Battling snow is full-time job

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

With snow piled up on the yards, driveways and sidewalks of Mon Valley residents, local street department workers have been on the clock — around the clock — to keep streets clear.

After mild winters for the past few years, local municipalities are going through tons of salt to keep roadways safe.

Fallowfield Township Supervisor and Street Master Earl Sadler said they have used about 1,400 tons of salt so far, which is 400 more than last winter. 

Sadler said his problem isn’t a lack of resources, but a shortage of manpower and equipment to take care of more than 60 miles of road in a seemingly uphill battle with Mother Nature. 

“I have two men on occupational leave and am still down one truck,” he said. “So we have two drivers, I have also been plowing routes to keep up. With significant snows, as much as it has been, we’re running behind time wise.”

The last heavy snow took three rounds through the township before roads were clear. The township has enough salt stockpiled for about four to five more rounds, and 650 tons have been ordered.

“It takes about 70 tons per round, and with so many municipalities trying to get it, it might take a while to get to us,” he said. “This many snows in a row is hard on that stockpile, on the equipment and our guys.

“I know people are aggravated and everyone is on edge, but we are all really beat down right now. We aren’t eating, we aren’t sleeping right, but we are trying our best and just hope people can be patient with us.” 

In Charleroi, street department Supervisor TJ Urda said aside from a lack of manpower, the borough has been well prepared for winter. 

The street department is operating with four full-time workers to cover more than 30 miles of road, but Urda hopes its most recent order of 100 tons of salt will last through winter.

“We don’t have enough help, but we are running well with what we have,” he said. “But no matter what, you do what you can and Mother Nature is still going to win.

“We just do what we have to do to keep the roads open.” 

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