All other roads will be plowed as soon as equipment is available or in the immediate area with available time.

All turn-around plowing is the responsibility of landowners. Turn-arounds must be of adequate size for use of town equipment.

By State Statute 81.15 the Town has three (3) weeks to remove natural snow and ice accumulation. The Town’s goal is to maintain the roads in good winter driving conditions as weather, equipment and budgets allow.

Planning and preparing for a snow and ice operation is difficult due to the uniqueness of each storm. No two storms are ever identical. The interrelationship of factors such as rate of snowfall, moisture content, accumulation, temperature, time of day, and wind velocity determines the uniqueness of each storm. The town operation must be flexible enough to combat the various aspects of each storm.

The amount of snow accumulation and time of day at which the storm occurs has a significant effect. High wind conditions may cause roads to quickly fill in again with drifted snow. The temperature on warm pavement will clear off more easily. However, a moderate storm, coupled with a prolonged sub-freezing period will greatly increase the removal effort. Light, dry snows handle more easily than heavy wet snows.

During snow and ice storms town road crews will respond to emergency conditions to the extent practicable. The town will not respond to unverified emergency requests directly from the public. The request must come from the appropriate emergency agency (i.e. fire, police, etc.) The town road crews will not plow on private property without authorization from the Town Board. (Please see specific town policy regarding plowing on private property). The Township will not take any responsibility for removal of snow that is plowed into private driveways from the road clearing operation. Driveway maintenance is the property owners responsibility. Sanding of private driveways can be done on an emergency basis at the discretion of the Town Patrolman.

The Town of Vermont uses an abrasive treated sand (one (1) part salt to six (6) parts sand-limestone fines). This amount of salt is necessary to keep sand from freezing in the pile and keeping sand in a workable condition. Sand is applied only at curves, intersections and hills. Sand may be used on all roads if necessary. Certain weather conditions may require heavier amounts of salt in the sand to promote thawing or clearing of compacted snow or ice.

Planning for a snow removal operation begins when there is two (2) inches or more to plow. During a light to moderate snow storm (two (2) inches or less) the patrolman on truck #1 will plow all roads. During a moderate to heavy snow storm (two (2) inches or more) the patrolman plow all main town roads and assistant, with truck #2, will plow all town dead-end roads. In the event of six (6) inches or more snow, blowing and drifting, or breakdown of trucks, the John Deere grader will be put into operation.

In early winter, should there be a snowfall with two (2) inches or less, gravel roads will not be plowed. It is necessary that gravel roads be frozen before plowing.

The operations listed above will be established and at the discretion of the Town Patrolman.

Highest Priority removal of snow and ice:

Normal personnel assignments include:

1. Patrolman who is assigned to truck #1.
2. Assistant will be assigned to truck #2.
3. Assistant would be assigned to truck #1 if the John Deere grader is put into service. Grader would be operated by Town Patrolman.
4. In the event of a very serious and/or severe storm a second assistant would be secured to operate truck #2.

Truck #1 1992 International diesel, 8 yard box, 11 foot reversible snowplow,9 foot wing, tailgate single auger sander, and cellular phone.

Truck #2 1999 Ford F550 diesel, 3 yard box, Bos 10 foot four way plow, tailgate sander, and cellular phone.

John Deere Grader 1974 diesel, 12 foot work blade, 10 foot wing, 9 foot V-type plow and cellular phone.

This policy will be adjusted to meet specific storm circumstances. Listed below are several special conditions:

1. Plowing of snow will be limited in storms early in the fall and late spring on gravel surface roads due to the lack of frost to support the snowplows. Plowing gravel off the road creates a hazard as well as being very expensive for the taxpayers.
2. Plowing may be limited on paved roads during spring break up.
3. Operations may be suspended or reduced:
   1. if fuel is unavailable due to electrical shutdown,
   2. if qualified operators are not available,
   3. or in the event of equipment breakdowns.
4. The chairperson has the authority to suspend snow and ice control operations in an emergency situation. This may be done in severe storm conditions when there is danger to operators or it is not practical or cost effective to continue.

Information about road conditions and operations can be obtained from the Vermont Town Hall at 767-2457 or by calling the Chairperson, Supervisors, Clerk or Road Patrolman at their respective residences.

Complaints should be directed to the Town Chairman. These will be investigated and discussed with the Town Board. Final action on complaints rests with the Town Board.

Complaints given to spouses or other family members if given in a respectable manner will be relayed to proper personnel. Board officials, employees, spouses, and family members will not deal with rude or belligerent complaints.

Complaints regarding individual operators must be submitted in writing, signed, and filed at the Town Hall. The complaint will be reviewed by the Town Board at their next regular town meeting. All people involved will have the opportunity to be present at such time.

Operators are instructed to be very cautious near mailboxes. In most cases, a properly installed mail box will permit a snow plow to clear snow under it. Most cases of damaged mailboxes are caused by heavy snow hitting the box. The mailboxes are not usually hit by the plow.

The town will repair a mail box installation if we hit it and are notified. The town will do this repair after the snowplowing operation is over. This will be done to the best of our ability. Town residents may wish to install mailbox replacements or repaired boxes themselves.

The town assumes no liability for mailbox damage or loss.

The town does not have an obligation to clear snow out or away from entrances. Considering the large number of driveways in the town, it would be too costly and unpractical to use town personnel and equipment to clean driveway entrances blocked by plowed snow. Things to be considered about snow removal from a driveway:

1. Standing in your driveway facing the road – shovel all your snow to the right at the driveway entrance. Thus, the snowplow will take the snow down the road when it passes by.
2. If possible, don’t plow your driveway until after the snowplow has gone by.
3. State Statute prohibits plowing any snow from driveways on to the town road. You are liable for fines and damages. If you hire someone to plow your driveway, be sure they know the law concerning this matter.

The determination of when to use over-time in the removal of snow and ice shall be made by one of the following people:

1. The Road Patrolman
2. The Town Chairperson

The need for over-time shall be established from the severity of a storm or emergency