Snow Removal Best Practices

If you love snow, Erie, Pa., was the place to be this week. Record busting lake-effect snow dumped more than five feet of snow in about 60 hours.

While the maximum single storm snowfall in Minnesota was 46.5 inches — in January 1994 — and our snowfall has been minimal this season, Minnesotans nonetheless know to be prepared for a possible storm.

As a homeowner association management company, we are responsible for ensuring prompt snow removal from our client properties.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the best practices that we expect our snow removal contractors to follow.

First, we expect the firms we work with to have insurance liability coverage and to have a solid snow removal plan that includes safe snow stacking, steps to prevent melting and refreezing, a process to clear parking lots and sidewalks, and an understanding of salt’s impact on the area around the property.

Second, we expect that the company is prepared with adequate snow removal equipment and supplies for major or drastic winter events.

Next, we expect high quality service overall. This involves prioritizing snow removal from handicap zones and fire hydrants.

Finally, we expect firms to stay up to date on the latest snow removal techniques. And, of course, just like all our vendors, we expect a high level of professionalism.

This winter, let’s hope that Minnesota doesn’t get hit as hard as Erie recently did – but we will be prepared anyway.