Village of Niles plows through year’s first big snow
January 12, 2012 1:28PM
Brandon Wagner, of Niles, waits for his brother at the bus stop with his dog Alex during the snowfall Jan. 12 in Niles. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: February 20, 2012 8:15AM
Niles Public Works employees worked the streets in order to keep residents safe during the first major snowstorm of the season.
“We just started salting a little while ago and had some beet juice down on most of the streets,” Niles Public Works Director Scott Jochim said the morning of Jan. 12.
Jochim noted that the forecast had called for a little less than 5 inches by the morning of Jan. 13 and that the snow had been predicted to fall at about a quarter of an inch per hour, so he wasn’t concerned at the time about the storm turning into a blizzard like last February.
“Knock on wood, we should be OK,” Jochim said.
The village had 1,500 tons of salt in its salt dome, Jochim noted. He added that a few years ago during a severe snowstorm, salt was difficult to come by because the state was grabbing every available ton. He said the village learned a lesson, and now makes sure its salt supply is full.
“We’re prepared for awhile,” he said.
Jochim said he wasn’t sure how many staff members the village would ultimately need for its snow response, but he had 30 workers ready to clean the streets.
Beet juice is effective because it stops the binding when cars ride over the snow, Jochim explained.
“It’s a lot safer for the motorist,” he said.
Jochim added, with a chuckle: “Maybe with a little luck this will be the last storm of the year.”
Comments Click here to view or make a comment