Snow Removal
COMMISSION INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
VOL. 25, NO. 42
ADMINISTRATIVE BRIEF FROM SHAWN O'LEARY
December 19, 2003
Someone once said that there are two seasons in Kansas.... ..construction season and winter.
That might also be the motto of the City Street Division. And, in winter, snow removal or "snow
fighting" is generally the order of the day. Unlike the northern states where snow fighting is just
part of daily life or the southern states where snow is a foreign term, snow removal in the
midwest is particularly challenging because we rarely know when or how much snow we are
going to get. Our goal is to be prepared for all snow events but not over-prepared.
The winter snow season of 2003 arrived with a punch last week, and the Street Division was
prepared. Our staff of twenty nine (29) street division employees were well trained and prepared
by September. Our fleet is made up of twelve (12) plow/salt trucks, two (2) motor graders, two
(2) front-end loaders and a large snow blower. Key materials are rock salt (from Kanopolis salt
mines) and liquid calcium or magnesium chloride. Our storage capacity is 1,000 tons of salt
(under roof) and 12,000 gallons of liquid calcium or magnesium chloride. All plow/salt trucks are
equipped with 75-gallon saddle tanks on each side of the salt spreaders which provide for the
regulated treatment of the salt with liquid chloride just prior to distribution onto the pavement.
An average six-inch snowstorm will cost the City of Salina approximately $20,000 in marginal
costs for about 300 tons of salt, 3,000 gallons of liquid chloride and 400 hours of overtime pay
for staff. In addition to the Street Division, the Parks and Recreation Department provides a great
deal of snow removal services in the downtown area and in city park and building facilities.
City staff continues to implement innovative
methods and equipment to enhance our snow
fighting operations each year. "Anti-icing", or
chemical treatment of the pavement in advance
of the snow is now a regular part of our program.
On-board pavement temperature sensors allow
our drivers to apply the most efficient use of salt
and chemicals. The use of liquid magnesium
chloride this year is saving ten cents per gallon
and proving to be less corrosive to our
equipment than liquid calcium chloride.
Snow fighting in this country and in this city has become quite advanced in a very few years. Not
long ago, two snow plows worked for days to clear the major streets in Salina while staff
shoveled salt or sand manually from pickup trucks. Clearing snow on residential streets was
rarely done. Traffic accidents and injuries to our citizens and employees were commonplace.
School closures, business delays and event cancellations were routine. During last week's 6-
inch snow storm, all 280 miles of city streets and 10 downtown parking lots were plowed/treated
within the first 48 hours; only 17 traffic accidents were reported on the first day of the storm
whereas 8 accidents occur on an average day in Salina; schools closed for one day but
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businesses were undaunted and very few events were cancelled; and, remarkably, the Salina
police department never had to implement the emergency action reporting plan because our
officers were able to manage without it.
The City Commission has provided strong support to the Street Division for many years with
budget allocations, vehicle upgrades and other resources. The City's current snow fighting
program underlines the value of that investment to our citizens.
MONDA V'S MEETING
1. Enclosed are other items on the agenda. If any Commissioner has any questions
or cannot attend the meeting, please contact me.
2. Let's begin the study session at 2:30 p.m. An agenda is attached.
Dennis M. Kissinger
City Manager