Buffalo Grove streamlines snow removal

szalusky@dailyherald.com

When Buffalo Grove deals with snow this season, it will be done more efficiently than before, Public Works Director Michael Reynolds said this week.

Using the suggestions of plow drivers and utilizing GIS, Public Works has a plan that will provide better service to residents in terms of curb plowing and driveway clearing, he said.

"We have redesigned the routes so that all drivers are driving the same route no matter when they're driving," he told the village board. Under the old plan, supervisors would bring drivers back in and they would change trucks and go on a different route altogether.

"We have kind of streamlined that, so that they are in the same truck, same route, same time, no matter when or where they're plowing," Reynolds said.

Reynolds said their snow clearing techniques include using more liquid applied to the road salt, which has the effect of breaking down the salt into solution much faster - and results in less salt being used.

As for cul-de-sacs, plows will leave less snow in driveways for residents to clean up, he added.

"We will be plowing those cul-de-sacs to the center and then bringing that snow out to either the parkways right at the throat or at the exit of the cul-de-sac or toward the other end," Reynolds explained. "That should minimize or almost eliminate any plowing complaints with respect to the amount of snow that we leave in the driveway."

He added that snowplow drivers will try to get to the curbs every three hours, making things more manageable for homeowners.

In addition, he announced staffing level changes. Now, employees are being assigned to shifts rather than wait for the snow and not be certain when they would receive a call. Now everything will be divided into two shifts.

"If the snow falls on A Shift's watch, they know that they are going to be the expected group. If it falls on B Shift's watch, they know they will be the expected group," he said.