SIDNEY -- Sidney and much of the Panhandle was hit with three consecutive snow storms, resulting in big challenges for street maintenance departments.

The Sidney street department attacks snow removal in three stages: emergency snow routes, secondary streets and residential streets.

Street Superintendent Hank Radtke said Monday the snow routes are the first priority. He added the snowfall, melt and freeze cycles have complicated snow removal. The process of moving snow on the left and right sides of the streets, initially leaving a "windrow" in the middle, opens the road for emergency vehicles.

"Sometimes we have to do two to three passes," Radtke said.

During significant snow storms, all able staff are assigned to snow removal, he said. He added delays are because of the amount of snow. He said City staff have been working 12-13 hour days moving snow. He added he gets concerned with staff overwork and exhaustion after 10 hours per day. 

The City of Sidney defines its snow removal approach and how residents are expected to respond, on its website. The website also describes how a snow emergency is defined, how and where residents are to move snow, and the responsibility to move vehicles from emergency routes

Radtke stressed the City's plan has been researched and is not the first approached tried by the City.

"We have tried no less than five different ways" to move snow, he said. "This is the best."

He said when a better way is proposed, the City staff will investigate it.

For more information, see the City's snow procedures at: https://www.cityofsidney.org/DocumentCenter/View/489/Snow-Removal-Policy?bidId=