ThisWeek CW 01/19/2012
The year’s first snow closed Canal Winchester schools and the senior center on Friday, Jan. 13, despite the city’s best efforts to keep the roads open.
“We had three large dump trucks and one smaller truck, all with plows and salt spreading capabilities out there,” public works director Matt Peoples said. “Our guys were out by about 10 p.m. the night before and stayed out there all night and into the morning.
“We typically would’ve used brine, but with all the rain at the beginning of the storm, it would’ve just washed the brine away.”
Peoples said this first storm was more difficult than a normal one.
“It was a difficult snowfall because the temperature dropped so quickly and that meant we went pretty fast from rain to sleet to snow,” Peoples said. “That makes for a very difficult removal process because it freezes quickly. We melt it with salt and then the wind picks up and blows a layer of snow over top that, then slushes it all back over, which leaves us spinning our wheels doing the best we can in the conditions.”
According to Peoples, the city uses roughly 500 tons of salt a season, which at $62.56 per ton will cost Canal Winchester about $30,000.
“On normal conditions, if a storm is coming through, we’ll put down brine; on a light snow, that could keep us from being out all night like we were,” Peoples said. “On a heavier snow, the brine normally helps us wait it out till about 4 a.m.”
Residents are responsible for keeping their sidewalks clean, Peoples said, and he asked that neighbors help each other out when in need.
Senior center coordinator Donna Warren said it is particularly important to help older residents and for them to be careful in wintry conditions.
“I hope neighbors watch out for the seniors in their neighborhood and help them out,” Warren said. “The senior transportation program doesn’t run and the senior center is closed to activities when the weather closes the schools. If they don’t feel safe sending the buses out for the schools, we don’t want to take that risk with our seniors and we don’t want them out driving.”
Peoples also asked that residents who choose to drive during snow removal be patient with city trucks and be aware of the dangers of black ice.
“Be careful and watch out for our plows. Give them room and don’t follow too closely. We’ve got a job to do to make things better for everyone,” Peoples said. “And please know we aren’t trying to cause anyone any extra work when a plow pushes snow back into your drive as it passes. We appreciate your patience.”
Businesses and residents who live adjacent to bike paths are asked to refrain from piling snow on those paths.
“We notify businesses every year not to pile the snow in the bike path so people can continue to use it,” Peoples said. “It’s one thing if there’s snow on it and another if there’s piles of snow that people can’t get through.”