City plows follow four inch rule

With the arrival of winter, Whitefish’s Public Works department is reminding residents about snow plowing procedures.

The city initiates plowing routes when it snows four inches or more overnight. A plowing supervisor measures the snow at 4 a.m. The four-inch rule was established as a way to keep the snowplowing budget in check and to prevent fatigue of snowplow operators, Public Works director John Wilson said.

“If we start plowing at two inches, we’ll just be following our tail around,” he said. “Our guys sometimes work 30 hours straight. There’s a time when they just have to stop.”

If snow accumulates in a series of smaller one- or two-inch storms, Wilson reassures residents that plow crews will still go out.

Residential streets running east-west are plowed prior to noon the day of the snow storm and streets running north-south are plowed after noon. Residents are asked to move vehicles off the street during the designated plow times.

“When people follow the parking procedure, we get more done in less time, and we don’t plow cars in,” Wilson said.

Wilson notes that occasionally a driveway could be blocked with a snow berm. Elderly or handicap residents are encouraged to call the city for assistance.

“We’ll put them on a list and come around with a truck to clear the berms,” Wilson said.

Alleys are near the bottom of the priority list, Wilson notes, but are sometimes cleared if time allows.

Snow removal in areas with curbside parking, other than the downtown business district, will not begin until 8 a.m., unless emergency situations warrant earlier plowing.

Cars left overnight downtown will likely be towed if plows are called out.

“People should expect we’ll enforce the rules,” Wilson said. “Plows have to be out of downtown by 8 a.m.”

Residential sidewalks are to be cleared by the property owner or tenant within 24 hours of the storm. The pedestrian and bike paths are cleared by the Parks and Recreation Department.

To report areas that are in need of immediate plowing or sanding, call 863-2460 or 863-2457.