SkokiEnews In this edition: Be a Good Neighbor - Clear Your Sidewalk of Snow and Ice! Alternate-Side Parking Information Snow Shoveling Help! Snow Removal Operations in Skokie Frustrated by End-of-Driveway Snow Mound? Snow Operations Progression Keep Fire Hydrants and Storm Sewer Inlets Clear Major Thoroughfares Under State and County Jurisdiction Please be a good neighbor - clear snow and ice from your sidewalk!

Sadly, the masthead photo showing two individuals, including one in a wheelchair, on a busy Skokie street next to an uncleared sidewalk was sent to us by a Skokie resident last week.

Over the past week, the Village has received numerous complaints from residents about hazardous conditions on Skokie sidewalks. While the Village does plow residential sidewalks, it does so only after a snowfall of four inches or more.

With smaller amounts of snow, Skokie residents are asked to please be a good neighbor and clear snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of and, for corner lots, adjacent to, their home. Please use an anti-slip agent such as rock salt or ice melt when necessary, too.

If you can, please 'go the extra mile' and help clear snow and ice from your neighbors, too, especially those who are elderly or might otherwise need assistance. One Village staff person said their block has long had an 'all for one, one for all' practice of helping each other, with particular assistance for an elderly neighbor who is very grateful for the help.

A few residents have expressed concern about creating personal liability by clearing snow and ice from their sidewalks, which is false. In an attempt to encourage people to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice, the Illinois General Assembly has determined that no land owner is liable for any personal injuries as a result of efforts to clear snow and ice from sidewalks. Read the State of Illinois statute here.

What about businesses? By Village statute, all businesses are required to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks around their establishment with 24 hours after the storm concludes. In coming days, and continuing through the rest of the winter, Village inspectors will issue citations to businesses that are not in compliance.

Alternate Side Parking Information

Click here to view a video explaining the Skokie Alternate Side Parking program.

Skokie businesses are reminded that alternate-side parking goes into effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, when two inches or more of snow falls. The snow removal program is a minimum two-day operation. Here is how alternate-side parking works in Skokie:

On even-numbered days of the month, after a snowfall of two inches or more, all vehicles must park on the side of the street with even-numbered addresses between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. On odd-numbered days of the month, after snowfall of two inches or more, all vehicles must park on the side of the street with odd-numbered addresses between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Business owners, employees and customers are all subject to alternate side parking restrictions, and vehicles in violation are subject to fines.

There are numerous ways to learn if alternate-side parking is in effect: if in Skokie, listen to 1660 AM Skokie Radio; call the 24-hour automated Skokie Snow Hotline at 847/675-SNOW (7669); visit www.skokie.org and look for the red alert message at the top of the home page; subscribe to SkokieNews ; sign up for CodeRED text alerts and, in Skokie, watch SkokieVision cable on channel 25 (RCN) or channel 17 (Comcast). In addition, an emergency siren sounds throughout the community at 7 a.m. to signal that alternate-side parking regulations will be in effect at 8 a.m. that day. The siren sounds again at 6 p.m. to signal that alternate-side parking has ended for the day. For additional information on alternate-side parking, click here.

Certain Village streets are exempt from alternate-side parking on Saturday, Sunday and some holidays. Click here for a complete list of exempt streets.

Need Help Snow Shoveling?

The Skokie TeenLink list provides Skokie residents with contact information for Skokie teens available to shovel snow and do other outside chores for a fee. Residents can receive the list by mail or email. This program becomes very popular during the snow season, so plan ahead. The resident is responsible for requesting the list, contacting the teen, making financial and scheduling arrangements.

Email [email protected] or call Human Services at 847/933-8208 for more information.

Looking for a professional snow removal service? Many landscapers provide this service during winter months, and you can check the phonebook/online listings or ask friends and neighbors for referrals. You might also ask around at local hardware stores for referrals.

Snow Removal Operations in Skokie

The Skokie Public Works Department is responsible for plowing 144 miles of streets throughout the community, clearing all alleys and plowing sidewalks in residential areas. The snow removal fleet includes approximately 35 plowing units (including refuse trucks fitted with plow blades when necessary), eight bombardiers, four tractors and other equipment necessary to safely and efficiently remove snow from the community. The Village applies road salt to streets in the community in tandem with plowing, paying particular attention to salting intersections. The Public Works Department estimates that around 250 tons of salt are required to adequately cover streets maintained by the Village during a typical snow event. The Village purchases salt each year through a purchasing cooperative to ensure that the Village receives the best possible pricing for adequate salt supply.

Alley Plowing The Village's Public Works crews plow alleys after a snowfall of six inches or more. Alley plowing operations often are completed during overnight hours.

Shoveling Tip to Avoid Snow Mounds from Village

Plows!

I just shoveled and the plow came by and piled all of the snow in front of my driveway again. How can this be avoided?

Efficient snow plowing operations sometimes unintentionally result in snow being moved in front of residential driveways. One way to avoid this is to move snow to the left side when facing the driveway.

Snow Operations Progression in Skokie

In general, snow removal operations in Skokie progress as follows:

Removal of snow from major thoroughfares over which the Village has jurisdiction (sections of Oakton Street and Niles Center Road, Main Street, Howard Street, Dempster Street, etc.); Removal of snow from streets and sidewalks around schools; Removal of snow from other community streets under Village jurisdiction; Removal of snow from alleys when snowfall is six inches or greater; and Removal of snow from public sidewalks in residential areas when snowfall is four inches or greater. Keep Fire Hydrants Visible During the Winter and

Clear Storm Drain Inlets, too!

Help keep you and your neighbors safe as winter snow starts to accumulate by taking responsibility for shoveling snow away from the fire hydrant near your home. It's best to clear at least a two-foot area of snow from around the hydrant. The Skokie Fire Department appreciates the community's help with this important safety measure as every second counts when responding to a fire emergency.

In addition, while Village snow removal operations make traveling Skokie streets easier, snow from the plows sometimes accumulates over storm drains in place by residential curbs. Please keep an eye on any near your home and keep them clear to allow in melting ice and snow as temperatures rise.

Major Thoroughfares Under State and County

Jurisdiction

Most major thoroughfares in Skokie are under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation or Cook County.

These entities are responsible for snow removal and pothole repairs. These streets include Church Street, Crawford Avenue, Golf Road, McCormick Boulevard, Old Orchard Road, Skokie Boulevard, Touhy Avenue, sections of Oakton Street and more. For a complete list, please click here.