 815-773-1089.
On-Street Parking Ban During Snow Storms
The City of Joliet recently imposed a parking ban during snow storms and snow events when snowfall accumulations measure 2 or more inches. When snowfall reaches 2 or more inches, all vehicles must be moved off of public streets until the City of Joliet’s snow plow trucks have had a chance to plow the snow on the street. Once the snow plow trucks have cleared the street by your house or business, you may move your vehicle back to the street.
Having vehicles moved from the street will allow snow plow trucks to clear a path for vehicles and people trying to get to and from their vehicles. If vehicles are not moved, it is likely that vehicles will surrounded by plowed snow and will impede the City’s snow clearing efforts. Parking bans will be announced by media releases issued by the City and announcements made on WJOL, Nixle, Facebook, Twitter, and the City’s website. All efforts will be made to contact neighborhood associations and homeowners associations about likely parking bans so those associations may share information with residents and members.
Some older neighborhoods in Joliet do not have adequate off street parking options. In those areas, residents are encouraged to seek permission from neighbors who have off street parking space and other parking options that will allow streets to be clear of vehicles to allow snow clearing efforts to be effective.
During winter of 2012, the City will issue warning notices to the owners of vehicles left on the street during parking bans in areas where off street parking options are limited. For areas where off street parking options are available, warning notices will be issued during the first few snow events. But, if it appears that a vehicle owner continues to ignore the parking ban, then the City will use the option of issuing parking tickets and the option of having vehicles owned by repeat offenders towed. All towing and storage costs will be the responsibility of the vehicle owner.
If any resident has a particular hardship in complying with the ban during snow events, the resident should contact (815) 724-3650 to discuss the hardship with a City employee.
The City of Joliet thanks the residents of Joliet for their anticipated cooperation. When the City prepared for the 18-inch blizzard that hit Joliet on February 1, 2011, the City announced an on-street parking ban in advance of the beginning of the blizzard. Most Joliet residents cooperated with the ban, and that cooperation resulted in an effective, timely snow removal effort. The City is confident that the same effort should be exerted for all snow storms and snow events. Full cooperation by Joliet residents will result in a much more effective snow removal effort that will benefit not only the City but also the Joliet residents and businesses as they return to normal operations.
Thomas A. Thanas
City Manager
The City of Joliet is the fourth largest city in the state of Illinois, located just 45 miles southwest of Chicago’s Loop. Home to over 147,000 residents, in addition to thriving businesses and attractions, the City of Joliet is easily accessible by rail, auto and bus transit. A perfect place to live, work and play, Joliet is constantly striving to promote growth and diversity. For more information on Joliet visit www.visitjoliet.org or call 815.724.4000. "
