Snow Removal

A Snow Plan for Sheridan County Policy:

The following plan covers the procedures the Sheridan County Road & Bridge Department will follow in the event of a winter snow or ice storm. Any of the operations may be altered by the County Engineer Depending on conditions and/or emergencies.
The regular working hours of the department are as follows:

Monday through Thursday 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The following days are holidays:

New Year's Day

Equality Day

President's Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

No work will be done on holidays unless authorized by the County Engineer or the Board of County Commissioners.

Start Up

  1. No operators of plow, sander or plow and sander will be dispatched for service until and accumulation of 4" or more of snow has fallen.
  2. No operators of plow, sander or plow and sander will be dispatched on holidays, Saturdays and Sundays or any hours other than the normal 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. workdays unless specifically directed to do so by County Engineer or Road & Bridge Superintendent.
  3. The normal start up procedure is as follows during normal working hours from Monday through Thursday other than holidays:
  • The County Engineer will contact the Road & Bridge Superintendent who in turn will contact the operators.
  • All operators will have a map of their area Priority routes clearly marked. These routes will be first priority unless otherwise specified by the County Engineer or Road & Bridge Superintendent.
  • After these routes have been plowed, a systematic approach will be taken to plow the entire area. Any part of the area left at the end of normal working hours will be done the following day or two until the job is completed.
  1. Sanding: Sanding will be done after the snow has been removed from the roadway. Sanding will be done on paved roads only. Sanding will be done during normal working hours.
  • Sanding Bridges: Only those bridges on paved roads designated on map will be sanded. These bridges will be sanded only during normal working hours. They will normally not be sanded on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. They will be sanded only once.
  • Ice Storms: Sanding vehicles will be dispatched when the foreman feels dangerous driving conditions exist. The sanding unit will cover those areas so designated on the map. Sanding other areas will be solely at the discretion of the Road & Bridge Superintendent or County Engineer.
  • Sanding: The purpose of sanding will be to provide a safer surface to drive on. However, it will not completely clear road surface of ice or snow, nor will the surface of a bridge or roadway be continuously sanded or plowed. The normal sanding will be one pass over the area designated on the map.
  • Emergency plowing or sanding: Emergency plowing or sanding for fire or rescue departments will be done at the discretion of the foreman in charge.
  • Routes: All plowing and sanding will be done in a systematic way and will not be deviated from for any reason other than an emergency.
  • Plows: All equipment will be equipped with a flashing yellow light mounted on the highest point of the vehicle. This light must be on any time the unit is in service.
  • Foreman: The foreman of each crew will assign snow removal personnel and equipment in a manner that conforms to this plan.
  • Operators: Operators will be called out by the County Engineer or Road & Bridge Superintendent for snow and ice removal times other than normal working hours when in his/her judgment, conditions warrant immediate attention at other than normal working hours.
  • Sheriff: The Sheriff's office will notify the County Engineer or foreman in charge when 4" of snow has accumulated or when a situation exists that makes driving dangerous. The foreman at that time may, at his discretion, dispatch snow removal crews and equipment.
  • Snow policy: Operators, Road & Bridge Superintendent, and County Engineer name and policy will be distributed to the sheriff, county board, and a completed list of who to call and the order in which to call. The Emergency Management Director will also have a copy of the snow plan, but in no way will be responsible for snow or ice removal other than in a national emergency or state emergency so designated by the Governor.
  • Press releases: Any information about snow removal will be the responsibility of the Board of County Commissioners, or the County Engineer to give to the news media. Anyone other than the above mentioned people will not give information or make statements concerning anything to do with the snow or ice operation.

Gravel roads will not be sanded or salted unless specifically approve by the County Engineer. Only hard surfaced roads will be salted or sanded and then only in areas that are necessary, i.e. curves, hills, stop signs. Only one application of salt or sand per storm will be done on roads as was done on bridges. Operators of snow equipment will have at least one meeting in September outlining their duties. They will be furnished a map of their area of responsibility and will be furnished a copy of the snow plan.

Approved the 16th day of March 1999
designed by: Wyolution