What's Happening in Cottonwood Heights, UT…

A staggering 22 inches of snow fell on Cottonwood Heights on December 13, but within two days, most of the city's streets had been plowed. Only a few cul-de-sacs remained to be cleared.

A storm on the day dropped the nearly two feet of snow, blanketing the area. Terracare Associates, a private contractor, had 18 plows on the roads immediately though.

Snow removal efforts in Cottonwood Heights have greatly improved in the past two years. After a big storm in 2013, some of the city's streets remained unplowed for days.

Terracare, which is based in Colorado, also worked to remove snow in 2013, but put only 4-5 of its 10 plows on the roads. The company sent out the rest later, but by then, many streets and roads were iced over. Salt Lake County helped out by clearing some of Cottonwood Heights' major streets.

City officials discussed the problems with Terracare, and came up with a plan that worked well this year. Major arteries, which must be open to provide access for public safety vehicles, are the top priority. Minor arteries, such as those used by school buses, are next. “Collector roads,” which lead out of neighborhoods follow that, and cul-de-sacs are the lowest priority. The city maintains about 252 miles of road in total.

Cottonwood Heights officials might work with a postcard printing company to create a mailer for residents explaining the prioritizing system.