By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — As Post Falls rolls out its snow-berm reduction program for the upcoming winter, city officials caution residents that there will be a tradeoff to knocking down those nagging mounds left in your driveway.

Residents can expect plow times of about twice as long in some areas of the city because the use of snow gates will slow plow teams.

"Our goal will be to do the entire city in 24 to 30 hours," Paul Kinney, Public Works maintenance manager, told City Council members during a recent workshop. "Right now we can do it in 12 to 14.

"This will slow us down considerably, but at the same time residents will have a better level of service and we won't be filling people's driveways with a snow berm."

Snow gates are hydraulic attachments to plows that prevent most of the snow from entering entrances to driveways as the plows pass. Kinney said snow berms left in front of driveways has been one of the largest complaints his department receives.

Kinney said the program won’t eliminate berms altogether but remove them significantly.

Council member Steve Anthony said the new program should also reduce the issue of some residents throwing snow from the berms back into the street.

During previous winters, the city has offered a snow-berm reduction program to seniors and those with disabilities who don't have anyone in their households who could knock down the berms. That program will be eliminated this winter because berms will be reduced for all residents.

"That will be one of the largest impacts," Kinney said.

There were 388 households enrolled in the former program two years ago and 527 last winter.

"With the amount of folks moving into the community, that program would not be sustainable as we move along," Kinney said.

Kinney said rolling out the new program as a pilot project was considered by a committee that explored the move early on. However, the city has decided that it will be all in with a permanent program instead.

The City Council in August approved $135,000 to lease four new loaders with snow gates and other equipment.

Starting Dec. 1 through March 2019, city plow teams will work 24 hours with two crews — a day shift and a night shift.

The first priority will be major routes such as Spokane and Idaho streets, Seltice Way and Mullan Avenue. A snow zone map will be available at www.postfallsidaho.org.

During snow storms, the city receives many calls from residents asking for assistance or with plowing concerns. In an effort to improve customer service, those who have non-emergency concerns are urged to email snowworries@postfallsidaho.org instead of calling the city.

The email should briefly describe the problem, such as "my street hasn't been plowed," and give your address and contact information.

The email will automatically go to multiple supervisors who can act on the problem without having to wait for the Streets Division to review phone calls and forward them.

"It will be interesting to see (if the new program) reduces the number of complaints," Mayor Ron Jacobson said.

Residents can do their part by limiting on-street parking during snow storms, removing basketball hoops and other obstacles from city streets and not parking in cul de sacs in the winter.

"If a cul de sac is blocked, it is very difficult for large equipment to clear the snow and the cul de sac cannot be plowed until all vehicles have been removed," a city press release states.

Kinney said it may take a while for residents to get used to changes of the new program, but repetition should help.

"We want to do it the same all the time so it becomes like a garbage route," he said.

Other cities in Kootenai County, including Coeur d'Alene, Hayden and Rathdrum, already use snow gates in their operations.

Officials in those cities say the gates work well with smaller, lighter snowstorms, but not as well with heavy, wet storms as they are more prone to problems.