Editor’s note: This column was written Thursday while it was still snowing.

By Joe Thallemer
Guest Columnist

Hopefully, by the time you read this, the worst of the Groundhogs Day 2022 snowstorm has passed through our community, the roads are clear, and we are all seeing our own shadows!

Preparing for the uncertainties of a large snowstorm requires a significant amount of planning. Each snow event is different in duration, the type of precipitation, temperature changes, and wind conditions.

Our Public Works Superintendent Dustin Dillon prepares well in advance of an event. He has been watching this recent storm for at least a week in advance. Monitoring multiple weather service forecasters, he uses the most current data to guide his planning of road maintenance throughout the event.

For example, if the conditions warrant, pretreatment with brine will delay the moisture from freezing and packing on the road surface. This gives the crews a head start on clearing the road down to the surface. For this current storm, however, we weren’t able to brine because the snow was preceded by significant rain which dilutes and washes the solution from the surface. Obviously, the most important planning concern is the health and welfare of our citizens and employees.

For this particular storm, many of our department heads gathered earlier in the week to collaborate plans for plowing, maintaining emergency and essential services, contingencies for power outages, and safe shelter for those stranded or those who have lost power. Our fine employees usually work very busy 12-hour shifts during a snow event, often running trash routes that same shift.

Employees from other departments also volunteer to plow to lessen the burden. Our residents can help them by moving their cars off the streets during a snow event, if possible. It also helps to guide the drivers by delineating the edge of your lawn with reflective markers. When plows are sent out, the first priority is to clear the primary roads, which are the emergency routes of the city.

The plows will make a pass on each lane of the road. The secondary roads are then similarly cleared as crews are available. Once that first pass on all of the roads has occurred, then the plows start over again, primary roads first, and make a second pass to clean the berms up to the curbs and parking areas.

So, the next time you see the plow go through for the first pass, remember they are not finished and will be back again, this time pushing snow up to the edge of your driveway and on the sidewalks.

If possible, it’s best to not finish your drive and sidewalks until they finish the second pass. I know it’s exasperating to work hard and finish shoveling, only to have the plow fly through and undo your hard work. I promise they are not doing it on purpose.  It’s the most efficient way to clear city streets as quickly as possible. I just read where one northern Indiana city brags that their roads are clear from curb to curb within 24 hours of the snow stopping. I think we could make the same claim for most of our snows.

Since it is still snowing as I finish this article, I know that I have no control over how fast or how much snow will finally fall. But I know that our city employees have collaboratively prepared for what could happen and I am confident they will do everything they can to ensure the safety of our community. Happy Groundhogs Day!

Joe Thallemer is the mayor of Warsaw and is serving in his third term.