Snow Plowing and Ice Control

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Snow Plowing and Ice Control on Village streets are top priority items during the winter season. Each driver is pre-assigned a specific section to maintain until it is finished, then may aid in another section as needed.

Initially, crews plow off any accumulated snow on the streets and apply salt to each street immediately upon clearing to prevent icing, clearing the inner main streets and more hilly areas of each section first. Even after this application melts down, the resulting brine continues to aid in melt-off with the aid of vehicle traffic. The higher traffic on main streets spreads the brine giving them the appearance of being even clearer.

There are a number of roads in the Lake in the Hills area that are the responsibility of other local government agencies. For example, County crews plow roads such as Algonquin Road, Lakewood Road, Randall Road, Pyott Road, and Ackman Road. The Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for Route 31 & Route 47. All streets within Boulder Ridge and Lakes of Boulder Ridge are plowed by the Property Owners Associations.

Village of Lake in the Hills

McHenry County Division of Transportation

Illinois Division of Transportation

Most residential streets,
starting with arterials and collector routes.
^{(Except Boulder Ridge, Lakes of Boulder Ridge, and other select private roads cleared by POA)}

Ackman Road
Algonquin Road
Lakewood Road
Pyott Road
Randall Road

Route 47
Route 31

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Expand/Contract Questions and Answers

Which streets are plowed first?
The Village has established a priority plowing system for our 90 miles of roadways so that main traffic routes, such as arterials and collectors, are plowed first. Crews always attempt to clear these routes before rush hour. Occasionally, snowstorms will hit just as rush hour is beginning which causes delays for both plowing crews and traffic.
When do Village crews begin plowing?
The Village of Lake in the Hills begins an all-out plowing effort when snow begins accumulating on streets. The Village's goal is to clear all streets within 6 to 10 hours after the snow stops falling but heavier snows often take longer to clear.

**Please be aware that in an effort to best allow for our crews to effectively plow Village roadways, Municipal Code Section 41.03 requires that on-street parking is prohibited after one inch of snowfall.**
Do all streets get salted?
All main thoroughfares and through streets are salted in response to snow or ice. It takes about 6 hours to completely salt Village streets. Not all streets may necessarily be salted. The decision is based on the safety concerns of that particular area as well as the level of traffic that is received and the weather conditions at the time. Salt is more effective when there is more traffic to work it into a brine.
I live on a cul-de-sac. Why do I seem to get more snow at the end of my driveway?
Residents who live on a cul-de-sac may sometimes feel their driveways get more snow than driveways on straight roads. Our staff is often asked why the driver cannot plow from the outside into the middle of the cul-de-sac. Plowing from the outside in will not work because as the truck circles the cul-de-sac, snow naturally tends to be pushed to the outside of the court.

The driver would be pushing a larger amount of snow into an increasingly smaller area toward the middle of the cul-de-sac. Eventually, there would be no place to go with all the snow. As with driveways on streets, it is inevitable that some snow comes off the plow. Try to wait until the cul-de-sac has been plowed to clear your driveway and push the snow to the right side (as you face the street).

The driver could do this but the time involved would be counter-productive. The Village now plows 166 cul-de-sacs and courts in addition to all public parking lots.
Is my trash going to get picked up?
Flood Brothers Disposal will collect trash as scheduled unless posted otherwise. Place your trash at the end of the driveway so that it is easily accessible for pickup. Please do not put your containers in the street where they might be struck by a plow truck.
Who clears other property?
The Village is responsible for clearing snow from all the municipal parking lots, Village facilities, bike paths, Village parks, etc. Property owners are responsible for clearing commercial parking lots.
Who clears sidewalks and driveways?
Both the sidewalks and driveways are the responsibility of property owners for both businesses and residents. Village ordinance requires that property owners clear sidewalks adjacent to their property. Property owners should shovel snow into the yard, not on to the street. Putting snow on the street causes dangerously slippery conditions for both motorists and pedestrians and is a violation of Village ordinance. Village crews try to avoid putting large piles of snow in front of driveways; however, this is not always possible. To avoid having to double shovel, wait until after your street has been plowed to clear your driveway. See the document below for tips to keep your driveway clear of plowed snow. Property owners are also asked to clear snow around fire hydrants to aid firefighters. As schools begin to re-open, please make sure sidewalks are clear so children and other pedestrians do not have to walk in the streets.
Who do I contact if my mailbox was damaged by a snowplow?
For more information, view the damaged mailbox section below. You may report mailbox damage by calling 847-960-7500 or completing the online form.
Who is responsible for clearing streets of snow?
The Village of Lake in the Hills clears most streets within the Village limits. There are, however, a number of roads in the Lake in the Hills area that are the responsibility of other local government agencies. For example, county crews plow roads such as Algonquin Road, Lakewood Road, Randall Road, and Ackman Road. The Illinois Department of Transportation is responsible for Route 31 & Route 47. There are property owner associations in the Village that have responsibility for some roadways. If you have questions regarding a specific road, please call 847-960-7500.
Why do the snowplows always push snow into my driveway after I shovel?
The Snowplow operators move the snow off the street on to the right-of-way at the edge of the pavement. The deeper the snow is at the edge of the pavement, the more snow builds up in front of the plow. Unfortunately, this means it finally finds a release when it comes to the next open driveway. Homeowners can relieve some of this problem by not piling snow on the left side of their driveway (as seen looking from the home toward the street). Public Works tries to get the snow pushed back as quickly as possible; however, there are 90 miles of streets in the Village which must be cleared so it does take a while to get to all of them.

Some people believe that plowing cul-de-sacs counterclockwise results in less snow in the driveway. The angle of the blade to the curb is the same regardless of whether the plowing is performed clockwise or counterclockwise. The snowplow operators angle their blades to push the snow to the center but the circular nature of the cul-de-sac means some snow will continue to roll off into the driveway.

Resident Tips for Snow Removal

Damage to Mailboxes

All residents should check the placement of their mailboxes to avoid snowplow damage. Ensure that it is securely fastened and does not protrude over the curb. If the mailbox hangs over the curb and/or into the street, it is in danger of being damaged by snow removal operations. Regulations concerning the proper height and distance from the street are set by the United States Postal Service. This placement allows for streets to be plowed from shoulder to shoulder or curb to curb to provide for proper drainage and mailbox accessibility, as well as to allow the street sweeper to reach the curb and allow for future snow removal.

Mailbox placement is critical to avoid snow plowing damage. The mailbox face should be 40 to 44 inches in height and 6 to 8 inches set back from the curb or edge of the street.

If you believe that your properly placed mailbox has been damaged by Village equipment, please contact the Public Works Department at (847) 960-7500 or complete our online form. If the damage was caused by physical contact from Village equipment, repairs will be made. The Village cannot be responsible for improperly placed or unsecured installations.

RESIDENT SNOW PLOW RIDE‐ALONG PROGRAM

The Village of Lake in the Hills Department of Public Works is offering the opportunity for residents to ride along with one of our snow plows during a winter storm. There is no fee for the ride‐along. All participants must be at least 18 years old and capable of climbing into a large truck.

How it works: Interested participants can fill out an application and waiver, found at the bottom of this page, with times that they are available to participate in the ride‐along.

Each truck can accommodate one passenger, and rider participation is at the discretion of the Streets Superintendent.

One or two days before a winter storm, Village staff will confirm your availability for the anticipated storm and schedule a time for your ride‐along. Participants will arrive at the Public Works Facility at 9010 Haligus Road where they will be given an overview of the Village’s snow plowing operations. Following the orientation, the participants will meet the plow driver and climb into the truck.

What to bring: Participants should dress in comfortable clothes and stable footwear, boots are preferred. Layered clothing is recommended, as the cab of the plow trucks are kept very warm to minimize the ice buildup on the windshields.

Resources

Resident Tips for Snow Removal

Village of Lake in the Hills

McHenry County Division of Transportation

Illinois Division of Transportation

Which streets are plowed first?

When do Village crews begin plowing?

Do all streets get salted?

I live on a cul-de-sac. Why do I seem to get more snow at the end of my driveway?

Is my trash going to get picked up?

Who clears other property?

Who clears sidewalks and driveways?

Who do I contact if my mailbox was damaged by a snowplow?

Who is responsible for clearing streets of snow?

Why do the snowplows always push snow into my driveway after I shovel?

RESIDENT SNOW PLOW RIDE‐ALONG PROGRAM

Resources