Standard Schedule & Policy

    Priority 1      Thoroughfares, bridges and on-traffic routes to schools                                                                                Plowed by single axle dump trucks continuously during snowfall.

    Priority 2      Collector and industrial commercial streets                                                                                                                Plowed by single axle dump trucks continuously during snowfall.

    Priority 3      Residential Streets                                                                                                                                                          Plowed after Priority 2 is completed. 
                          Plowed continuously during snowfall.

    Priority 4      Cul-de-sacs                                                                                                                                                                       Plowed after snowfall and after Priority 2 and Priority 3 streets are cleared. 
                          If ice or only light snow occurs (less than 2”), and plowing is not required, 
                          city trucks will spot-treat with materials only.

Additional Snow Removal Policy:

• Private streets are maintained by applicable property owners.
• Pursuant to Section 12.40.010 of the Gardner Municipal Code, the owner and/or occupant of property abutting the public sidewalk is responsible for removing snow and ice from the sidewalk within 48 hours from the time the snow or ice storm ends.  The full text of Section 12.40.010 can be found at: http://www.codepublishing.com/KS/gardner/
• City of Gardner does not plow sidewalks or driveways unless part of city-owned property.
• Driveways may be blocked during snow removal operations; we attempt to minimize this
     as much as possible. However, property owners are responsible for clearing their driveways.
• Residents are reminded to remove parked vehicles from the roadway. Vehicles on roadways
     may be towed if they impede normal snow removal operations. Snow removal is more  
     thoroughly accomplished if vehicles and other equipment are removed from the road.
• Residents are also reminded to remove portable basketball goals during inclement weather.
• City equipment will not be used to conduct privately-owned vehicle recovery operations.
• City does not have designated emergency snow routes.
• Medical emergencies are referred to 911 for validation.

How many drivers does the City have on the streets during a winter storm? The City operates two 12-hour snow shifts (4 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 4 a.m.) when conducting snow and ice removal operations. When fully staffed, there are approximately 7 vehicles out on the streets. Twelve Public Works employees, and additional employees recruited from other city divisions, are involved in snow removal.

Approximately how many miles of streets are salted and/or plowed? The Public Works Department has approximately 180 lane miles of streets designated for salting and plowing. Materials used for snow removal include road salt and calcium chloride. The average snow event consumes approximately 50-100 tons of road salt.

How does the department decide when to execute operations? Weather forecasts are reviewed from two different sources. Crews are alerted at the start of precipitation.

How long does it take to clear the streets? It takes, on average, about 8-12 hours to salt and 24-36 hours to plow the city for one cycle. However, depending on the intensity of the snow event, the number of parked cars, and the traffic volume it can take several cycles to complete the entire operation.

What do I do if I have a medical emergency? If you have a medical emergency, please contact 911. A police officer will assist and determine the need for a snowplow truck.

What happens after a winter storm?

• Emergency repairs to pavement and/or bridges damaged by snow/ice removal are made.
• The equipment is prepared for the next storm.
• Materials are replenished, as needed, to maintain needed supply levels.
• Damage caused by snow plows (sod, sprinklers, mailboxes) are logged and scheduled for repair.

What do I do if a snow plow truck causes damage to my property? Unfortunately, damage does sometimes occur to yards and mailboxes. Damages can be reported to the Public Works Department by emailing or calling 913-856-0922. Sod damage and sprinkler damage are logged and repaired in the spring. If a mailbox is damaged, a temporary mailbox is installed and permanent repairs are generally made with 48-72 hours.

Who plows Main Street and highways? The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plows US 56 Hwy, which is Main Street in Gardner. They also plow highways and ramps to I-35.

What should people do during a snowstorm? If you don't have to drive, don't! However, if you must drive in severe winter weather, be prepared for the worst.

• Leave earlier so you can drive at a safe speed.
• Allow extra distance between your car and the one ahead of you in case
     something unexpected happens.
• Do not assume because you are exercising caution that other drivers
     are driving sensibly.
• Have some protective supplies (flashlight, blanket, jumper cables) in your 
     car in case of a breakdown or an accident.
• Try to limit your driving in winter storms if at all possible; the fewer cars
     there are on the roads, the easier it is for snow removal to be done successfully.
• You can also help operations by not parking on the street and by removing
     all portable basketball goals and recreation equipment from the street. 

How do city crews prepare for snow throughout the year?
The city has refresher training for all drivers/operators, including snow truck training in September and dry-run rehearsals in October. All equipment is inspected annually.

With the exception of emergency requests from the police dispatchers, individual requests for snow removal cannot be taken until after major operations have been completed.

Reporting a Snow and Ice Problem

To report snow and ice problems: Email or call the Street Maintenance Division, 913-856-0922, with a description, location of the problem and any other pertinent information. Regular business hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.