Paula Peterson
The roads around Lake Tahoe have been hard to navigate this week after several feet of snow fell in the basin after the last series of storms over the weekend. Many streets in South Lake Tahoe remain narrow and thick with snow, making it hard to drive through neighborhoods.
Just as residents struggle with all that snow left on their roofs, driveways and walkways, City snowplows are also struggling with what seemed at times as nonstop snow.
On Tuesday, the City of South Lake Tahoe released a series of videos about their current snow removal operations, letting residents know that they are working around the clock to get the roads clear. One of those videos can be seen in this story, and the rest can be found on the City’s website here.
“I’m very proud of this team and the public was able to stay home and be safe during the storms,” said SLT City Manager Nancy Kerry. “There was no loss of life, even with the serious rain and snow. People were listening to recommendations and staying home.”
The city has a fleet of plows and graders to work the initial snow removal on 259 lane miles of City streets, then once there are five clear days, the cutters will widen the roadways. The County does the same as they clear 100 miles of roads between Strawberry and South Lake Tahoe.
With a plow moving at 3 mph, it takes several days for crews to push the snow off the 129 miles of roadway in the City on a first (which turns into 259* miles when they plow each side) on a first sweep. Once cleared they’ll go back then go back when snow is pushed aside, then go back and cut into the snow backs to widen.
Employees are continuing to work 12 hour shifts and are now joined by mechanics from two local construction firms to help relieve some of the duties. It takes almost 200 uninterrupted man hours to do the first sweep of snow removal, and that’s only if there are no garbage cans, cars or mailboxes in the way of a clean sweep.
“In 20 days we got up to 14 feet of snow and its unrealistic to think the machines can work 24/7 without breaks in the storm,” explained Kerry.
The City staffs full time snow removal operators as well as seasonal retirees, men who have had years of experience who come back annually to work the winter.
The City has been hearing complaints that they weren’t staffed corrected for storms and didn’t have the adequate equipment to handle a heavy winter.
“You manage and budget for average storms,” said Kerry. “Last year we were criticized for having too many on staff, and forecasters were constantly calling for serious snow that never materialized. The City spent $200,000 to beef up staff for a winter that never happened.”
Kerry said the City has to plan, budget, train and prepare for average, then manage resources in extreme dry or snowy winters.
“Manage for the unexpected, budget for the average, invest in your people and invest in your equipment is how to make it work,” said Kerry.
Newer equipment would help road crews.
In 1989 voters approved a $20 parcel tax to go to snow removal equipment (not labor). Equipment costs have skyrocketed since then, and with inflation factored in what bought $20 worth of equipment then would cost $39 now.
Another measure in 2005 asked the voters to approve an additional $20 with a Consumer Price Index (CPI) that would have increased that amount annually to keep up with inflation, not to exceed 3 percent annually.
The voters did not agree to support that tax measure. The voters also didn’t vote to support an increase in sales tax in November 2016 that would have helped replace the snow equipment.
“It’s not their responsibility to pay for everything so we just have to budget with what we have,” said Kerry.
The City was able to obtain a new blower (aka “cutter”) that went onto the streets Tuesday as well as last week.
Public Works is asking for everyone’s patience as they get the roads clear before the next storm hits.
*259 lanes miles has been adjust from original story due to incorrect facts provided.