Opinion: Snow removal do’s and don’ts

By Tracy Franklin

South Lake Tahoe would like to thank locals and visitors for their contributions to efficient and effective snow removal. Our goal article is to familiarize those new to the area of “Snow Removal Do’s and Don’ts.”

This might be old news to people who have lived in the Tahoe basin for a while. However, for some visitors and new residents, this information could be beneficial when dealing with a Tahoe winter and snow removal.

Of utmost importance to everyone is emergency access, 24 hours a day, to all areas of the city. That means that city crews work around the clock clearing 127 miles of city streets until the streets are open to their full widths.

The city uses the right-of-way for storage of snow removed from the streets. The right-of-way is the only storage site the city has available; therefore, it is not available as snow storage for individuals. Right-of-way generally extends five to ten feet beyond the edge of the pavement.

Anything left in the right-of-way can and does interfere with snow removal. One of our biggest problems during snow removal is a car parked in the street. At times, illegally parked cars actually preclude streets from being plowed and hamper emergency personnel when responding to a call. An unplowed street is especially frustrating for the people who live on that street. The best policy is to keep your vehicles parked off the streets at all times.

For people who have home mail delivery, the mailbox should be installed on private property at the right side of the driveway while facing the street. It is the resident’s responsibility to clear a path to the mailbox and keep the box accessible for mail delivery.

In addition to cars, anything left in the right-of-way, such as landscaping, building material, rocks, shovels, etc., becomes a hindrance for equipment operators. So, please remember to keep this area free of obstacles that could interfere with snow removal efforts or break the equipment.

Again, we wish to thank you for your understanding and cooperation during snow removal. The city’s snow removal number is 530.542.6030 and additional information can be found online.

Tracy Franklin is South Lake Tahoe’s public information officer.