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Heat takes a holiday from WB
by Rick DeClue · News · January 16, 2015
“There were so many calls, especially on the interstate, that I lost track of the numbers,” West Branch Fire Chief Kevin Stoolman said.
Stoolman was referring to last Monday night and Tuesday morning when temperatures plunged and snow piled up in and around the city, mostly during overnight hours.
He said calls started coming in pretty quickly because road conditions were very slick. There were collisions and vehicles off the road surfaces, but no serious injuries nor fatalities.
Fire department equipment is winterized early in the season, then drained periodically to prevent freezing in hoses and pipes, he said. There were no equipment problems due to the weather or driving conditions. The department’s volunteer personnel had no problems responding, said Stoolman.
West Branch Police Chief Mike Horihan said his department has three all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicles.
“High speed chases are one thing, but we spend more time driving through tough weather,” he said.
The department issued nine parking citations for cars parked in emergency routes, though no vehicles were towed.
The West Branch Public Works Department put in some overtime, with crews working until 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, and then going back out at approximately 6:30 a.m.
Director Matt Goodale said it usually requires around four hours to clear a typical snow event. Last week’s storm needed about 11 hours of plowing.
With the two-day accumulation reported at five inches by the National Weather Service, Goodale said the wind made blowing snow a problem.
And the sub-zero temperatures resulted in two water main breaks Thursday, he said.
After opening roads and parking downtown, the snow was hauled and piled on unused ground in the cemetery.
City Administrator Matt Muckler said the city tries to work with owners to minimize towing, but needs access to clear emergency routes.
Horihan said other call volume for the Police Department typically falls during a weather event like last week’s, because people tend to just stay home. His department had few calls in the city limits, but provided assistance to the fire department on several interstate calls within a reasonable distance of town.
He said traffic control on interstate calls is critical, citing a storm last year where the Fire Department lost a rescue truck when a vehicle crashed into it during an interstate rescue.
The police chief stressed communication, and common-sense approaches for drivers like attention to speed, stopping, having a full gas tank and allowing time for the weather conditions. He then jokingly predicted no more snow for the rest of the winter.
Goodale said all the department’s equipment performed well, though staff spent some indoor hours later in the week performing maintenance prior to the next snowfall. The city typically maintains a 25- to 35-ton supply of salt, sand and brine to ensure its ability to address roads, especially hills and intersections.
Muckler said the city plans for winter conditions by, for example, budgeting for overtime. Communication includes local media, the city’s Web site and cable channel. The city council meeting scheduled for Monday night was cancelled due to the weather conditions.
He was not aware of any social welfare situations, such as homelessness or travelers stuck in West Branch as a result of this storm. The city works with local service providers and the West Branch Area Religious Council to address these needs, he said.
Muckler said he may put the city’s “Snow and Ice Control Policy” on the agenda for a review by the city council.
This policy sets levels and priority of city services during situations like the storm last week. In particular, he thought the council should review the city’s policy for events that occur during overnight hours.
“Somebody trying to get home after a late-night shift deserves to be able to drive as safely as possible,” said Muckler.
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