By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

This latest snow storm — and plenty of emails and phone calls from upset residents — has city staff considering changes to the snow removal procedures.

City Manager Toby Dougherty said the city had been taking a “hands-off” approach when it came to clearing residential streets because of the fear of upsetting residents by pushing snow back onto driveways and sidewalks.

City staff decided to test their theory and did send crews to a few residential areas last week, but asked staff to be careful about not boxing in cars or blocking driveways and sidewalks. Dougherty said the test went so well city staff has re-evaluated their practice and will clear residential streets after emergency snow routes and the downtown area is cleared first.

“It’s still not going to happen right away, so I don’t want anyone to think if it snows overnight, then at 10 a.m. (crews) will be in a residential street,” Dougherty said. “We are talking a couple days afterwards.”

Dougherty added when it snows 6 inches or more, the city  does not have enough crews or equipment to clear residential areas sooner than two days.