Snow & Ice Removal

The Village is an active member with the Chicago Area Waterway Chloride Work Group. The main goal of the group is to use Best Management Practices (BMPs) to effectively manage road salt/choride use, in an effort to reduce the amount of chlorides that pollute our regions waterways and restore water quality. To learn more about the group, the regional effort, education and outreach materials, see the above link.

Public Works is responsible for 72 miles of roadway, and plowing all streets can take some time, especially during long or heavy storm events.  Below is the current approach to snow and ice control.

1. Prior to a snow and/or ice event, DPW will apply salt brine (a mixture of salt and water) to the main roads throughout the community. The approach of using salt brine, a day before a snow event, is known as Anti-icing. Salt brine liquid that has dried on the roadway prohibits the freezing/bonding of snow/ice to the pavement. The salt brine "barrier" allows for easier removal of snow and ice from roads, resulting in cleaner pavement and a significant reduction in the amount of salt that was used previously to melt the snow/ice after it has bonded to the pavement. As time and resources allow, salt brine will be applied to local roads.
2. Plowing begins when there is an accumulation of 2 inches or more of snow.  Three 2 ½ ton snow plows are assigned to plow in tandem, the Village’s 2 main salt/plow routes.   Upon completion of these two main snow routes, the six trucks pair up into three groups of two to start plowing the secondary/local streets/remaining streets village wide.  Two plow equipped 1-ton dump trucks (1 on North side and 1 on the South side) will clear cul-de-sacs and courts.  One pass on main routes can take 3 hours.  One pass along local routes is another 3 hours.  Therefore it can take more than 6 hours to clear all village roads 1 time.  This process will repeat to keep up with the snow event and additional salt will be spread as needed.  Sometimes the snow event is heavy enough that DPW may need to plow the main routes a second time before the local roads.  The goal is to manage accordingly during a snow event with real progress made only when the snow ceases to fall.  Any follow up plowing will commence the next day.  
3.  Next day clearing will consist of plows clearing the roadway further towards the curb line.  Residents and businesses need to be mindful that when clearing their respective driveways that roadway snow may still need to be cleared and will eventually be cleared to the side across the driveway space again.  This is a unfortunate part of the plowing process.  Residents should remove vehicles parked on the street during and after snow events to allow for better clearing during and after a snow event.

The Village's main routes consist of Orchard Drive, Blackhawk Drive, Indianwood Boulevard, Westwood Drive, Wildwood Drive, Indiana Street, Illinois Street, Shabbona Drive, Lakewood Blvd, North Street, Dogwood Street, Alleghany Street, and Algonquin Street.  

Residents that live in the Multi-family areas, Coops, Condos, Town homes, and Rentals or are part of a Homeowners Association (HOA), have contracts with outside companies for snow and ice removal.  Contact your respective Management Office or HOA for details.

Snow Route Parking Ban

Per Village Resolution, there is NO PARKING on designated “Snow Route” streets at any time there is an accumulation of two (2) inches or more of snow and ice on the roadway. The ban allows Public Works crews to clear the road and parking area more effectively. This ban remains in effect until the storm event and accumulation of snow and ice have been removed.

While not required by ordinance on streets not designated as snow routes, no parking on side streets during heavy snowfall greatly assists crews in plowing and aids first responders in responding to emergencies.