Snow time like the present: Park Ridge’s first major snow of winter drops in
By JENNIFER JOHNSON jjohnson@pioneerlocal.com January 12, 2012 12:02PM
Park Ridge Public Works employee Jim Depkon loads a city dump truck with salt as crews prepare for the season's first notable snowfall Jan. 12. | Jennifer Johnson~Sun-Times Media
Updated: February 20, 2012 8:15AM
The first significant snowfall of the season may have been late in arriving, but it finally made it.
With the National Weather Service declaring a winter-weather advisory through this Jan. 13, the city of Park Ridge asked residents to avoid parking on streets so they could remain clear for Public Works Department snowplows once accumulation reached 2 inches.
The National Weather Service predicted between 2 and 4 inches of snowfall by the afternoon of Jan. 12, with an additional 3 to 5 inches of accumulation in the nighttime hours. Wind gusts as high as 30 mph were predicted, with temperatures falling to a low of 15 degrees.
Park Ridge Public Works crews began salting major roadways the morning of Jan. 12, once the snow started falling between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Public Works Director Wayne Zingsheim said salting continued until 2 inches of snowfall, at which time plows began clearing arterial and collector streets, followed by residential streets. About 17 trucks were expected to be out at the height of the storm.
“We’re very used to snows of this magnitude,” Zingsheim said. “After the big snowstorm in February (2011), this is nothing.”
Crews worked straight through the storm, he said, and no changes were made in the snow-clearing response to reduce overtime expenses.
“This is a safety issue and we work around the clock on any snowstorm or ice storm,” Zingsheim said. “We always try to save on overtime, but in situations like this, you have to go out and clear the town.”
The snowfall also meant children and teenagers were able to take advantage of a long-dormant Park District amenity: the Centennial Park sled hill, at 100 S. Western Ave.
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