Recent snow put city’s new de-icing program to the test
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Staff writer
Mother Nature finally decided to return from her (relatively) tropical vacation last week.
After weeks of above-normal temperatures and no significant snow accumulation, winter returned with a vengeance, dumping four inches of snow in Burlington Jan. 12.
And for all of the preparations of a new de-icing program for City of Burlington streets, Department of Public Works Supervisor Dan Jensen admitted that first snowfall caused some problems.
“It was OK,” Jensen said Tuesday after another storm dumped about three inches of snow on the area. “It could have been better.
“I thought we did a good job but I think we can do better.”
Both storms were similar in nature. Following warmer weather, rain turned into snow and was followed by a temperature drop.
As a result, there were numerous reports of slick roads, which Jensen doesn’t know were a result of the storm system or the ineffectiveness of the brine the city is trying to use in an effort to save money and reduce its reliance on rock salt.
Last week, city police called the DPW and advised the use of rock salt as conditions slowed traffic to a crawl and numerous accidents were reported.
“We’re always on call in responding to the police department,” Jensen said. “The jury’s still out on (the brine). It’s that first storm.
“I don’t know,” he added when asked if problems were inevitable given the weather. “Maybe you can tell me.”
There were more accidents in Tuesday’s storm. A man driving too fast Tuesday morning missed the turn off Milwaukee Avenue onto Bridge Street near Adrian’s Custard and his car took out the traffic light on the island at the intersection.
The broken light – pole and all – was corralled behind barricades in the Echo Park parking lot Tuesday afternoon. The island was marked with cones so people knew what was missing.
“He was just going too fast,” Jensen said. “He couldn’t make the turn.”
Jensen said Tuesday that the traffic signal was supposed to be back up by Wednesday.
Given last week was the first significant snowfall of the year, Jensen also conceded that there would be a learning curve as drivers readjusted to the slippery roads.
In his first year as DPW supervisor, Jensen didn’t have any comparison as to whether Burlington dealt with things better or worse than normal.
“I don’t know that it was unlike any other first ones of the year,” Jensen said. “I haven’t been here to judge any past ones.
“First snowstorms are always that (way). There’s a learning curve. The first snowstorms are the ones people remember for a while.”
The issues with the roads made for some lively discussion at the City Council meeting Tuesday night. City Administrator Kevin Lahner admitted that the brine didn’t work as well as it had been hoped, and that Jensen and the DPW were working on making adjustments.
“It’s a learning curve, guys,” Mayor Bob Miller added.
The city aldermen admitted to receiving some complaints this week, including one to Alderman Tom Vos complaining that the city was spraying water on the streets and just making it more slippery.
“I think you have to do a little more education,” Vos said.
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