BELLA VISTA, Ark. — Snow is just around the corner across 5COUNTRY, and The City of Bella Vista announced priority snow removal forms for those with specific medical conditions.
Bella Vista representative Cassie Lapp said people going through chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis, and home hospice care are available for priority snow removal.
"We will do our best to come out and clear those roads first so that those people can get out of their homes and to those life-saving treatments," Lapp said.
Not only does it help these patients leave their homes more easily, but it helps caregivers get to patients' homes in snowy conditions. NWA Circle of Life Hospice said clear roads are imperative to get their patients the care they need.
Chief Clinical Officer Diya LeDuc said, "Our staff must be able to get to the patient so that we can bring in medications if they need supplies, equipment, or oxygen."
Lapp added, "We clear the major roads first. And then the more treacherous ones, the steep hills, the sharp curves, those kinds of things, and then the secondary residential streets."
"But for those people who have to get out of their home on specific days to receive these life-saving treatments, this just provides them a little bit of security, and we will do our best to get there to make sure their street is clear," Lapp said.
Applicants can list their appointment dates and times in the application to get assistance. While Lapp said it's not guaranteed, the city will do everything it can to help these residents.
"We eventually hit every residential street in the city. But we have over 550 miles of roads in Bella Vista. So to hit every road with the snowplow, it takes a very long time, especially if the snow continues to fall."
Lapp said Bella Vista is accepting the snow removal forms year-round. While the city will clear the roads ahead of those patients' appointments, there is no guarantee the roads will remain clear since the weather can be unpredictable.
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