The primary objective of Foundation-provided snow removal is to keep roadways open and as safe as possible under adverse and often extreme weather conditions and allow for access by emergency response vehicles. All owners contribute to snow removal expenses related to maintaining common roadways throughout the community. Snow removal accounts for the second largest single line item of the annual budget. With a climate such as ours, the Foundation must be guided by both procedural and fiscal considerations. Therefore, sidewalk snow removal is NOT geared to the full-time resident but to help alleviate big mounds of snow accumulations that would build up for the occasional visitor.
PLOWING GUIDELINES:
- Plowing will be performed as needed to keep roads clear for vehicular traffic.
- Priority is given to main roads, secondary roads and parking areas, in that order.
- Parking areas will be plowed when there is four or more inches of snow.
- The ends of driveways will be opened only as time and manpower permits.
SHOVELING GUIDELINES:
- Sidewalks will be shoveled on an as-needed basis as determined by the Foundation staff, generally upon accumulations of six or more inches.
- Sub-divisions will be given priority on a rotating basis so no one area will always be shoveled first or last.
- Only one lead walk will be cleared into a particular building.
- Shoveling crews will complete each section before moving on to the next.
- Special requests for shoveling may be subject to a call-out fee.
SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL:
Sidewalk shoveling is the most difficult service that the Foundation provides. Depending on the amount of total accumulation predicted, the duration of accumulating snow and other weather factors including ice and high winds, shoveling the over 800 pathways serviced by the Foundation takes many hours and sometimes days. High winds can drift snow back over walks just shoveled making it appear as if it was never done. Also, since only one lead walk is shoveled into each building area, not every homeowner can walk straight from the parking area to their front door. But, as with all services, the Foundation’s objective regarding snow removal is to provide the service while balancing cost considerations along with convenience factors. We do recommend that a snow shovel be kept at your Hidden Valley home or better still, in the trunk of your car should your schedule result in your arrival prior to completion of pathway clearing or in conditions of high winds. This practice is also recommended in case of dangerous traveling conditions; you never know when you may have to dig yourself out of a ditch!!
Reminder: Throughout the winter season, sidewalk snow is removed using snowblowers where possible. Please remember to take in your doormats to avoid damage to them.
