Full Notification

With the winter season fast approaching, the Public Works Department would like to take the time to inform residents of several operational changes which may be noticed this upcoming winter. These operational changes will allow the City of McHenry to provide cost-effective, quality services while providing financial stability to the City budget which has been dramatically impacted by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

One of the major operational changes that may be noticed will be the prioritization of snowplow routes.  The following snow removal priorities have been established:

• First priority is the emergency snow routes. These primary routes includes arterial and main collector roadways which connect major sections of the City to provide access for emergency fire, police, medical services, schools, and commercial businesses or area bus routes.
• Second priority is the local roadways (neighborhood and residential streets). Overnight snowplowing shifts (non-daytime hours) will be staffed in a mode which may lead to longer route intervals in neighborhood routes, ensuring that first priority routes are held to the highest standard.
• Third priority is the cul-de-sacs. Cul-de-sac service will no longer be completed with a separate shift but will be completed as a follow-on operation during normal business hours.

Beginning in May 2019, the Public Works Department has undergone a non-layoff driven staff attrition process through retirements and departures to control operating costs and reduce taxation. This staff attrition process has allowed the Public Works Department to focus more heavily on customer service while reassigning these personnel and operating costs into capital costs for items such as the local street resurfacing program.  As a result of staff attrition, the reduced staffing levels will cause the overnight snowplowing shifts to be staffed in a mode which may lead to longer route intervals in neighborhood routes. This will ensure that the City’s primary routes are held to the highest standard as they will receive preemptive and more frequent service and treatment rather than be dispatched with the remaining neighborhood routes. Additionally, cul-de-sacs will no longer be completed with a separate shift and staff but will be completed as a follow-on operation during normal business hours. 

While these changes may result in longer lead times for certain parts of the winter operation, the overall operation will allow for primary routes, which are higher speed and traffic routes that commuters depend on for travel to work and essential services, to be more reliable and held to a higher standard of service than ever before.

For more information regarding Snow & Ice Control in the City of McHenry, please visit https://cityofmchenry.org/winteroperations or call 815-363-2186.