Village of Orland Park Prepares for the Winter Season

 

With the expected seasonal snowfall on the horizon, the Village of Orland Park Public Works Department shares its annual list of snow related reminders.

 “I know that all of the Village’s plowing crews appreciate residents’ cooperation as they work to keep Village streets safe and accessible,” said Mayor Keith Pekau.

Parking is prohibited on Village streets once two inches of snow has fallen. Parked vehicles must be kept off the streets for 10 hours after a snow event, giving Village crews time to clear the thoroughfares. And, residents are reminded to never push snow into the street, instead placing it on side lawns.

“The biggest hindrance our drivers face is parked cars on residential streets,” said Public Works Director Joel Van Essen. “When residents know it’s going to snow, we ask that they be sure to move all parked vehicles so the plows can clear the entire street.”

Homeowners are asked to shovel out the fire hydrants on their blocks for better accessibility for the Orland Fire District. “If people are physically able, we encourage them to shovel out the fire hydrants on their blocks,” Mayor Pekau said. “Clearing out the hydrants from the street makes it easier and faster for the Orland Fire District to get to them.”

Orland Park’s snow removal crews plow and salt more than 250 miles of roads throughout the Village. The fleet includes 22 Village-owned trucks plowing and salting on pre-designated routes.

An integral part of combating a snowstorm is street salting. The Village of Orland Park uses salt and liquid brine during the winter to de-ice and protect its roads. First priority is given to the main streets with higher speed limits and heaviest year-round traffic, followed by secondary thoroughfares and cul-de-sacs. According to best management practices, the Village uses liquid brine to limit salt saturation in our ecological waterways.

When a storm begins, day or night, Public Works crews are promptly mobilized and dispatched. During larger snow events, the Village utilizes contractors to supplement existing staff to assist with cul-de-sacs and dead-end streets. The type of storm, anticipated accumulation, expected duration, and other variables such as wind, drifting and temperature dictate how the specific snow plowing operation will progress.

“The most important thing we ask is that residents be patient. All of the streets in the Village will be cleared in as short a time as possible, as the storm allows,” Director Van Essen added. “Once the snowfall stops, it can take a few hours to push all of the accumulated snow to the curb.”

The first priority of the snow removal process is to ensure public safety. It is imperative to clear main roads to provide mobility and access for police, fire, and ambulatory activity. All Village-owned streets will be plowed including side streets and cul-de-sacs.  Please keep in mind that several state and local agencies other than the Village are responsible for snow removal on some roads. View a map snow plowing jurisdictions at orlandpark.org/snowremoval.

Do you want to see when your street was last plowed or when the plow is on its way to your location? Check out the snow tracker feature on the Village’s website to view all plow locations and a timeline of roadways they have already passed. The Village of Orland Park Snow Tracker application is available online at orlandpark.org/plowtracker. Use the Village OP311 system to report dangerous road conditions or weather-related concerns at orlandpark.org/op311. Users must register in order to enter a ticket for review.

ORLAND PARK’S TOP TEN SNOW TIPS

1. Village ordinance prohibits parking on Village streets once two inches of snow has fallen.

2. Parked vehicles must be kept off of the streets for 10 hours after it has stopped snowing.

3. When clearing the driveway, residents should place snow on either side of the driveway---on the lawn---and never in the street.

4. Residents should keep garbage cans and recycle bins from rolling into the street on garbage pick-up day.

5. Residents may help identify curbs with five free stakes available from the Public Works Department, 15655 South Ravinia Avenue.

6. Clear out hydrants so that fire personnel can easily access them if necessary.

7. Snowplow drivers make several passes to push the snow to the curb line.  The last pass often happens several hours after the snow has finished falling.  Plow drivers try to clear roads up to the curb so the available road width is not reduced due to snowfall.  It is recommended to wait to do a final curb line clearing until the snowplow driver has made his last curb pass in front of your residence.

8. Be patient. Every storm is different with many variables. Streets may have to be plowed more than once.

9. Communicate with the Public Works Department. Report any ice formations on the street so that they can be salted. Clear the snow from storm sewers in front of your home so melting snow can easily drain, preventing ice patches.

10. Mailboxes should be kept in good repair and be placed at least one foot behind the curb to avoid damage. It is the residents’ responsibility to clear a safe path around mailboxes to ensure delivery. Homeowners’ associations are typically responsible for clearing the area around cluster mailboxes.

Further information about Orland Park’s Snow Removal Program is available online at orlandpark.org/snowremoval or by calling the Village’s Public Works Department at 708/403-6350.