With winter weather gripping the area, Warren County’s Highway Department and McMinnville’s Public Works Department are prepared for the worst.
“I have salt spreaders mounted and snowplows mounted on five trucks and they are ready to go,” said county Road Superintendent Levie Glenn. “Our salt bin is full. I probably have 150 to 200 tons of salt and I’ve got 300 more on contract.”
McMinnville Public Works assistant director Brad Hennessee says he has 90 pallets of bagged salt equaling roughly 109 tons, which is enough for three winters.
“The city usually spreads 25-35 tons per winter, if it is used,” he said.
Preparedness is key when residents depend on you to clear the streets.
“You have to think ahead with your salt supply,” Glenn said. “It gets difficult to find salt when you aren’t contracted in. Having a contract for 300 tons means we are guaranteed that much, if needed. We contract our salt supplier in August or September. You can’t wait until you need it. If you do, you might not find any.”
The Highway Department, said Glenn, first targets areas known to be troublesome for motorists during snow and ice.
Glenn said trouble areas include hills located on Faulkner Springs Road, Yager Road, Old Smithville Road, and Crisp Springs Road, and high-traffic areas of Industrial Drive and Old Wells Road where factories are located, before branching out to other areas of the county.
Where the department goes first can also depend on the storm itself.
“Sometimes, one area will get hit harder than another and we’ll go to the hardest hit area first” said Glenn. “Whatever winter brings this year, we’re ready. We have more salt spreaders than we’ve had in the past. We try to keep our equipment updated so we purchased another truck. We’ll have a quicker response this year.”
Hennessee says his initial focus is on hills and intersections. Monitoring street conditions during winter storms is a joint effort between Public Works and McMinnville Police Department, in conjunction with Emergency 911 operators.
“Hills and intersections that are prone to icy conditions along with main roads are treated immediately with salt when they are covered with a thin layer of snow,” said Hennessee. “Salt typically loses its effectiveness when temperatures fall below 20 degrees. When 2 to 4 inches of snow have accumulated and more is expected, snow is more economically moved by plowing rather than salting. After the hills, main intersections, and main roads are salted or plowed, the trucks then continue to treat all city streets.”
The storm will also dictate where the city department targets first.
“Each storm is different and presents different challenges,” said Hennessee. “Such things as temperature, time of day, traffic conditions, and the rate of snowfall are just a few of the factors affecting the impact of a storm. Total amount of snowfall is another factor. However, snowfall depth alone can be deceptive. For instance, a small storm during a weekday rush hour can cause havoc, while an equivalent storm on the weekend or late at night may cause little trouble. Light snow and heavy wind will cause drifting and ice particles. Heavy, wet snow can bring down trees and wires and cause additional equipment strain. Melting snow can also sometimes cause flooding issues. These are some of the potential problems encountered in winter storms.”
The Highway Department is responsible for all roads outside the city limits of McMinnville and Public Works is responsible for the 112 miles of streets within, with the exception of state roads that are under the supervision of the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Glenn can be reached at 473-2007 to report rural road-related emergencies and Hennessee at 473-2553. After hours, call the E-911 nonemergency number, 668-7000.
