The Journal Star reports that city crews are ready for the 4-8 inches of snow we’re supposed to get starting tonight.
After the December 1 snow storm, Public Works Director Steve Van Winkle told the council he wouldn’t change a thing. During last week’s snowfall, Van Winkle told WCBU’s Jonathan Ahl that his department is “capable of fighting snow,” but the “big ones” are “not as doable from the standpoint of achieving satisfaction on the part of all the citizens.”
Taken together, it sure sounds to me like Van Winkle is saying that, if we were to have another snowfall like December 1, there would be no difference in the outcome. We still would have had immobility problems because the city is prepared to adequately handle snowplowing for weather events like last week’s snow, but not “big ones” like the one December 1.
And that raises questions about the snow that is supposed to hit us tonight. This will be more like December 1 than last week, so it will be a truer test of any changes the city has made to improve their performance. And there have been some changes — they’ve been using more calcium chloride on the streets and have a fancy new AVL (automated vehicle locater) system so they can track the snowplows. Will it be enough? Time will tell.
David Haste tells the Journal Star he and his crews are ready. I would assume he has a case of Red Bull handy just in case he has to pull three or four consecutive all-nighters again. Since they know the snow is coming, I wonder if his superior suggested he flex his time — say, by coming in late today — so as to mitigate overtime pay. Nah, I’ll bet that’s one thing that didn’t change.
The reason Van Winkle wouldn’t change anything from the last snow storm is because he was out of town!! I wonder where he is heading this afternoon?
I saw David Haste at Sam’s over the weekend; he was buying RedBull in bulk. He also was picking up alot of dry goods. Must be restocking his Peoria home incase the big one hits and he can’t get out of town.
The morning commute ought to be interesting since the bulk of the snow is forecast to come overnight, and if things haven’t changed, the “rookie” plow drivers will be doing the night shift.
The differences between the Dec 1 snow and this snow are:
1) The Dec 1 snow was preceeded by 2 inches of sleet/ice. This will be fully snow.
2) Dec 1 snow was peaking at 3-4 inches per hour between 6 and 8 AM, just as the morning commute took place. The peak is forecasted for Midnight-4 AM. This should provide time for additional street clearing.
3) 12-14 inches were forecasted on Dec 1. We’ll be lucky to see 10 inches in Peoria out of this one.
4) The predicted snow will be much, much “drier”. There will be less liquid content in the snow and this will aid in salting and removal. Wet, heavy snows dillute salt and are very heavy and hard to push, even for the big trucks.
Thanks, “the guy.” It sounds like there’s no reason tonight shouldn’t be a cakewalk for the Public Works Department — here’s to hoping their snow-removal efforts are a smashing success! Success for them is good news for all residents.
After their performance so far this winter, my confidence in the city Public Works group is so high that as soon as I heard it was going to snow, I went to the grocery store, drug store, pet store, book store, etc., etc., and really stocked up. Yes, I really have confidence that they can handle their jobs!
Jesus, you guys really won’t cut them a break, will you? Agreed, the Dec 1 snow wasn’t handled well. That is well-documented and undebatable. But the last few events, albeit much smaller in scale, were handled well. You’ve convicted them before they’ve even committed a crime.
I am sure that there will be problems tonight, and the those problems will no doubt be magnified by the echo chamber of blog land. Did any blogger post something positive about how the last event was handled?
“But the last few events, albeit much smaller in scale, were handled well.”
I wouldn’t agree with that conclusion. In every significant snowfall this season it has been painfully obvious when you left Peoria. The roads are clearer elsewhere. It seems too many people are willing to cut the snow crews and Mr. Haste some slack.
I’m willing to cut some slack because it is a hard job that I know I couldn’t do. If only all of us were held up to such public scrutiny (and I know, this is a public job with public money).
But everywhere else is different than Peoria. Much higher ratio of plows to lane miles, more cul-de-sacs, etc. It isn’t fair to compare apples and oranges. I’m not saying there aren’t problems, or that there won’t be more this time, but just about everyone has prejudged this event.
So Jumpin’ are you agreeing that Peoria does not have enough plows? That we are understaffed? You did say that other towns have more plows per mile of roadway. I was under the impression that Van Winkle and Haste thought we had enough staff to do the job.
As far as apple n oranges go… poppycock! (keepin it clean for CJ) Most of the small towns dream of having the size of budget we have. It isn’t simply about ratios. It is about being out there, being timely and setting priorities. Every storm so far, either the Mrs or I have had to venture out of Peoria shortly after or near the end of the storms. The truth has been painfully evident when you drive on the roads.
Well, I made it to work (early) without issue today. Either the event was “small” or PW did an adequate job.
So far so good. Streets aren’t bad at all.
There isn’t that much snow down… mostly just a lot of blowing.
Of course, if the roads are clear, it must be because not much snow fell.
Peoria is likely correctly staffed for these types of snows. When it comes to the 1′ blizzard, we can’t compete.
JC Dillon (must be a subcontractor the city hires) came through and did our alleyways. Have yet to see a city plow on the street but that is ok.. its still snowing still.
Wow, what a storm! I can’t believe it’s still snowing. I’ll be going to the council meeting tonight, since it looks like our alley has been plowed. Of course, I’ll have to dig out the driveway first… That should only take a couple of hours. 🙂
So far, I’m hearing good reports about city crews. That’s good news!
Mahkno: Please send the subscontractor over to my alley…..
Sub contractor? Plow? Must be nice. Please send anything to my street. Haven’t seen a thing.
street’s plowed, alley’s plowed. now if the wind would just stop, I could keep my sidewalk and driveway open with the snowblower. I returned the favor of the last snow storm, when a neighbor ran his snowblower over my sidewalk and walkway to the house. I ran the blower over much of the blocks sidewalks so people wouldn’t have to come out and shovel.
Snow plow just went down our street (a side street). A ‘little’ one but hey I’ll take it.
I saw cat equipment around town taking the snow from the alleys during the storm, great job Peoria! The Peoria alleys were in better shape than the streets in East Peoria.
District 150 is still out of session, but so is every other Tri-County school so no embarrassment there. The fierce winds complicated street cleaning but not nearly as much as December’s ice. It seems as though fewer people were driving this time which aided snow removal crews’ efforts.
Hinton jumped the gun calling off school today. He made the decision last night at 10:00 after driving around the neighborhoods. However, the plows were clearing the residential streets overnight, so they should have been clear this morning in time for school. I wonder when the children are going to make up all these snow days.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I heard on one news program that 150 could take up to five snow days without having to alter their schedule. Today is snow day #5. As long as they are in session for 176 days they’re OK. Any more snow days and they would probably add days to the end of the school calendar.
CJ, I see the commenters at the Journal Star don’t agree with your assessment.
St. Mark’s is closed too, as are most of the schools. I didn’t see the big problem; 1470 had it on the list, but their web site didn’t, so I drove over there before going to work just to make sure. Streets were clear, but the school was closed.
Well, this is one winter that the kids won’t soon forget.
If this storm happened under Whitaker 150 would absolutely be in session today. It killed him to take snow days. Hinton may have erred but it’s forgivable.
Yeah… school really did not need to be closed. I woke up this morning and saw no wind… so figured school would be in session.
http://pjstar.com/stories/021507/TRI_BCCUU038.032.php
I was wrong, they will have to make up those snow days.