JACKSON, Wyo. — The snow has been falling this winter, and with it comes the tough job of clearing the roads in Jackson.
Johnny Ziem, assistant public works director for the Town of Jackson, told Buckrail that although the winter started with heavy snow in December, January allowed the small crew of nine to catch up. The Town of Jackson Streets Division has been busy hauling snow to the fairgrounds, clearing gutters and removing ice so the roads can shed water and not refreeze.
While nine employees are getting the job done, the streets division is considered fully staffed with 11 people.
“If we aren’t plowing, we are hauling”
Johnny Ziem, assistant public works director
“Over the years we’ve been hauling more snow,” Ziem said. That’s due to the new sidewalks Ziem explained, but the fairgrounds have plenty of space for snow storage.
Ziem said the fullest he’s ever seen the fairgrounds was maybe in the winter of 2017-2018. “We got a ton of snow and once it stopped snowing we filled it up [the fairgrounds] and then hired a dozer to push the snow all the way to the top and made what people called the ‘snow queen,'” a nod to Snow King across the street.
“We always put a focus on the downtown business core and then hit arterials,” Ziem said. “We try to not make noise, we try to not go into residential areas multiple nights in a row, but it doesn’t do us any good to remove snow and leave the gutters iced in.”
Early this week, Ziem and crews were at Flat Creek breaking up ice to manage flooding. Teton Conservation District posted about the work on its Instagram.
When more snow comes next week, crews will be out, clearing the roads and sidewalks as fast as they can.
According to Buckrail Meteorologist Alan Smith, a weak storm will bring a round of light snow on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Then, a stronger storm is expected to impact our area from Sunday night through Monday night with heavy snow possible along with gusty winds. Another storm is possible shortly thereafter next Tuesday-Wednesday (Feb. 21-22).
“This time of year, we are definitely anticipating spring, and a little more snow melt, because it’s only going to get warmer. In that anticipation we are keeping the gutters and storm drains clear so they can take in water when we have a big melt event or rain or snow event,” Ziem said. “If we aren’t plowing, we are hauling, that allows us to get caught up.”
By March, crews will begin shifting their focus to street sweeping, Ziem said. But, as always, all plans are dependent on the snow.
