Village forced to change snow-fighting strategies

Jan. 31, 2014 - As the Village continues to respond to the season’s record-breaking number of snowstorms, salt supplies are being used at a much faster pace and crews must change their strategy for treating roadways.

For residents, this means clear main roads and intersections, but the potential for packed snow on residential side streets.

“The snow started early in the season and continued almost daily,” said Public Works Director John Wielebnicki. “We have had nearly three times as many snow events this season as last and we still have a couple of months to go. At this rate, we must rethink our salting strategy to ensure public safety."

The Village will continue to plow all streets and alleys as usual, Wielebnicki said. But given that regional salt supplies are stretched, the following strategy will be followed depending on how the season progresses:

• Main streets will be salted as is normally done in response to a snow or ice event.
• Salt will be spread once down the middle of east/west residential streets.
• North/south residential streets will be salted only at intersections and stop signs.
• Depending on conditions, salt may not be spread until snow stops falling.
• Sand may be mixed with salt to provide traction, but only as a last resort because it can clog sewer lines.

Officials caution that with salt being spread more conservatively, some streets may remain snow packed, depending on sunlight and temperatures. Drivers are urged to give themselves extra time, slow down and increase following distances.

Oak Park, like most communities in Illinois, purchases salt prior to the start of the season through a state consortium managed by the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, a buying strategy that means more competitive prices.

Under the current state purchase agreement, Oak Park will purchase its maximum allotment of 3,600 tons. Combined with salt remaining from the previous year, the Village will have had about 5,000 tons available. So far this year, Public Works Department crews have spread more than 3,300 tons of salt on Village Streets, compared to about 4,000 tons used all of last winter.

Purchasing more salt outside of the state consortium is difficult and very expensive. In fact, officials say even those municipalities willing to pay top dollar for salt may not be able to get it.

“If the season continues on it current track, it won’t be a question of demand, but of supply,” Wielebnicki said. “That’s why we are rethinking our strategy now to make sure we have enough salt to keep main roads and intersections clear.”

Through January, crews had responded to 24 separate snow events since the first snowfall on Nov. 11. Last year, the first snowfall didn’t come until Dec. 20 and by the end of January 2013, crews had had to deal with only nine snow events.

The area’s normal snowfall total is about 36 inches. So far this season, Oak Park has recorded 48 inches of snow. Last year, the Village received only 27 inches for the entire season.