Snow Removal Procedures

Based upon the expected snowfall this season, we wish to remind you of the City's long-standing snow removal and salting policy.

Please also refer to Respect Our Waters for the problem with Salting Freshwater.

  • The need for implementation of snow and ice control shall be the actual occurrence of an accumulation of snowfall, or less if combined with freezing and icing conditions. Also, the occurrence of an ice storm or freezing rain would make the public ways difficult to travel on. 
  •  The responsibility for ordering personnel and equipment into service for snow and ice control operations shall be primarily with the Director of Public Works or Superintendent of Public Works. The Police Department may notify the Department of Public Works regarding the commencement of winter maintenance operations.
  •  Certain areas of the City have a greater intensity of use and a priority for maintenance to serve users. The concern for safety, general welfare, and getting to and from places of employment or residence necessitates that priority be given.
  •  The Department of Public Works strives to maintain adequate traction for pedestrians and vehicles properly equipped for winter conditions. However, chlorides and other de-icing materials are harmful to Lake Michigan and compromise the drinking water resource. It is the City’s intent to minimize the impact of de-icing material through limited and sensible application of these materials. Therefore, the City does not provide “bare pavement” at all times and at all locations during the winter season. Bare, dry pavement should not be expected after each snowfall or ice storm. 
  •  It is not possible to schedule City snow and ice control times to coincide with private snow shoveling or snow removal from driveways. Plowing streets inevitably will put snow on property owners' driveway approaches. 
  • If possible, all major thoroughfares will be plowed and salted by morning. Residential side streets will not be completed until major streets are completed. 
  •  As a reminder, the City does not plow or maintain County or State highways located within Glendale. Those streets include North Green Bay Avenue north of West Good Hope Road, West Good Hope Road from North Port Washington Road west to the City limits, West Mill Road, North Milwaukee River Parkway, and North Port Washington Road from West Daphne Road north to the City limits. 
  • Property owners who have sidewalks will receive a reminder notice of their responsibility to remove snow and ice from their sidewalks. The City is responsible for snow removal on sidewalks and paths that are located adjacent to or on bridges, railroad right-of-ways, and by agreement with Milwaukee County, the sidewalks on North Green Bay Avenue from West Mill Road north to West Green Tree Road, the multi-use paths on West Good Hope Road from North Green Bay avenue east to the Milwaukee River Parkway and on North Milwaukee River Parkway from N Sunny Point Road south to W Kendall Avenue. Also, the sidewalk on North Port Washington Road from Karl Campus Road north to West Daphne Road.
  • Summarizing – only the main thoroughfares have primary ice and snow control. All main routes are at a minimum, anti-iced (brined) and/or salted as necessary during every measurable snow event, regardless of the accumulation.
  • Alleys will be plowed ONE TIME after the snow event. This means after the snow event is completed, we will go through the alleys once. We will not go back after the snow event and plow the alleys after the residents have cleared their snow and pushed it back into the alley.
  • The Department of Public Works (DPW) strives to maintain adequate traction for pedestrians and vehicles properly equipped for winter conditions. However, chlorides and other de-icing materials are harmful to Lake Michigan and compromise the drinking water resource. It is the City’s intent to minimize the impact of de-icing material through limited and sensible application of these materials.
  • Again, this season, DPW will be using Anti-icing. This is a proactive approach taken to decrease the likelihood of snow and ice bonding to a pavement surface. Additionally, anti-icing can prevent frost from forming on pavement surfaces. Anti-icing involves placing a layer of brine on the surface of the pavement before a winter storm begins. This layer prevents the snow and ice from freezing to (or icing onto) the road. The alternative – which is called deicing – is to let the snow bond/freeze to the road, then apply pre-wetted rock salt to break the bond between the snow and the pavement.
  • Studies have shown that anti-icing will achieve the same level of service on a road or highway using between one-quarter and one-fifth the amount of salt used in deicing. Typically, anti-icing is performed using trucks carrying tanks, which have pumps to spray the brine onto the pavement surfaces. In many places, lines or stripes of brine can be seen on a road before a given event. Some people call these safety stripes! Usually, brine is applied at rates of between 30 and 50 gallons per lane mile. 
  • As always, the DPW asks for the residents’ help in keeping vehicles, garbage cans, and any other items out of the road during its snow and ice operations. This will allow the crews an opportunity to better clear the roads and allow free passage of vehicles.
  • Finally, as a reminder and in accordance with City Ordinance 6.3.1(d)(4), “The City does not assume any responsibility for the removal or clearance of snow, ice, or sleet or the opening of any windrows of such material upon such portion of such driveway within the dedicated portion of the City street”.

The City's 12-person Public Works Department will do all that is humanly possible to clear all City streets in a timely fashion. All snow plowing is done by Public Works employees.

Please have the appropriate amount of patience and understanding with the Public Works Department in this type of climate.