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1. Why does the plow truck drive past with its plow up?

There can be several reasons that the plow truck does not have its plow down.

- The operator is traveling to the section they are responsible for maintaining.
- The operator could be traveling to or from the shop for repairs.
- The operator needs more sand/salt.
- Light snowfall may only require salting therefore the plow will not be used.

If they are traveling on CTH Q, STH 164, STH 167, STH 175, CTH CC, or certain miles of Pioneer Road those roads are maintained by Washington County and/or the Town of Polk. A full list of roads maintained by the Village can be obtained via the Richfield website.
Richfield Road Jurisdiction

2. Why is the plow operator using sand and not salt?

At temperatures below 5 degree, salt has little to no effect. Sand is used as a traction aide. An amount of salt is added to this sand to prevent the material from binding to itself, as well as assist in deicing when temperatures rise.

3. Why is my road the last to be plowed?

Each winter storm is unique to itself. Intensity, timing, duration and moisture content can result in longer spans of service. We try our very best to address every road in the Village in a timely manner. Our main goals during an operation are to clear and maintain all main (Arterial) roadways, as these are the most traveled. Our second focus is secondary (Collector) roads. These would include side streets that directly lead into main roads. Finally, we focus on low volume (Local) residential areas. These areas include subdivision side streets, dead ends, and cul-de-sacs. By maintaining this philosophy, we ensure optimal services for the highest amount of residents/travelers.

4. Why has the plow operator left a large amount of snow in my driveway and in front of my mailbox, so I can’t get out of my driveway, or to my mailbox? When will they come back to clean this up?

Our objective during a winter snow operation is to clear the roadway for safe travel. Unfortunately, snow deposited in your driveway and in front of your mailbox is an inconvenient result. There is no other way to accomplish a snow plowing operation on a Village road. The greater amount of accumulation, the greater amount of snow will be deposited in these areas. Property owners are solely responsible for clearing snow to gain access to the roadway and directly in front of their mailbox.

5. My mailbox was damaged by the snowplow. What do I do?

The Village of Richfield does have a Mailbox Replacement Policy which states that when our equipment directly strikes a mailbox, we will reimburse the property owner up to $35.00 for replacement. There is protocol that must be followed in order to receive reimbursement. The Mailbox Replacement Policy can be found on the Village website, as well as at Village Hall. Regardless of determination of fault, it is the property owner’s responsibility to repair or replace the mailbox. Until that time as to when the mailbox is fixed, temporary mailboxes are available as a free service to residents and can be utilized pursuant to our policy. For A Mailbox Replacement Form Click Here

6. Why is it I never see a snowplow during a winter storm?

The Village of Richfield is responsible for removing snow from approximately 309 lane miles of road within its 36 square mile boundary. When a storm dictates a full operation, 8 trucks are dispatched to address the conditions. These operations occur at all hours of the day, but a lot of time, the Village’s snow operations occur while most residents are sleeping. On average, this takes about 4.5 hours to complete a full cycle. Sometimes this can take up to 7 hours depending on the severity of the storm. Storms can also warrant multiple cycles in order to maintain even the most minimal services. Time is also needed to reload, and refuel trucks during an operation.

7. I once saw a snow plow parked in a gas station, or in the shop parking lot during a bad snowstorm. Why was it there instead of on the streets working?

Village snow plow operators take pride in clearing the roads on their routes as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Driving a snowplow is demanding, tiring work. Common sense and good safety practices dictate when or if a driver needs a break. It is dangerous, both for the snowplow driver and the public if a fatigued driver is behind the wheel of a snowplow. Also, sometimes it is more efficient to stop in one of our local businesses to use a restroom rather than driving back to Village Hall to use the same.

8. Who is responsible for plowing state and county roads?

Washington County Highway Department plows and maintains all state and county roads that run through the Village of Richfield. They can be contacted by calling 262-335-4435, or visit their website. Washington County Highway Department