By Richard Kerns
rkerns@newstribune.info
Tribune Staff Writer
KEYSER – Keyser streets remained slushy at best and snowy at worst two days after the weekend snow storm, but city police reported no major problems and relatively few complaints from motorists.
“They did a pretty good job pushing snow,” a police official said. “We haven’t been getting that many complaints.”
Jim Hannas, streets supervisor for the city of Keyser, said city crews were out 22 hours straight Friday and Saturday, hitting the streets as the snowfall began Friday night, and working shifts through the day until the snow tapered off early Saturday evening.
The city maintains five plows to clear a total of 27 miles of streets and alleys, but Hannas acknowledged that it is slow going at times, especially in a heavy snow, as the trucks are all standard pickups and not the dump-truck plows used by the state and county road crews.
“We’re doing the best we can, but they’re just pickups,” he said.
Despite the 22 inches of snow, Hannas said he has received “not that many” complaints. As of Monday afternoon, calls centered on a parking lot near the Magistrate’s Office, and various alleys.
The parking lot is a tough job because snow covered cars are still parked on the lot, making it difficult for drivers to clear the snow. As for the alleys, Hannas said all of the alleys had been plowed by Monday afternoon.
The city plows its streets based on an established policy that directs crews to hit critical streets first, including roads near hospitals, police and fire stations, and dangerously steep streets. The crews next clear main arteries, followed by collector streets, side streets and finally alleys. (See the city’s plowing policy on today’s Op Ed page, page 3.)
With most of the streets cleared by Monday afternoon, Hannas said the biggest problems involved areas where snow
had been thrown into the street by people shoveling, plowing or blowing open their own sidewalks and driveways.
“I understand what they’re up against, but they’re throwing it right back in the streets,” Hannas said. “It makes it miserable for us.”
The streets supervisor encouraged residents to call the city garage at 304-788-5173 if they need a street or alley cleared, or encounter any other problem with snow removal.
“If anyone has a problem call the city garage and we’ll take care of it,” he said. “We want to hear from people, then we know where the problems are.”
Snow-covered streets won’t be a problem Tuesday morning for school buses. Mineral County Board of Education announced early Monday afternoon that schools would be closed again Tuesday. Allegany County schools are opening two hours late.
In another sign that snow-covered roads and snow mounds continue to plague the area, Mineral County Emergency Management officials urged residents to keep fire hydrants clear of snow in case of a fire emergency.
Keyser, W.Va. —
