With the snow tapering to soft flurries, mechanic Daniel Chumley, mechanic Doug Meyung, and light equipment operator Lonnie Johnson (from left) maneuver around the yard this morning at Covington’s Public Works garage on Boron Drive.
While most of us slept, the Snow & Ice Team hit the road
COVINGTON, Ky. - If you had a safe commute to work, thank the Snow & Ice Team at the Covington Public Works Department.
While most of us were snug in our beds, drivers were threading their trucks through Covington’s dark and lonely streets, spreading salt to improve tires’ grip on slick road surfaces.
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Light equipment operator Lonnie Johnson cleans up loose salt in the dome.
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Some 14 drivers on the “A” team reported to work at 4 a.m. this morning and began pre-treating hills, overpasses, and the more heavily traveled streets in Covington, said Troy McCain, supervisor of Covington’s General Maintenance division.
“With the freezing rain coming down, we wanted to make sure the morning rush hour was a safe one,” said McCain, who is serving as “snow commander” this week on the Department’s rotating schedule.
“Commanders” monitor weather-related websites and talk regularly with colleagues from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and public works officials from Kenton County and nearby cities.
A lot of factors go into planning and implementing Covington’s response, with decisions made about when to call in the drivers, how many to call in, whether to pre-treat the roads, where to focus the response, and whether to plow or spread salt.
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Mechanic Doug Meyung backs his Kenworth T350 dump truck - Covington’s biggest snow response vehicle -into the salt dome.
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This was the third time Covington’s Snow & Ice Team has been called out this year, McCain said, with the earlier events being Sunday night and Veterans Day.
City Manager David Johnston said the crews deserve gratitude and attention.
“You have to hand it to the men and women out at Covington’s Public Works garage,” Johnston said. “Most of us were blissfully unaware that they were out there, quietly and steadfastly doing their thing. We have a great crew.”
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Driver Jim “Diesel” Hammond returns to “base” in one of the City’s Ford F550 small dump trucks.
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