Town to make changes to winter snow removal plan

No snow banks on Elk this year

If we are lucky and this winter is as bountiful in terms of snow as last, the town of Crested Butte is setting up to be better prepared. There will be more manpower and a quicker call to arms when it comes to keeping the town streets clear of accumulating snow.

Last year, a big snow year combined with a quick spring thaw to literally shut down sections of the town as the snowpack quickly melted, turning the streets into piles of mush that couldn’t be navigated. According to public works director Rodney Due, that week of horror cost the town $39,435 in additional funds. There shouldn’t be a sequel to that movie this year.
On Monday, November 7, the Town Council approved a snow and ice operations plan from Due that added about $73,000 to the snow and ice budget.
Changes include hiring two additional experienced snowplow drivers. Plowing will commence at three inches of accumulation instead of six. That should keep the snowpack on the streets relatively thin.
The Mountain Express bus route will be cleared of snow to the pavement after each three-inch event. The new Eighth Street sidewalk will be plowed regularly and a few other sidewalks that have been plowed in the past will now be abandoned in terms of plowing. Oh yeah, and snowbanks on Elk Avenue will be eliminated.
“The increased service comes at a cost,” Due explained to the council. “The cost is centered primarily on additional manpower and fuel. We might have to go to Plan B if we can’t get all the manpower pieces in place.”
“Well, I hope you’ll be busy this winter,” said mayor and avid backcountry skier Aaron Huckstep.
“I like the plan and its improved service,” said councilperson Roland Mason, “but the town machines will be used a lot more and that will add much more wear and tear, so that also means additional costs in the long run. There will probably be more cost at the end of the year for more equipment.”
“That’s a good point,” said town manager Susan Parker. “We’ll know more after this year.”
“It sounds like we’ll be getting better service with more frequent plowing but that also means there will be more residential berming, for example,” added councilmember Glenn Michel.
“Some people will love it and others will hate it,” admitted Due. “We’ll hear about it and so will you.”
“For you new guys, you’ll hear about the snowbanks,” promised councilperson Jim Schmidt.
“I’ve already heard from both sides on the snowbank issue,” said councilman David Owen. “You’re saying this plan has the snowbanks on Elk going away?”
“Completely,” affirmed Due.
Parks and recreation director Jake Jones said his people plow the sidewalks. “We want a pedestrian-friendly town, and that means keeping the sidewalks completely clear,” he said.
Since his crew will be plowing the Safe Routes to School sidewalk along Eighth Street, a few traditional walkways will be abandoned. Those include the path through the park by Stepping Stones, the connector path from Fourth to Butte Avenue and the bridge over Coal Creek near the First and Elk parking lot.
“That Stepping Stones path gets a lot of use from people going to the bus stop,” said Schmidt.
“There will still be two good ways through the park,” said Jones. “There are good alternative routes.”
Mason asked about snow maintenance at the new covered ice rink. Jones explained the roof is designed to hold large amounts of snow so it shouldn’t shed.
Due told the council that he might have to adjust the plan if he can’t find an experienced supervisor to oversee the night crew or two experienced plow drivers.
The council unanimously approved the proposed snow control plan. They will soon hear from their constituents whether it was a good vote or not.