A change to Post Falls’ snow removal program to keep snow berms off sidewalks in exchange for extending the time to complete the overall process has resulted in widespread resident reaction.

Also fueling the comments is a new email address — snowworries@postfallsidaho.org — which the city has set up for residents to submit their snow removal thoughts.

City officials said the sidewalk change to the snow removal plan to create a "Walkable Winter" community means snow plows will travel slower than they have in the past.

"This will extend the time it takes to plow the entire city, but will make travel safer for those using sidewalks," the city website states.

Another change to the city’s snow removal program is that there is greater emphasis on de-icing intersections.

The uniqueness of the latest storm, in which a crust formed on top of the heavy snow due to freezing rain, may make it difficult to judge the city’s operations, and the window for residents to clear sidewalks was small.

However, snow removal has generated a variety of citizen comments, including at the city council meeting and online.

Kit Hoffer, city spokeswoman, said the city’s email address also received about 150 messages related to the latest snow event.

Citizen Barry Rubin said he realizes the wet snow content during the recent storm only increased the already difficult challenge plow drivers face, but he suggested that the street department do a quick evaluation of each street’s layout on where to move the snow before plowing.

He said, for example, driveways only exist on his side of the street, so he wondered if the city could move all of the snow to the other side rather than splitting it on each side and leaving berms in the driveways that make it difficult to pass.

"I was able to flag the driver down so he could dig me out a bit, but I see no reason that all of the snow could not be plowed in one direction," Rubin said.

Bob Flowers said a former driver knew that residents in his neighborhood were OK with the city plowing snow into their yards to keep the street clear, but he realizes such relationships aren’t nearly as possible these days with the growth that Post Falls has had and new drivers over the years.

Flowers suggested that if the city could post an estimated timeframe when plows would be in neighborhoods, that may ease residents’ frustrations of clearing their driveways only to have a plow come by later and create a berm.

"Then we wouldn’t go out there to spend time (removing snow) only to have it thrown back (on the end of the driveway)," he said.

Other residents are content with the snow removal process. Dewey Berndt wrote online that despite Post Falls’ growth, his street was still plowed on the second day after both of this winter’s storms, as was the case during previous years. Post Falls maintains 538.9 lane miles of streets and 50 miles of alleys.

"There is a finite number of plows and drivers, everyone cannot be first," Berndt wrote. "We live in North Idaho folks. If snow is such an inconvenience, perhaps some people are living in the wrong place."

Mayor Ron Jacobson said the variety of comments will help the city consider whether further changes should be made to its snow removal program. He said staff does a great job overall — often during difficult conditions and amid long hours — but said improvements can always be made.

Jacobson encouraged residents to send an email or submit comments on the "Snow Worries Contact Form" at www.postfallsidaho.org.

"We encourage residents to notify us if there are slick roads that have not been sanded," he said.

Seniors or those with disabilities who are unable to remove the snow and don’t have anyone in their household to do so can apply for Post Falls’ snow berm reduction program during the registration period from September through November.

RATHDRUM

In Rathdrum, the city has more than 110 lane miles to plow, which is a seven- to 10-hour job. As with other cities, the main streets and bus routes are the priority before the residential areas.

"This last storm created a huge problem because of the heavy snow followed by freezing rain leaving behind sheets of ice on the roads before the plows could get to them," City Administrator Leon Duce said. "Each of our plows are equipped with spring-loaded gates. However, when the snow is deep or heavy, the gates will not drop properly to reduce berms in the driveway."

Duce said if all members of a household are unable to remove snow, they can ask their doctor to write a letter to the city documenting that fact. The city will knock down the berm in their driveway.

"We encourage city residents to clean off their sidewalks, fire hydrants and mailboxes as soon as they can to provide continued access," Duce said.