DPW Winter preparation process
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: November 1, 2011
We've already seen the first snowfall in the area, but how long has the
Utica Department of Public Works been preparing for the Winter season?
DPW Commissioner, David Short, says preparation for Winter isn't an overnight process.
DPW starts preparing every year around August.
This includes maintenance on the plow trucks, checking the tires and breaks, and other things.
The workers check all other equipment to make sure everything is working properly.
Short says they also go out into the city to check out where the worst areas are in terms of roads that are hard to plow.
Although he says that you can never be 100% prepared, DPW does it's best to make sure everything is ready for Winter action.
"It's always a surprise for us. But, we go 24/7 anyways so we have people on to get right out there to do what we need to do. We have 13 plow trucks and 17 trucks. At any given time there is at least two or three trucks that are down, not permanently down, but they're always being fixed at some extent," said Short.
Short says there is a limited budget, especially this year. They try to conserve the salt as much as possible.
Short says DPW has to do everything it can to make the salt last for the next five months.
The Department of Public Works says it needs everyone's cooperation when the salt truck or plows are out.
DPW Commissioner, David Short, says preparation for Winter isn't an overnight process.
DPW starts preparing every year around August.
This includes maintenance on the plow trucks, checking the tires and breaks, and other things.
The workers check all other equipment to make sure everything is working properly.
Short says they also go out into the city to check out where the worst areas are in terms of roads that are hard to plow.
Although he says that you can never be 100% prepared, DPW does it's best to make sure everything is ready for Winter action.
"It's always a surprise for us. But, we go 24/7 anyways so we have people on to get right out there to do what we need to do. We have 13 plow trucks and 17 trucks. At any given time there is at least two or three trucks that are down, not permanently down, but they're always being fixed at some extent," said Short.
Short says there is a limited budget, especially this year. They try to conserve the salt as much as possible.
Short says DPW has to do everything it can to make the salt last for the next five months.
The Department of Public Works says it needs everyone's cooperation when the salt truck or plows are out.
