Public works presents winter priorities

COLFAX — The Whitman County Public Works Department is improving a stockpile site and preparing for winter with a letter on snow plowing priorities.

During the regular Whitman County Commissioner meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, Commissioners moved to approve providing stockpiling of aggregate for county road maintenance purposes.

Whitman County Engineer Dean Cornelison reported the department was getting low on rock in Doneen.

“One point last year I think all three districts were hauling out our quarry because of an increase in graveling,” he said.

Public Works Director Mark Storey, presented commissioners with a letter that the department sends out every year.

Storey reported the highest priority are the bus routes on weekdays and they tend not to plow gravel roads until there is around four to six inches of snow or drifting conditions.

The letter is the department’s official priority letter and will go out to all the school superintendents and the post offices.

“If there is four inches of snow on the ground we will mobilize because there will be six pretty soon,” Storey said. “If it’s four inches and really icy we reserve the privilege of making that priority. It depends on exactly what’s happening this year. The letter can’t cover every circumstance.”