The ability of snow plow operators to maneuver narrow streets became such a concern this winter that city leaders considered exercising a little-used ordinance that allows the city manager to prohibit parking on one side of the street during a snow emergency. The ordinance, passed in 1999, has only been used once, according to city officials.
But City Manager Joshua Smith said it’s more likely that city officials will purchase a smaller, more maneuverable plow next year to alleviate the problem.
“Staff feels if we go to smaller trucks on cul-de-sacs and narrow streets ... the snow emergency ordinance would not be necessary,” Smith said, noting Hamilton has 20 narrow streets on the east side and 12 on the west.
Craig Koger, acting street and sewer superintendent, said the city has budgeted for a regular-sized pickup truck with a seven-foot plow for clearing smaller streets — currently a dump truck with an eight-foot plow is used.
“Once that’s approved by the state, we’ll get it ordered,” Koger said. “It won’t be for this season, but hopefully, we’ll have it for next season.”
City staff is in agreement that it’s easier for everyone involved — Public Works, police and residents — if the ordinance isn’t utilized.
“We’d rather deal with the nuisance issues we have, which are on occasion during snow and ice control, rather than make the nuisance more citywide,” said Rich Engle, acting director of Public Works.
Councilwoman Kathleen Klink said she appreciates the hard work put forth by staff tasked with snow removal.
“I’ve rode on one of those big trucks, and as we were going down some of those very narrow streets and cul-de-sacs, it was very obvious that it’s tough to drive the truck, maneuver around the vehicles sitting on the street, get salt to come out of rear end and not hit anything,” Klink said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or hpoturalski@coxohio.com.
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