The purpose of this news item is to inform residents that preparations are being made by the Village in anticipation of the severe winter storm forecast for the Chicagoland area over the next 48 - 72 hours.
Essential Village services will continue to be provided at this time as follows:
1. We have activated snowplowing procedures of working 12-hour shifts. One crew has already been sent home to initiate that work cycle and get rest in advance of the storm.
Depending on when the storm arrives and the intensity and duration of the storm, the main focus of Public Works crews will be to concentrate on keeping the arterial roads open during the day (La Grange Road, 47th Street and Ogden Avenue), followed by collector streets such as Brainard Avenue and Cossitt Avenue.
A separate crew will be assigned to maintaining access to the train stations and business districts. Special attention will also be given to school routes as long as school remains in session.
Please know that it takes 4 hours to plow and salt the entire Village under manageable conditions. The time it will take to clean the Village under near-blizzard conditions will be much longer.
A private contractor has been engaged to assist with snow removal operations in the Village’s commercial areas.
2. The La Grange Memorial Hospital is open to residents in need of emergency shelter. Please use the Emergency Room entrance.
3. Additional Police and Fire personnel are being hired back to augment staffing to respond to calls for service. While the Police Department will be in contact with local school officials to ascertain their plans regarding closure to facilitate snow removal and other Village operational activities, parents should continue to use the school’s official notification procedures to learn about school closings.
4. Refuse collection for Thursday, February 3 remains as scheduled. Allied Waste does not anticipate any problems at this time; with the possible exception being alley service. If collection is delayed, the Village will notify residents. Residents are encouraged to set containers back from the curb to reduce the risk of having them upset by passing snowplows.
5. Administrative staff is expected to report to work as usual to conduct Village business.
As we are all in this together, the Village is asking residents and business owners to help in the following ways:
1. Residents are asked to keep fire hydrants clear and visible.
2. Please do not shovel, throw or plow snow from driveways into the street. Business owners are encouraged to shovel and salt in front of their stores and may deposit snow into the street at the curb.
3. Do not pile snow up against the house that could block exhaust vents from dryers and high efficiency furnaces and on demand hot water heaters.
4. While shoveling near the street beware that visibility may be reduced and on-coming snowplows and cars may not see you.
5. Check on neighbors that may live alone.
6. We are asking business owners to be patient as snow will be stockpiled in parking spaces, perhaps for several days after the storm ends before they are removed.
7. As residents attempt to clear their driveways, please do not park on-street during the storm. This inhibits effective and efficient snow removal from side streets. As a reminder, the Village’s on-street parking restrictions go into effect for snow events of 2 inches or more of accumulation.
8. We understand the frustration with snow being deposited back onto cleared driveway aprons. Please be patient with us as we try to keep streets open so that you may reach your destination.
9. If you do not need to travel, we suggest that residents stay home until the storm subsides and the streets have been cleared. Not only will this facilitate snow removal, but it also enhances public safety by keeping down the potential for accidents, which require police and fire resources.
Further updates will be provided as necessary and appropriate.