Summit County Issues Safety Reminders for 2017-2018 Snow Days

Winter is finally here! As such, we wanted to repost a release that the County shared with Summit Park – please see below for safety reminders during our snow season. Additionally, here is an interview from PCTV in case it’s helpful.

Coalville, UT (November 17, 2017) With the first snowfall of the season behind us, Summit County is issuing safety reminders related to storm safety, snow removal and curbside pickup for the 2017-2018 season.

  • Hours of Operation – Summit County plow operators will work from 4:00 am – 10:00 pm, unless a storm rolls in overnight and continues throughout the day, in which case the crew will drop by 1/3 beginning at 12:00 pm and to 2/3 beginning at 4:00 pm. At this time main roads and school bus routes will become the focus. This is due to enforcement of CDL Hours of Operation, and a lack of human resources to cover every road.
  • Snow Storage –
    • All property owners must contain ALL of the snow from their property, including their driveway, onto their own property (Summit County Code 7-3-4 & 7-3-5). They may not push their snow out onto the County Road or into the County Right-of-Way. Doing so creates hazards to plow operators and other drivers. Snow pushed from driveways into the County Road ends up in neighbor’s driveway as the plows pass.
    • ALL landscaping, mail boxes, markers and other items placed in the County Right-of-Way are at RISK. Damage to these items will not be the responsibility of the County (Summit County Code 7-3-10). Crews do everything they can to miss/avoid hitting these items, but they cannot see what’s under the snow, and as heavy/wet snow rolls out the end of the plow blade, there is a lot of force that easily knocks things over (like mailboxes). Any damage that may be caused to County snow removal equipment may become the responsibility of the property owner.
  • All Utilities Must be Marked with a Pole and Flag – All fire hydrants and utility structures shall be marked by the owner of the hydrant or utility structures with a pole or other sign that extends well above the normally anticipated depth of accumulated snow (6 foot minimum) and windrows at that location so that locations of the hydrants and utility structures can be readily determined even during periods when it is covered. Summit County Code (7-3-8)
  • Seasonal Limits on Parking – No On-Street Parking on County Roads (except as otherwise marked by the County) between November 15th and April 15th. Vehicles or other obstacles which hamper County snow removal operations will be towed or removed at the owner’s expense. The County shall not assume any liability for damage to vehicles parked on the street, or other obstacles placed in the County right-of-way in violation of this chapter. Damage to snow removal equipment resulting from contact with vehicles which are illegally parked or other obstacles placed in the County right-of-way shall be the responsibility of the vehicle owner or persons responsible for the obstacles placed in the County right-of-way. (Summit County Code 7-3-3)
  • General Safety
    • When walking or riding watch for plows. Plow drivers may not see you.
    • Do not run into the street to flag down a plow. This may surprise the operator and cause an accident.
    • Do not build snow forts in the big snow berms along the road. A plow could come along at any time and push into the piles.
  • Solid Waste Services – If weather delays trash or recycling pickup, leave your cans next to the road and they will be serviced the next day, if possible. Severe weather delays can cause a cascade of delays to areas that are supposed to be served on subsequent days.

Anyone who has questions or comments should call (435) 336-3970.

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Media Contact:
Krachel Greenwood
Community and Public Affairs Coordinator
O: (435) 336-3044
C: (801) 699-4582