The city will purchase nine additional Hi-Gate devices that will be attached to the plow knife and prevent snow from building up at the ends of the driveways. This brings the total number of snow gates in the city’s fleet to 16, allowing them to be used in more widespread areas of the city, said Gary Kaesemeyer, director of the city’s roads division.

“The new equipment will not completely eliminate driveways, especially for those who live along an artery that is frequently plowed,” Kaesemeyer said. “But it will make a huge difference to our citizens.”

When a closed plow moves through a residential area, a more traditional plow is added that works in the middle of the street, Kaesemeyer said. The city took turns shipping seven such devices across the city last year. This was part of a bigger effort to clear residential streets faster by hiring workers in other departments to clear snow during the working day.

The money to buy the gates as well as two new front-loading vehicles that can be used for snow removal comes from the Department of Roads annual request for fleet replacement, which is paid through a combination of taxes, including property tax, sales tax, and utility taxes said Condon.

Condon paid tribute to not only the Roads Department for encouraging the purchase of the new equipment, but South Hill-based and retired daycare operator Hans Herzog. Herzog sent the mayor a letter in 2013 asking the city to consider a way to prevent thrown snow from ending up in driveways and asking homeowners to evacuate it. He did his homework, calculating the number of driveways in the city by looking at the auditor’s data, and adding up the cost of renting equipment and man hours to clean up congested driveways.

“I thought it was a complete disadvantage and neglect to take care of our citizens,” said Herzog on Monday. “They ask us to clear our sidewalks, but they come and blow us up.”

Herzog let out a cry of appreciation upon hearing the city adding new gates to its fleet, and credited Condon for listening to his suggestion from many years ago, and Kaesemeyer for being open to the city’s approach Snow removal after a year change to brutal winter two years ago.

“I’m proud to have been a small cog in the wheel of the city,” said Herzog.

Condon said it was Duke’s suggestion and positive feedback from citizens at the gates that prompted their purchase.

“It makes sense to give our citizens more of what they ask for,” said Condon.

The snow season does not start until November 15, when citizens are again urged not to park on one side of the street or the other in the event of heavy snowfall and to remove large vehicles such as RVs and boats from parking spaces on the street. Kaesemeyer said he expects the new doors to be delivered and installed in October.

The post Christmas in July: Festive Mayor David Condon broadcasts new driveway gates for metropolis’s snow plows first appeared on DECKS AND FENCES DAILY.