Snow Removal

EVERGREEN ESTATES SNOW REMOVAL GUIDELINES November 2017 1
Evergreen Estates
SNOW REMOVAL GUIDELINES

There are some things for certain in life, and for those of us living in the FMWF area, and specifically Evergreen Estates, the winter season generally means snow, sometimes more and sometimes less. Since the founding of the development, snow removal services have been provided by the same vendor. While not a 24 hour service, they are committed to providing Evergreen Estates, and their many other customers, realistic snow removal service at a reasonable cost. The amount of snowfall, along with blowing and drifting conditions can be at times unpredictable and challenging, thus at times requiring our patience as homeowners. So, as we begin each winter season we want to review the snow removal guidelines and expectations as follows:

  1. The vendor will provide snow removal service when there is 1/2 inch or more of snow accumulation. When there is a heavy snowfall, as soon as weather permits they will first do a general cleaning of the streets and the 17th Avenue north entrance/exit along with those drive-ways where the accumulations are very heavy – thus allowing homeowners the ability to enter/exit the development. Once the snowfall subsides, the vendor will return to do a more thorough cleaning of the streets, driveways and front entrances to each home, as well as removing any snow/ice accumulations on the vents and meters located on the north or south side of the homes, this may require at times the use of a snow-blower or tractor and while care is taken some lawn damage may occur which will be repaired in the spring.
  2. The vendor uses snow-blower equipment on the driveways which reduces the possibility of damage to the driveway, dryvit, siding and the snow accumulations in the front-yard. Pick-up trucks with blades, and if necessary a pay-loader will be used for removing heavy snow accumulations on the roads. Shovels, brooms, snow-blowers are used to remove snow from the sidewalk and front-entrances. Tractors are occasionally used to remove heavy snow in between the homes to allow access to vents and meters. You may find a small amount of snow up against your garage door and the siding in your front entrance or around your front stair-railing if you have one, as the vendor refrains from getting right up against the siding, dryvit, railings, and garage door to prevent damage.
  3. It is always preferable that vehicles be parked in your garage or driveway and not on development streets. This is especially important to facilitate snow-removal. If company presents, which is often the case during the winter holidays when it is also likely to have snowfall, and you have more vehicles than your garage or driveway can accommodate, please advise a board member and they may be able to place the vehicle in a driveway of a snow-bird or a homeowner traveling, with their permission of course. Snow-removal often takes place during the late evening or early morning hours, so when we have had a snowfall, it is important that there be no vehicles parked on the streets.
  4. Hauling snow is generally cost-prohibitive, and the blowing equipment used by our vendor better distributes the snow throughout the development. We have spots throughout the development where we store snow; however, the occasion may present when snow has to be hauled and homeowners are equally assessed if we have to do so. If the snow is pushed on to the lawns and causes damage, it will be repaired in the spring.
  5. The vendor will pay special attention to the mail-box, drop-box and fire hydrant areas.
  6. The Vendor is contracted with the Association, not the individual homeowner. We ask that homeowners not telephone the Vendor as they are concentrating on snow removal. If you need to communicate regarding snow removal, please contact an Association board member who will facilitate your inquiry.
  7. During the winter months please be sure to run your fireplace regularly to prevent ice build-up on the venting. Roof-tops are built to hold a yard-stick of snow or a little more per instructions from Northern Truss, who supplied the trusses for our roofs. If you wish snow-removal from your roof, deck, patio, it can be done at homeowner expense and we can supply the names of vendors who will safely do so.
  8. In the dark of night is when snow-removal takes place most often. If you are entering or exiting the development and you see snow-removal in progress, please know the snow-removal equipment operators may not see you, so make it a point to see them, and give them a wide-berth as you pass each other. Additionally, when the operator of the large blower is clearing our driveways, be advised that he is constantly backing out into the road 4 to 5 times per driveway. So please read again the underlined portion of this paragraph.
  9. The snow-removal vendor is often “blowing snow” during the early morning hours, which is the same time the daily newspapers are delivered, and thrown onto the driveway by the rural paper-carrier. While we caution the paper-carriers, they often throw the paper from a vehicle which is all they are required to do as rural carriers. Our snow removal vendor, if they see the newspaper, will try to move it out of the path of snow-removal. Occasionally, the newspaper may get shredded. If that happens to you, we suggest:
    (a) call your neighbor and inquire if you can get their newspaper when they are done reading it, or
    (b) you can call The Forum and they will deliver another newspaper to your home.
  10. Holiday lighting and decorations are permissible on the home and in the yard. However, they are to be removed when weather conditions allow following the holiday season. Keep in mind snow-removal is most often done in the dark of night when lighting is not good and the winds are-a-blowin’, so it can be very hard to see pots, benches, electrical cords, holiday decorations, etc. The snow-removal vendor will try to steer-clear of those areas so as not to damage these items, but keep this in mind when decorating for the holidays and be understanding if inadvertent damage occurs.
  11. Many homeowners find it helpful if, during a snowfall, they have an idea when snow removal will take place. As one homeowner put it: get mad as hell when I just finished shoveling my driveway and then the service shows-up, so it would be nice to know when they are coming! We agree. And we are advised that the snow-removal crew generally follows these rules of thumb:
    (a) wait till the snowfall stops and then come out and do snow-removal. That being said tho’, if it is a long heavy snow, they do come out and do an “interim cleaning” (see #1 of these guidelines);
    (b) if a late morning or early afternoon snowfall, they generally will do snow-removal during the later evening or just after midnight, since there is less traffic on the roads;
    (c) if a later afternoon or evening snowfall, they generally will do snow-removal in the wee-hours of the morning, again since there is less traffic on the roads. The above being said, as the snow is falling a board member and the snow-removal crew chief are in frequent communication. So, at the point we have a time-frame when the snow-removal crew will be out, a blast email will be sent to homeowners titled: SNOW-REMOVAL ALERT! Those without computer access will be contacted via telephone or text, if appropriate.
  12. Occasionally, we get questions regarding sanding and/or the use of ice-melt products during icy periods. The snow removal contract provides for treatment of icy conditions, as it pertains to the:
    (a) common -areas: the snow-removal vendor will apply sand or ice-melt products to the roads and mailbox areas when appropriate;
    (b) homeowners’ driveways and sidewalks: the decision regarding the application of sand or ice-melt products is left up to the individual homeowner, as some want it applied and some do not. There are strong feelings on both sides of this issue. A listing is kept of those homeowners who would want the snow-removal vendor to apply sand or ice-melt products as needed. To get on that list, simply contact an HOA board member. ONLY those homes on the list will have sand or ice-melt product applied to their driveways and sidewalks.

Having read these guidelines, you can see that snow-removal becomes a cooperative responsibility of the
homeowner, the HOA and the vendor. This requires good communication between all parties and some patience on everyone’s part. If you have any questions regarding these snow-removal guidelines, or if you need assistance, do not hesitate to contact a board member. Thank you for your cooperation!