EDITORIAL: Be cool, the snowplows will come

Sooner or later, snow will fall in North Idaho.  

We will have days when the streets and roads will be covered with snow, and getting to work, or going anywhere, will be challenging, even for those with four-wheel drive, studded tires and chains. 

Those are the days we’ll be counting on our cities, highway districts, state and others to keep those streets and roads as clear as possible so we can get to where we’re going. 

And they will. 

With a little help, and patience, from us. 

This winter, when the snow flies, crews in the Coeur d’Alene Streets and Engineering Department will be plowing only in certain conditions, starting with this: when there are more than 4 inches of snowfall on the roadway or 3 inches of snowfall is on the roadway and more than 4 is predicted.    

So don’t expect to see a plow on your residential street when you wake up, look out the window and snow smacks you in the face. They have other areas that demand their attention first. If it snows an inch or two, no one is coming.

Here’s a few things covered under the city’s new “Winter Operation Plan" that might help us understand what they're doing.

During a citywide plow, operations will begin at 4 a.m. in the Downtown Central Business District. It takes about 40 hours to complete a citywide plow. Once all streets are passable, the removal of any center berms becomes the priority.  

Snow removal priorities are arterials and emergency service areas, such as hospitals, fire and police stations. Next in line are collector streets, steep hills and curves and school bus routes.  

And then, after what may seem like eternity and we're wondering where the heck they are, plowing will commence in residential areas.   

The city’s five snow gates will enable residential areas to receive snow gate service, but there is a chance they may not be used. 

Either way, the snow gates leave berms. Small ones, but they will be left behind. Snow gates don’t eliminate berms. 

Don’t have a meltdown when it happens. No one is trying to trap you in your home. It's difficult to avoid when you've got a city of more than 50,000 people that must be plowed in a timely manner. Plow drivers can't stop and clear every driveway. It would take days, not hours, to complete their sweep.

Unfortunately, it sometimes means shoveling more snow. Or paying someone to shovel more snow. It's a pain and it may not be fair, but it's life in North Idaho. Yes, we pay taxes, but the government can't be there for us 24/7. 

Residents, by the way, are responsible for shoveling their own sidewalks, and it’s illegal to toss it into the streets.

If it does snow, and it’s possible to park elsewhere, like the driveway or garage, do so. The clearer the streets are of vehicles, the better and faster the snowplow operators can do their jobs. It will make their lives, and ours, a little easier this winter.

But rest assured, despite the best of efforts, there will be snow left behind that we have to drive over and around, snow that will cause us backaches and headaches, snow that will have us cursing and vowing revenge.

Please, remain cool. Otherwise, too much snow can make us all hotheads. 

We call on our cities, districts and others responsible for plowing snow in our streets to be vigilant. We believe they will be working hard and doing their best so we can travel safety. They will rise early and stay out late. But they should know this: Residents will hold them accountable for how well they do their job. Expectations are high.

The best way we will get through this winter is together.