As Golden Belt communities continue to battle the snow and cold weather through January, the City of Hoisington is doing some “out of the box” thinking regarding snow removal efforts.

Their latest brainstorm concerns “the second shovel,” which occurs as residents clear their driveways, only to find that the city snowplow, when it passes, plows them shut again.

“We do not get this much snow very often and every storm provides our city crews with an opportunity to refine their approach,” noted City Manager Jonathan Mitchell. “Our staff does not have any control over natural drifts, and we don’t have the resources to clear every driveway and entrance. However, we are working to find ways to limit disruptions and issues created by our staff.”

Mitchell said one of the most common complaints recently received concerned residents who had cleared their driveways that were later plowed back shut, leaving residents no choice but to grab up the shovel again.

This circumstance, known as “the second shovel,” can be lessened or avoided altogether with a little pre-planning and extra work during the first clearing process, Mitchell noted.

“When you’re getting ready to shovel the driveway, also clean out the area to the left, to avoid that snow being plowed back into the drive,” he said.

As with any natural occurrence, Mitchell said the City of Hoisington appreciates everyone’s patience and understanding as the snow continues to linger.

“The City is always looking for ways to improve and we would welcome any feedback or recommendations to help us serve our residents better,” Mitchell said.