Snow Plowing
Plowing during a snow event does not start until 3 inches of accumulation of snow or more, also the plowing teams do wait until the snow has stopped falling to start any sort of snow pushing.At Blackstone Management, we understand the need for fast snow removal; we have created this page to help owners, tenants, and board members understand the process.
Below, you will find tips from county and state governments on the responsibility of the Community/Property and the owners.
Most communities/Properties have public and private roads, all private streets are maintained by the community or property to find out if your street is public or private use our tool on the right-hand side of the page.
Private Streets
Are the responsibility of the community (HOA) or property to remove/push snow. Each community’s snow removal plan differs on this issue. For the most part, snow will not start to be pushed until there’s accumulation of at least 3 inches on the ground.
We hope this page is helpful to you and your community/property during any snow event. To report an issue to management please use the from above. Note this is monitored even if Blackstone Management office is closed due to inclement weather.
Note: if your property is located in a umbrella/master association, snow removal responsibility falls on the sub association which governs your property.
Public Streets
Are maintained by the county or local government. To get a better understanding of the snow removal plan for your county you will need to check with the appropriate state/local agency.
Sidewalks
The sidewalk in front of your home is the responsibility of the property owner, sidewalks along common areas within the neighborhood are subject to the communities’ individual snow removal policy. Please note if the sidewalk runs along a public St this would be the responsibility of the County or the individual needing to use the sidewalk.
Power Outages
With the potential of power outages, it is important to report the outage at your home as quickly as possible. Please use the below contact information to report any power outages
Frequently Asked Questions
During a snow event crews usually make one pass to open up each road, the truck then comes back to widen the roads, and then the shoulders. Often in a succession of snow events crews are trying to keep just one pass available from accumulating snow throughout the city. During such an event, a snowplow may go by continuing to push snow towards the curb and unintentionally filling in the end of a freshly cleared driveway. While this can cause frustration and additional work for our residents please understand that our crews are working tirelessly trying to maintain an acceptable service level throughout the community for the safety of the traveling public.
The community will not repair or replace mailboxes damaged by force of moving snow. If a community vehicle or equipment hits a mailbox the community will take action to fix the mailbox at its earliest convenience. However the community will not replace mailboxes damaged by any other means, including from the weight of snow plowed from the roadway.
As winter weather approaches each year it is recommended to verify that your mailbox is structurally sound by shaking it.
Salt is not generally effective at temperatures below 20 degrees. The community’s policy for salt application when temperatures are favorable is:
Priority 1 & 2 streets receive salt in an application in both directions, the salt spreads to the curb line due to the crown of the road. Special attention is paid to signalized intersections and residential streets with significant hills.
Priority 3 streets may, depending on needs, receive salt in one pass down the center of the street. All intersections in residential areas receive salting as warranted by temperature.
Priority 4 alleys only receive salting as necessary for ice buildup if necessary for final cleaning.
All of community roads are broken down by priority for snow removal.
- Priority 1: Major trunk lines/thoroughfares and multi-lane arterials:
- Priority 2: Collector streets and special access routes: includes those streets around schools, hospitals and higher volume major streets.
- Priority 3: Residential/Parking streets, commercial area side streets and cul-de-sacs
- Priority 4:
alleys, municipal parking areas and downtown on-street parking
A person shall not remove, or cause to be removed, snow, ice or slush onto or across any street in a manner which obstructs the safety of the driver of a motor vehicle, other than off-road vehicles. A person shall not deposit, or cause to be deposited, snow, ice or slush on the traveled portion of any street. This includes private snow removal contractors.
The vendor contracted for your community will do their best to remove as much snow from the community as possible however there may be a time that the snow piles do block visitor parking spaces. Unfortunately, this is something that we try to avoid however it will happen during large snowstorms.
The sidewalk in front of your home or adjacent to your property would be the responsibility of the property owner. Sidewalks lining common space may be maintained by the association depending upon the agreement your board has with the snow removal vendor.
Making sure your walkway and driveway are clear of snow can help keep everyone on your property safe. You don’t want anyone slipping or falling, and you don’t want cars getting stuck in the snow. Getting snow removed can help with ice formation later on when the snow starts to melt.
It’s important to brush and clear the snow off your entire vehicle, including your roof, windows, headlights, and hood. Leaving snow or ice on top of your vehicle is extremely dangerous to other drivers on the road. Snow and ice flying from other vehicles can cause accidents and even damage other cars.
When you let the snow pile up in your driveway, you end up parking in deeper and deeper snow, which means your car’s underbelly is exposed to moisture and can become corroded. The de-icers used on roads also contribute to corrosion on your vehicle.
