Ep. 217: Winter Operations with Crawfordsville Street Department

·43 min·4 clips

Ed McGoy from the Crawfordsville Street Department explains how his team handles snowstorms and keeps roads safe.

The episode begins with host Sarah Sommer and Mayor Todd Barton introducing guest Ed McGoy from the Crawfordsville Street Department. Ed provides an overview of his role as city street inspector and the department's seasonal responsibilities, such as winter weather response, trash collection, stormwater management, and street painting. He details the transition from using a salt-and-sand mix to just salt, citing issues with sand accumulation in storm sewers and garages. The conversation shifts to winter operations, including brine production—400 gallons at a time, with up to 5,000 gallons used per snow event—and equipment preparation starting in September. Ed explains the prioritization of streets during snow removal, with main roads and schools addressed first, taking 4-6 hours per plow route. Collaboration with emergency services is highlighted, including the fire department using its own snow plow for medical runs. Mayor Barton discusses travel advisories, explaining the joint decision-making process with county commissioners based on road conditions and safety reports. Community tips are offered, such as parking off streets, clearing sidewalks, and checking social media for trash schedule updates. The episode wraps with information on reporting concerns via the city website and social media channels.

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