Editor’s Note, Feb. 26, 2025: A clarification was made to differentiate the Jan. 28 El Dorado Board of Supervisors meeting and the Jan. 29 Measure S Oversight Committee meeting.
Where’s my plow? It’s a question some Tahoe Basin residents are asking more frequently, as local counties grapple with staffing shortages, wage disputes, and snow removal routes. While some jurisdictions are rolling out new policies and technology to address challenges, others are working to keep skilled workers on their staff. Here’s a roundup of what’s happening in the Moonshine Ink coverage area.
Placer County Addresses Turnover and Looks at New Technology
As of press time, nine out of 11 full-time positions are filled in the Placer County Tahoe Road District. Additionally, the county employs three part-time snowplow operators, including retired annuitants who return to assist with plowing. However, turnover among equipment operators has been an ongoing issue. Deputy Public Works Director Matt Randall told Moonshine Ink that they continuously monitor market rates of pay to stay competitive. “[Turnover] isn’t just a Placer County thing. Snowplowing is hard — it’s a specialized skill. You need to love it; you need to be dedicated. It’s a tough job,” Randall said.
He confirmed that Placer County does not currently have initiatives to adjust pay or benefits for snowplow operators. “We’re not the lowest, and we’re not the highest either,” he said. “We always look at what other folks are paying. Nobody wants to be on the bottom — we want our plow operators to be well-compensated.”
Placer County supplements its Tahoe crews by bringing in additional workers from the county’s west side during significant snow events. These extra personnel are housed in a Dollar Point rental property or local hotels. During 24-hour snow removal shifts, the county deploys 20 to 25 employees across the Tahoe region and other areas like Serene Lakes, Blue Canyon, and Cisco Grove.
To improve efficiency, Placer County is implementing a new snowplow tracking system that it hopes to launch officially next season. GPS units are being installed on all plows and snowblowers. “For a long time, people have asked for a ‘Where’s my plow?’ application like Washoe County or Truckee has, and we’re working to catch up there.”
Randall said the GPS system will allow residents to track plows in real time, ensure no plow route areas are missed, and provide support for new operators by integrating plow routes into a tablet or phone, eliminating paper route books. “We’re excited about this,” Randall said. “It’s a big upgrade for us, and we’re always trying to get better.”
El Dorado County Grapples with Snowplow Driver Compensation
In April of last year, El Dorado County began recruitment efforts for snow removal workers. To attract candidates, a $6,000 cash incentive divided over 26 pay periods was offered, according to Carla Hass, El Dorado County communications director. As of press time, 19 of 21 snow removal positions for the Tahoe Basin have been filled, with all positions in Tahoma staffed.
However, retention remains a concern due to rising living costs and prolonged contract negotiations with the union. At an Oct. 23, 2024, Measure S Oversight Committee meeting, member Russell Crawford commented on the need to increase salaries for equipment operators to retain and attract skilled workers. Measure S, approved by voters in 2022, increased the Transient Occupancy Tax by 4%, with additional revenue used for the sole purpose of removing snow and maintaining existing roads. Measure S has funded the purchase of new snow removal equipment, but the funds cannot be used to increase salaries.
At the October meeting, members discussed the need for geographical pay adjustments. Chair Janet McDougall recommended drafting a letter of support for extending the geographical area for eligibility for the additional Tahoe differential pay (additional compensation given to employees who live in the Tahoe Basin). However, “Our committee was told that the West Slope employees feel that if the East Slope employees get a raise, they should as well. Unfortunately, they are in the same bargaining unit,” wrote Ed Miller, Measure S Oversight Committee member, to Moonshine Ink.
Tim Neep, director of Public Employees for Operating Engineers Local 3, expressed frustration with the situation in an email to Moonshine. “As the union representing more than 170 public employees working for El Dorado County, my first goal is to negotiate a contract for these employees that is in line with compensating them for the essential work they do,” he said. Neep pointed out that the workers represented by OE3, including those in the Department of Transportation responsible for snow removal, have been without a contract for 7 months. “Operating Engineers Local 3 has filed charges with the Public Employment Relations Board against [the county] regarding the county’s constant postponement of bargaining and other alleged unfair practices.”
Neep also expressed concern over the safety and retention issues stemming from the lack of a contract. “Since Jan. 1, 2024, 35 employees from the bargaining unit have left El Dorado County because of poor compensation and lack of a contract.”
Following a Jan. 28, 2025 El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Meeting, Neep expressed concern about the financial strain on workers. “Local 3 members showed up in force to the [Jan. 28 meeting] in Placerville, and many commented on the struggles they’ve had because of compensation and turnover. Many members cannot even afford to live in El Dorado County, even though they serve the county’s needs. Something needs to be done.”
A special meeting by the Measure S Oversight Committee was held on Jan. 29 to discuss utilizing a portion of Measure S funds for snow removal staff salaries and review a committee report. “The Measure S Committee listened to additional information provided by staff to support their proposal. All four [committee] members present expressed a desire to see staff’s proposal implemented to shore up the staffing, but had significant concern over use of Measure S funds to pay for any portion of employee salaries and benefits,” wrote McDougall in an email to Moonshine Ink. “The consensus was that the staff is very deserving of additional compensation, however, it was felt that voters passed the initiative for purchase of equipment and repair of deteriorating asphalt roads, and that employee compensation should be funded through the general fund and/or other sources.”
The four committee members who attended the meeting — Ed Miller, Debbie McIntyre, Tom Celio, and Janet McDougall — voted to support the implementation of the staff’s recommendation for additional staffing resources without Measure S funding, with the $122,000 needed to be sought from discretionary transient occupancy taxes or other appropriate funding sources.
Washoe County Addresses Staffing
Two years ago, Washoe County adjusted snowplow driver wages following a study conducted by Korn Ferry, a Los Angeles consulting firm, according to Brett Simerly, roads superintendent at Washoe County. While some staff see better pay opportunities elsewhere, Simerly believes that the Washoe County benefits package is attractive. “When you look at our benefits, I think we’re pretty comparable,” he said.
According to Simerly, Incline Village is almost fully staffed, with plans to seek allowance for an added position. Currently, the Incline team has one medium equipment operator (snowplow driver) position vacant. “We know the cost of living in Incline is high, and we’ve implemented a remote pay allowance to help make it more feasible for employees,” Simerly said. A request for another medium equipment operator position is being proposed for the next budget cycle. “We’re hopeful this new position will get approved to help us respond to pathway snow removal quicker and free up supervisors for planning during large storms,” Simerly said.
During heavy storm events, the county provides accommodations for mobilized staff from the Truckee Meadows basin to assist in Incline Village. “When we see a multi-day storm coming, we book rooms at the Hilton for staff to stay overnight,” Simerly said.
Washoe County uses a tiered prioritization system to ensure major roads are cleared first. These routes are available on the Washoe Regional Mapping System (WARMS), where residents can see color-coded maps showing road priorities. Simerly explained, “Whether it’s yellow, pink, or blue, residents can easily find their road’s priority level on the map.”
Town of Truckee to Reimburse Snow Removal Costs
Homeowners residing on some older roads in Town of Truckee subdivisions built prior to the town’s incorporation are finding their roads aren’t being plowed. This is because they aren’t part of the local road maintenance system because of high costs and challenges associated with their upkeep, according to a Dec. 10, 2024, staff report. However, properties on these roads contribute property taxes, and the idea of reimbursing snow removal expenses was explored at an Oct. 8, 2024, Town Council meeting. The council directed staff to draft a Non-Town Maintained Road Snow Removal Reimbursement Policy that outlined a process for reimbursing entities responsible for maintaining publicly accessible roadways, provided they meet specific criteria. Town Council adopted the policy 2 months later.
The adopted policy allows road maintenance associations and homeowner associations to apply for reimbursement of snow removal costs on eligible non-town-maintained roads. To qualify, roads must be located within Truckee town limits, constructed before the town’s incorporation in 1993, paved, and open for public access. They must also have a 5-year maintenance and improvement plan, updated annually, submitted to the town. Additionally, roads must meet the Snow Removal-Specific Revenue Neutrality provision, which ensures that property tax revenue from the road is sufficient to cover snow removal costs.
Associations seeking reimbursement must submit a formal application, maintenance plans, proof of eligibility, and a Snow Removal Reimbursement Request Fee. The town verifies the Snow Removal-Specific Revenue Neutrality calculation to confirm that the road meets financial criteria. Once approved, associations submit reimbursement requests annually between May 1 and June 15, including contractor agreements, invoices, and updated maintenance plans.
Snowplowing is hard — it’s a specialized skill. You need to love it; you need to be dedicated. It’s a tough job.”
~ Matt Randall, Placer County Deputy Public Works Director
In terms of staffing, the town has brought on eight seasonal staff and 10 readiness on-call positions in the Road Maintenance Division, according to Bron Roberts, communications program manager at the Town of Truckee. Another four readiness positions have been added to assist with snow removal on sidewalks and trails.
Additional routes of snowplow service were accepted into the town-maintained system this season. Residents living on Allenby Way and Tudor Lane in Glenshire will now receive snow removal services.
With winter storms still in our future, the question isn’t just “where’s my plow?” It’s “who’s around to drive it?” For now, snow removal operations continue, albeit with some uncertainty. Recruitment struggles, pay disputes, and budget limitations have put the system under strain, forcing counties to get creative with how they keep roads clear. While officials work to find long-term solutions, the people behind the wheel deserve appreciation. As Randall said, “Our snowplow operators work really hard.” So next time you see a plow driver, give them a wave or a thank-you — they’re out there in the worst conditions, making sure the rest of us can get where we need to go.
