Street manager Paul Kinney said when it snows the city can put plows on up to five trucks to clear roads. If traction is needed they also use sand. If the road temperature looks like it could ice up they use salt to melt it. And if the road is bare was icy conditions are in the forecast they can use de-icer.

So, they are ready no matter what the winter brings.

Kevin Nielsen, the Public Works director, said, “We were one of the only cities in the county” that did any road work during the dusting of snow and following ice of the past week, and drivers could certainly tell.

Kinney said three plow trucks were ready because snow was forecasted. Four employees plowed and sanded the main roads and arterials. They were done in four hours. The next day two workers sanded hot spot intersections, and when roads dried out the anti-ice chemical Calcium Chloride was used.

Kinney said since that program started two years ago it has saved taxpayers a lot of money.

“Since it’s liquid instead of sand we don’t have to sweep it up afterward,” he said.

Maintenance worker Brent Potter said they take the temperature of the road at every location they de-ice to make sure the amount is safe. He also said the trucks used for plowing are used almost every day for other jobs, such as hauling rock, backhoes or other projects.

Kinney said the city only had one snow event last year, around Dec. 20. He said he’s not worried about the earlier snow this year.

“We have a pretty healthy budget for snow and ice removal,” he said. “We’re prepared for any major events.”

The Street Department maintains 196 miles of roads within the city. A system of priority has been established taking into consideration topography and traffic volumes:

• Arterials leading in and out of the City

• Arterials located on hills within city boundaries

• Fire and police access

• All other arterials within city boundaries.