snow removal

We are a 56 unit condo association. We own our street. We have always had a snow removal contract that includes snow removal from the street, all driveways and shoveling of walkways and front porches.

I'm wondering what other associations are doing with snow removal contracts considerering the lack of snow we've had this year. Our contract runs from November 1st through March 30. So far this year they have plowed and shoveled 3 times. We pay over $5000.00 monthly for these 5 months. If we get over 2" of snow they come, night or day. Not unusual to hear them shoveling at 3:00a.m.

Is anyone structuring a contract based on the amount of snow received and/or the amount of times they provide service.

We know next year could be a totally different story, but in the 7 years I've lived here the winters have gotten milder with less snow. This year we had one week where we got 26inches of snow in one week. That's the only time they've had to come out.

Any suggestions on how to structure a new contract are welcome.

Well, the amount of snow received will drive the number of visits to a large extent, as will the kind of precipitation and the temperatures. We tend to get ice around here, and depending on what the temperatures may do, it may make sense to pre-treat the streets. Other times it doesn't - you'll end up with a sheet of ice under several inches of snow, and the ice isn't going anywhere because the temps are in the single digits or teens, salt won't work, and nothing is melting until the temperatures rise.

Also, it's more expensive to bring the big equipment because of fuel costs. So depending on how much you get and how fast the snow is coming down and how much is predicted, it may make more sense to make a two or three trips with smaller equipment instead of waiting until the snow stops and you have to bring in the big plows to move it all.

There's a real art to snow removal, in other words.

So our contracts are based on the number of visits and the type of equipment used. We budget for an average winter. If we don't spend everything, the excess goes into something called our "snow reserve" where we can tap it the next time we have a bad winter. We label it this way to help prevent spendy board members from going "oh hey, money!!" and spending on some unplanned expense.

I would keep in mind that here, the HOA is buying an insurance policy (for snow removal) as much as it is buying snow removal services.

Also inflation has taken a toll.

Snow removal can be hit or miss, this scope of work is more detailed than just plowing the parking lot and streets.
Honestly, get bids from vendors that have either an industrial walk behind snow blower or a quad with a plow.
you need to consider if you want to add salting to the tasks performed, these cost add up due to the labor, materials
and equipment needed to complete the job.

You just might want to piece this out, truck and plow to do the streets, parking lot and driveways and a landscaper
that has the equipment to do the sidewalks.

In my past association, our contract paid an hourly rate when they had to plow.

Expensive some years. Not as expensive when snowfall is light.

I'd suggest renegotiating your contract.
Always get bids.

howdy,

I agree with you. We are a tiny condo building with no parking lot. Just a stoop and a small sidewalk section. Under 2 inches it's manageable. But I do agree it's an issue when we ourselves do the work.