Hayden, residents put plow problems in the past

Since the city of Hayden began earlier this snow season to urge residents move their cars off city streets during snow events, its plow truck drivers have been happier.

“It’s allowing them to do their jobs more efficiently,” Shawn Langenderfer, Hayden’s deputy city clerk said.

In the past, plow truck drivers have wiggled through Hayden’s tight neighborhood streets in an effort to keep open lanes under snow-darkened skies.

It hasn’t always been without challenges.

This year, Hayden decided to up the ante, implementing a program that calls for having residents keep the streets clear, or they could be ticketed or towed.

“It can be dangerous. There are pinch points and places where the plows can’t get through,” Langenderfer said. “So we took a little stronger stance this year.”

The city asked plow truck drivers to report cars left in the street during snow events to sheriff’s deputies. Deputies then issue warnigns, or make contact with the vehicle owners.

“Residents have complied,” Langenderfer said. “It’s worked really well.”

Over the past couple months, as North Idaho skies unleashed several feet of snow — including a record of nearly 40 inches so far for the month of February — Hayden’s plow teams unloosened their white knuckles from steering wheels.

The teams are comprised of graders and front end loaders, as well as gravel trucks and de-icers, and plow trucks that clear snow from 175 miles of lanes and roads throughout town, usually within 12 hours.

In his overview of this year’s plowing program presented to the City Council, city administrator Brett Boyer said sheriff’s deputies issued more than a dozen notices, and talked with owners of vehicles left in the streets.

Residents seem to have gotten the message. It was been clear plowing for the most part.

“We’ve had some pretty good success this season,” Boyer said.

No vehicles have been cited or towed, and the majority of residents were immediately compliant.

“The citizens have been very helpful,” Boyer said. “We haven’t had to tow vehicles.”

That’s good news as more snow headlines this week’s forecast. Up to 6 inches can be expected before Friday, with more cold weather predicted for the weekend.