City Prepares For Winter Weather
By Gina Ford, WEEK-TV, East Peoria, Ill. - 10/29/2008
After a last year's rough winter, the city of Peoria is making some changes to make sure they can efficiently clear streets this time around.
With the winter fast approaching, the city of Peoria has modified the snow plan...there are no longer secondary snow routes, all main roads will be cleared first, then they will get to the neighborhoods.
"This is a more efficient program for us and what it means is we will be able to get into the residential neighborhoods quicker", said Dave Barber, Director of Peoria Public Works.
Under the new plan, the city will hit all of the residential neighborhoods within the first 18 hours after a storm ends... and one Peoria resident says it's about time.
"They definitely can improve. It takes a very long time sometimes for them to get out in my neighborhood", said Ebonie Wright.
But others say they have been satisfied in the past with the city's snow removal.
"We were, we live in a cul-de-sac and last year was pretty good, they got to us like the next day", said Jeanie Bartak.
Also, this season city will be using more of a sand-salt mix on surface streets and intersections, because of the increase costs of salt. Last year it was about 37 dollars a ton, and this year it's about 48.
"What we're trying to do is keep the salt purchase down to about 9,000 tons this year which should put us at a budget of about 432 thousand dollars", said Barber.
In the city's effort's to respond to snow storms more efficiently, they've partnered up with a digital billboard company that has several boards in Peoria like the one on War Memorial.
Adams outdoor advertising has four digital billboards around the city. Officials will use them to communicate messages to the public if it snows and a parking ban takes effect.
"If your car is in the way, we're not able to get your street cleaned off and some people were getting tickets", said Alma Brown, Spokesperson for the City of Peoria.
Snow will likely fall in the next few months, and city officials hope their new plan will help Peorians cope better in the winter months.
