Snow Tips and Guidelines

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Village of Manlius Residents:

Providing safe roads for all of our village residents requires a team effort. We have a great team of men in the department of public works that are ready willing and able to work long and hard to combat ”Old Man Winter”

The DPW ‘s efforts and success would not be possible without the support of the Village Board. The Mayor and the Board have provided funds necessary to purchase and maintain the equipment and materials necessary to get the job done. They should be congratulated for their foresight and their interest in public safety.

You, the Village of Manlius taxpayer and resident, play a vital role in the successful snow and ice control campaign; your understanding and cooperation are an integral part of our plan. To help inform you regarding our methods and give you some helpful hints, we have prepared the following text.

Thank You,

Chris Sherwood
Superintendent
Village of Manlius Department of Public Works

Pre-Winter:

Beginning as early as September, the DPW begins preparing for the winter ahead by reviewing plow routes and servicing equipment. Preparation and servicing of equipment for the upcoming winter continues through November while DPW crews are picking up refuse and loose leaves. November is a critical time, as some of the equipment being used for leaf removal is also needed for snow removal at any given time. Our focus can change on a very short notice.

The DPW salt storage facility is completely stockpiled with over 600 tons of rock salt ready to go, with our rock salt vendor on standby for more deliveries as needed. Our Salt Brine holding tank is filled with 4,000 gallons of liquid brine. In order to be properly prepared for winter, the DPW continually monitors daily weather conditions via satellite and daily weather reports from local weather sources and the National Weather Service.

Monitoring weather reports assists us using the state-of-the-art process of applying a salt brine to “pre-wet” the road surface in anticipation of a winter event. Salt brine jumpstarts the melting process, doesn’t allow the snow to adhere to the pavement and thus speeds up the melting process.

When the Snowfall Starts:

An important step in dealing with ice and snow is street salting. The snow removal process starts when frozen precipitation begins to fall. Typically operations initiate with the application of treated rock salt (we treat our rock salt just before the salt hits the spinners of the salt truck) to the roads and continue until the streets are at least wet pavement or the material application is no longer effective due to the depth of the snow.

When the Snow Continues:

When approximately 2” of snow has accumulated and more is expected, snow is more economically removed by plowing rather than salting. All public roads main thoroughfares and residential streets will be plowed by the DPW personnel. All of our trucks have specific plow routes that will be followed each time the crew is dispatched. If the snow continues the trucks will remain in the same pattern until the storm subsides. Under the best conditions, it will take us at least 4 hours from the time it stops snowing completely, to complete our snow removal operations.

Please remember that our trained staff works around the clock during these storms to keep the roads open and passable. If you wish to report a hazardous condition, call the DPW @ 315-682-7634. If there is a medical emergency call 911..

Once the roads have been opened and salted the DPW will clear the public sidewalks.   There are over 10 miles of sidewalk in the village and this task takes approximately 5-6 hours to complete. Many of our sidewalks are along County and State roads where those plows pass numerous times throughout the day and fill the already cleared sidewalks back in with slush and snow. We will monitor the walks and  keep them cleared as best we can.

After the Storm: 

DPW continues to monitor all roads for icy conditions and drift areas, where typically an application of salt will be applied to achieve “wet pavement”. In the event of heavy snow the DPW will dispatch crews to clean out the catch basins so that melting snow can drain off. Please avoid creating a hazard discarding snow from your driveway or sidewalk into the road. For those who have snow plow contractors advise them not to plow your snow in the road or onto the sidewalks.

Parking & Travel regulations:

There is no overnight parking in the Village of Manlius from November 1st through April 15th of each year. Vehicles parked illegally or abandoned on the roads are subject to towing at the owners expense as well as being ticketed by the Police Department.

Be Prepared, Be Aware, and Be Patient:

Before the snow flies, remember last year’s issues and try to tackle them in advance. If you do your own snow removal, have your tools and supplies handy. Shovels, snow blowers, calcium chloride and rock salt should be ready before the season begins. If you hire someone to do your snow removal, make those arrangements early.

Make arrangements to have adequate food supplies on hand. Keep flashlights, a battery powered radio and emergency equipment on hand in case of a disruption in power. Area news media will announce approaching storms and will disseminate information on school closings and meeting cancellations. They will also note road closings and re-routings.

Remember, whether it is your driveway for which you are responsible or the 17 miles of roads we are responsible for, snow removal is an arduous and time-consuming task. Please understand the DPW can’t shovel the wind row from your driveway entrance nor can we plow on private property.

Tips and suggestions:

  • When shoveling out the mouth of your driveway, throw it to the right of your driveway as you face the street or “downstream”. Throwing or plowing snow in the road can create a patch of snow and ice that freezes over and causes a hazardous condition.
  • Remember, slow down, brake slowly and allow plenty of room between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
  • During times of reduced visibility, watch for pedestrians, bicycles and disabled vehicles.
  • Maintain your vehicle properly. Equip your vehicle with snow tires and keep your windshield, headlights and taillights clean at all times.