Snow Removal
The Department of Landscaping & Grounds is responsible for snow removal at the UNC Campus. All personnel are subject to call-back during the winter season and are assigned certain snow removal duties. These duties include operations of snow brooms, plows, sand spreaders, front-end loaders, skid-steers loaders, as well as basic hand shoveling, snow-blowers, and the application of Chemical ice melt products.
A list of Snow Removal Expectations are reviewed with personnel in October, to help expedite our efforts and minimize equipment damage / break-down time.
Prior to the first Snow (First week of October), a snow plan and priorities are reviewed and snow assignments are made. Personnel will review their assignments and priority areas prior to the first snow event. Our mechanic prepares and checks all snow equipment, converting mowing equipment into snow equipment, and servicing all snow blowers. Chemical Ice melt supplies are verified with the university warehouse, and our stockpile of sand is replenished.
Snow removal operations are divided between West and Central Campus. Please review chart that lists equipment and personnel assigments. During any particular snow event, our department performs snow removal duties during this shift: 5am- 1pm daily until snow removal efforts are complete.
We utilize various weather websites to track storms and to provide information to Grounds personnel, and the Police. It allows for better planning and preparation to respond to any particular storm front. The UNC Police will notify the Manager for Landscaping & Grounds of snow conditions on campus by phone at any given day and hour.
Parking Lot Snow Removal
The plowing of parking lots will not occur when snow fall is less than 4 inches. Landscaping & Grounds will only drop plows when absolutely necessary and primary focus is at lot entrances and designated disabled parking spaces and ramps. The 4inch limit is based on the size and capability of our snow equipment.
The decision to plow parking lots is mutually made between the Parking Director and Manager of Landscaping & Grounds. Decisions to contract snow removal services are based on snow fall levels, wind, and the snow forecast, but normally snowfall must equal 4 inches or greater.
Special Events
We also track the university calendar for events on campus and insure snow removal efforts are made prior and during events, such as theatre, music performances, athletic events or conferences, banquets, receptions, etc. We will also respond to any special snow –related concerns by calling 970-302-7138 or the Service desk 970-351-2446.
Snow event Record Keeping
Snow forecast information and logs are maintained by the Manager of Landscaping $ Grounds. Information pertaining to campus snow conditions, equipment operation performance, break-downs and repairs, attendance, and response time are kept on each snow event.
Depending on the snow storm, data on hourly conditions are kept and information regarding slips, falls and accidents are recorded.