Winter snow and ice control

COLFAX — With Winter upon us The Whitman County Department of Public Works is prioritizing county road snow removal.

First priority will be paved roads, second priority will be the remaining school bus and mail routes, third priority will be other access routes. Gravel roads are the third priority, and will not be plowed unless there is six inches of snow or drifting conditions, states the Department of Public Works, noting that all paved surface roads will be opened to provide county-wide mobility as work shifts or snow weather conditions permit.

“We do get a number of calls when it snows hard,” Director and County Engineer of Whitman County Public Works, Mark Storey said, “It takes one to two days to clear the road just once.”

Weekend and night work will only apply to snow conditions at the discretion of the road superintendent and considering the safety of the employees. Public Works states that Monday snow removal may take more effort if snow removal does not occur during the weekend. This will delay access by school buses. Whitman County does not close individual roads except under limited circumstances.

Public Works suggests that emergency bus routes be established on the main paved road system as well as an emergency schedule for school district bus routes. It is also suggested that all vehicles be equipped with snow chains with instructions as to their installation and use.

Storey stated that all cars must be out of the way of plowing, and that everyone should be patient. “It literally takes all day to get through the system if not longer depending on the snow,” he said, noting that the Public Works plows almost 15,000 miles of road doing twenty five to thirty miles an hour at most.

It is the property owners’ responsibility to remove snow from their sidewalk, or parking space in a manner that makes it unsafe for pedestrians or impedes vehicle traffic and parking. It is also suggested that for the winter, any obstructions such as rocks, fences, or planters should be moved. Snowplow operators cannot see what’s underneath the snow.

It is also stated that residents should keep their garbage cans at least five feet inside driveways, and away from the edge of the roadway. It is suggested that residents move their cans to the street as directed by Empire Disposal if their garbage pick-up is done via alley.

When snow conditions exist, Public Works suggest that it would be beneficial to contact their office for current information as to road conditions.