When Snowflake Public Works Superintendent Terry Cooper was hired, one of the first questions he asked was whether the town had a snow removal plan. He was told it doesn’t snow in Snowflake, but just a few weeks later, they had two feet of snow.
Cooper presented a snow management plan to the council Jan. 13 for discussion and review.
“The purpose is just to let the public know that if we do get another event like that, we do have a plan in place,” said Cooper. “It’s also for emergency services, to help them get somewhere if they need to.”
He explained that the biggest treatment Snowflake has been involved in is cinder spray for icy spot locations. “We’ve done that quite a bit,” he noted.
If a storm event happens during business hours, the crew is readily available, said Cooper, but, “primarily, storms happen at night when temperatures are cool.” Under the new plan, the Snowflake-Taylor Police Department would call public works out if there is ice on the road or when the snow level gets to 2” on the roadway.
Cooper explained the four levels of response, including: Level 1, spot ice control will be provided by applying cinders to those “hot spot” areas of frequent ice build up; Level 2, at 2” of snow accumulation on the roadways, limited personnel will be called in to assess the storm capacity and prepare for full call out, if necessary; Level 3, at 4” of accumulation, a full call out of the town resources will be utilized to begin snow removal; and Level 4, in the event of a major, long term storm event, outside resources may need to be utilized in order to provide necessary services for the citizens of Snowflake. A list of additional resources will be on file with the public works department.
Cooper explained that equipment availability to the Public Works Department currently includes one motor grader, two backhoes (without plow assemblies), a one-ton flatbed pickup with a plow assembly and a three-quarter ton pickup with a plow assembly.
He explained that each piece of equipment is dedicated to snow removal for a specific route or area of town.
Snow removal on Highways 277 and 77 is provided by the Arizona Department of Transportation, and Concho Highway snow removal is provided by Navajo County.
Cooper said that after the storm has cleared, staff will continue clearing roadways and intersections, and snow removal will continue as efforts are being made to push all snow out to the edge of the pavement to improve traveling conditions and allow mail service accessibility.
This item did not require approval; it was simply provided for discussion and review.
