When does snow plowing begin? 
My mailbox was hit by a snow plow, now what?
I shoveled my driveway, but the plows re-deposited it back on my driveway. What should I do?
Who is responsible for the hydrant in front of my house?
Do I have to shovel my sidewalk?
Why don’t the plows clear the whole street at once?

When does snow plowing begin?
Plowing begins when two (2) inches or more of snowfall has accumulated (based on reports from O’Hare Airport).

My mailbox was hit by a snow plow, now what?
The Village replaces mailboxes that have been damaged through direct contact with a snow plow, if the original mailbox was installed in compliance with Village regulations. If your mailbox is struck, a temporary repair will be made so that you can continue to receive mail delivery.

When winter ends and the ground thaws, final repairs will be made. If replacement of the mailbox or post is required, a standard metal size mailbox and 4x4 wood post will be installed. Final mailbox repairs are typically completed by early spring.

Contact the Public Works Department immediately to report mailbox damage.

I shoveled my driveway, but the plows re-deposited it back on my driveway. What should I do?
Shovel snow in the direction of traffic and try to make a pocket on the opposite side of the driveway. By doing so, snow that has accumulated on the plow will be dumped into that pocket and not back on your driveway.

Who is responsible for the hydrant in front of my house?
If there is a fire hydrant in front of your home, please try to clear the snow around the hydrant. It is there for your protection and that of your neighbors.

Do I have to shovel my sidewalk?
Residents are not required to shovel the sidewalk adjacent to their property. However, the Village encourages all residents to clear their sidewalk for the safety of pedestrians.

Why don’t the plows clear the whole street at once?
Drivers make a preliminary pass during a storm to open up the streets. Final curb-to-curb clearing occurs after it stops snowing.

Public Works Department - (847) 490-6800 - PublicWorks@vohe.org