For decades, a snowplow on a Spring Creek road belonged to the Spring Creek Association. This winter, a plow working Spring Valley Parkway may be an Elko County truck on County Plow 2, and you report problems on that road to a different office.
The change covers five major roads. On those five, Spring Creek gets its own County trucks, a County phone line and County road money. Everything else stays with an Association crew that now has fewer miles to cover in a storm. Where you live decides which crew clears your road and which number you call when a road is a mess.
Five parkways on County plows, two that stay with SCA
The joint SCA and Elko County announcement splits the roads this way:
| Road | Crew | Route or area | Report problems to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Valley Parkway | Elko County Roads | Plow 2, Sunset Ridge and Vista Grande | Elko County Roads |
| Springfield Parkway | Elko County Roads | Plow 2, Sunset Ridge and Vista Grande | Elko County Roads |
| Licht Parkway | Elko County Roads | Plow 2, Sunset Ridge and Vista Grande | Elko County Roads |
| Spring Creek Parkway | Elko County Roads | Plow 3, Marina Hills and Palace Heights | Elko County Roads |
| Palace Parkway | Elko County Roads | Plow 3, Marina Hills and Palace Heights | Elko County Roads |
| Country Club Parkway | SCA Roads | SCA-maintained | Spring Creek Association |
| Parkridge Parkway | SCA Roads | SCA-maintained | Spring Creek Association |
| Neighborhood roads and secondary streets | SCA Roads | SCA-maintained | Spring Creek Association |
The word "parkway" doesn't tell you which crew owns a road. Country Club Parkway and Parkridge Parkway are major roads, but the County did not accept them for maintenance, so the Association still plows and repairs them all year.
The County didn't take on just the plowing for its five roads. It accepted them for comprehensive maintenance: snow and ice removal, roadway repairs, preventive maintenance and larger road projects.
Where the County's money comes from
The announcement credits several years of talks between SCA and the County. It names Commissioners Delmo Andreozzi and Rex Steninger for helping make the partnership happen. Funding comes from fuel and diesel tax revenue, plus sales and use tax money allocated through the County's Infrastructure Tax Plan.
The groundwork shows up earlier in the year. At SCA's annual property owner meeting on June 6, 2026, Andreozzi described the agreement then being considered to maintain the parkways. According to the meeting minutes, he said the County had bought two new plow trucks and added staff.
The County's 15-year road improvement and maintenance plan shows what "larger road projects" means for two of these parkways:
- Fiscal Year 2026: $1.5 million to reconstruct and widen about 2,700 linear feet of Spring Valley Parkway from SR 227, plus $100,000 to design a Licht Parkway reconstruction.
- Fiscal Year 2027: $1.8 million to reconstruct Licht Parkway, plus $100,000 for Spring Valley Parkway design and overlay work.
For scale, the same plan estimates about $2 million a year in infrastructure tax resources countywide, with $1.5 million of that going to Elko County. The Spring Valley job alone uses a full year of the County's share.
The Association has never had that kind of money for roads. SCA says that as a homeowners association, it gets no federal funding or grants for road maintenance. Nearly half of each annual assessment goes straight to road repairs, chip sealing, crack sealing and snow removal.
What the Association's crew gets back
The handoff helps the side streets most because SCA's crew is small for the size of the job. SCA's roads page lists a five-person Roads Department with seven plow trucks, plus outside contractors when needed. Much of that equipment is more than 30 years old. Those trucks cover almost 25 square miles and about 150 miles of road, at 10 to 20 miles per hour depending on conditions.
SCA has done the math on what that means. Its parkways, about 25 miles of road, each need four passes, which adds up to roughly 100 lane miles. The other 125 miles of road need at least two passes, about 250 more lane miles. In heavy storms, the main roads often need repeat passes on top of that. With five of the largest parkways now on County routes, SCA says it can put more of its equipment, staff and resources on the roads it still maintains.
Both road departments say the first season will take some adjusting. County Roads Supervisor Dennis Price and SCA Roads Supervisor Scooter met on October 28 to coordinate winter operations. The joint announcement says:
"Because this is our first winter operating under this new arrangement, we recognize there will be a learning curve. There may be adjustments to routes, schedules and operations as both departments gain experience working together."
How a storm gets cleared on SCA roads
On the County's five parkways, how often and how fast they're plowed depends on the storm and the resources available. Crews may work nights, weekends and holidays when conditions call for it. On every other road, SCA's published approach sets the order:
- Under two inches. Primary roads and parkways may be cleared completely and get salt or sand. Secondary roads aren't plowed but get salt or sand at intersections, hills and curves. A plow driving by with its blade up is often on its way to its own route, to the shop, or to reload salt and sand.
- More than two inches. The Roads Supervisor approves a plan for general plowing.
- Heavy snow. Crews usually do parkways first, then bus routes, then the remaining roads. Country Club and Parkridge are now the parkways at the front of SCA's line.
- Cul-de-sacs and side streets. The first pass opens an in-and-out lane. The "pies" of snow left behind are cleaned up later. Crews try to clear mailbox pads as they pass, when time allows.
Timing follows the same order. SCA says an average parkway takes four to six hours to clear, and plowing continues for at least 12 to 24 hours after a storm ends, depending on how much snow fell and how long it lasted. Wind can change everything. SCA says there have been times crews had to stay on the main roads for days because of drifting snow. Plows also leave a packed layer behind. The blades "float" on the weight of the blade to avoid damaging trucks and roads, so you usually won't see bare blacktop during a storm.
The berm at the end of your driveway
One thing didn't change with the handoff: clearing the end of your driveway is still your job. The joint announcement says Spring Creek has about 5,400 homes, many with two driveways. Plow operators can't lift their blades at every driveway and still clear the roads in reasonable time. The rest of the winter reminders apply on both County and SCA roads:
- Don't push driveway snow into or across the road. Frozen piles can be dangerous for drivers and damage plows. SCA's FAQ says the practice is prohibited under Association rules and can make the property owner liable.
- Keep vehicles off the road before, during and after a storm, and follow Elko County parking rules.
- Bring trash cans back onto your property after collection so plows don't hit them or have to steer around them.
- Don't pile snow in the middle of a cul-de-sac. SCA says it won't get the circle cleared any faster, it melts and refreezes into ice, and it can hide children from plow drivers in later storms.
- Keep children away from roads and plows, especially during evening and night operations.
These are summaries of published Association and County guidance, offered as general information rather than legal advice. If a question about your own property or liability comes up, check with SCA or a qualified professional.
Calling the right crew
The new split matters most when you're reporting a problem. Report it to whoever is responsible for that road so it reaches the right crew quickly.
Spring Valley, Springfield, Licht, Spring Creek and Palace parkways. Call Elko County Roads at (775) 738-5036 or email [email protected], Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, on weekends or on holidays, call Elko Central Dispatch's non-emergency line at (775) 777-7300. For police, fire or medical emergencies, call 911.
Country Club Parkway, Parkridge Parkway and all other SCA roads. Call the Spring Creek Association at (775) 753-6295, email [email protected], or use the road issue form on SCA's roads page. The same page has the Association's priority snow plow road map.
Plows will be running during the busiest weeks of the holiday season. Setup for SCA's Christmas at the Marina runs November 30 through December 3, 2 to 5 p.m., with displays up all through December. Displays come down January 2 and 3. The marina doesn't provide electricity, so groups with lighted displays need to bring a generator. Judging for the Cheermeister contest began November 1. Entries are due December 13, and winners will be announced the morning of Monday, December 14, at the Fairway Community Center, 401 Fairway Blvd.
Before you buy in Spring Creek, it helps to know whether the road out front is plowed by County crews on a County route or by Association crews in SCA's priority order. That's local detail Carla can help you sort out. Carla Bailey works in Spring Creek and Elko every season, in English, Portuguese or Spanish. Schedule a Free Consultation to talk through a home, a lot, or the street it sits on.
