Community Corner

[Updated 3:10 p.m. Feb. 10] Snow Removal Efforts in South Windsor Hampered

Manpower shortage, equipment failure have made what would normally be cleaned up in several hours take all weekend, according to Town Manager Matthew Galligan.

[Updated 3:10 p.m.] The following is from Chief of Police Matthew Reed:

Town crews and contractors have been out since the early morning hours continuing to clear roadways.  Mike Gantick provided me with an update at 1:45pm.  He says all streets should have seen at least one pass by a plow by now.  Town crews are discovering challenges in areas where contract crews didn't do all of the work expected.  There are issues of course with piling the snow at the ends of cul de sacs and corners.  Sight lines are limited and driveways and sidewalks are getting blocked.  This is causing frustration with some residents.

Town crews will work until at least5 pm and some contract crews may remain beyond that.  The forecast is calling for possible precipitation in the early morning which will require recall of crews to further treat roads.  In the coming days work will include widening roads further, improving sight lines and clearing high priority walkways.  

Find out what's happening in South Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police have had no significant calls for service.  There have been a number of medical calls, though.  When this occurs a plow or loader is dispatched to the address to assist with patient access.  The fire department has been very helpful as well.  The FD has staffed all firehouses for the duration of this event.
I spoke with Pat Hankard and he tells me the school facilities have been cleared and readied for Monday classes.

[Updated Sunday, 9:30 a.m.] Town Manager Matthew Galligan said that the town is continuing with its efforts for snow removal.

Find out what's happening in South Windsorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Crews were out all night working to clear streets, with about 87 percent of the streets having been plowed once as a pass-through, Galligan said.

According to a Facebook post, Chief of Police Matthew Reed said: "Areas in need of attention as of 8 p.m. [Saturday] include; Farnham Estates, Farmstead Drive, Morgan Farms, Mark Drive, Hazel St., Gail Lane, Case Hill Circle, Dogwood Lane and areas of Norton Lane.

"We just hope that residents understand that we have to push snow back and that it may hit their driveways again," Galligan said. "Unfortunately there's a lot of snow."

While Galligan couldn't provide information on when specific streets would be plowed, he said that he was working with the public works department on getting that information on the town website and on the police department's Facebook page.

The goal is to clear the snow as quickly as possible, Galligan said, as well as getting things ready for the Monday morning commute.

In related news, the South Windsor Public Library will be closed Sunday so that snow clearing efforts can be focused on the schools, according to Library Director Mary Etter.

[Updated Saturday, 8:15 p.m.] Town Manager Matthew Galligan said that about 87 percent of the roads have been plowed with at least one pass in South Windsor.

Plowing will continue all night and into tomorrow, with the hope that the roads will be cleared by Monday morning.

"It hasn’t been easy," Galligan said. "It’s a very heavy, tough snow. We got about 3 feet. Trucks are breaking down and we’re repairing them. We’re doing the best we can."

Galligan said that the National Guard declined a request to assist in snow removal, as it is handing rescue operations. The state Department of Transportation also has not been able to assist, Galligan said, as the state's roads will take 6 or 7 days to clear.

"This is the worst storm in 103 years," Galligan said.

Galligan said that some driveways that have been cleared may have snow pushed into them when snow plows come through with a second pass.

"We’re doing the best we can," Galligan said. "We will be working all tonight and tomorrow."

[Original story] South Windsor was socked with about 30 inches of snow from the recent storm.

Snow removal efforts in town have been hampered, however, due to a lack of manpower and equipment failure, according to Town Manager Matthew Galligan.

Galligan said that the town has 11 contractors for snow removal, three of whom have had trucks break down.

In addition, two of the town’s snow removal vehicles have also broken down, Galligan said.

That, coupled with the department of public works being shorthanded by three recent retirements, one employee out on Workers’ Comp leave and another out with the flu, Galligan said that it could be a couple of days before the snow is entirely removed in town.

“If I had those guys in here, we could get things cleaned up a lot quicker,” Galligan said. “We have to look at the budgets and go back to the Town Council and talk about replacing vehicles.”

Galligan said that a request for five trucks from the National Guard to help with the cleanup was denied.

Ultimately, people should adhere to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s advice and stay off the roads to help ease the cleanup efforts.

“We’ll be working through the weekend,” Galligan said.

For more information, visit the South Windsor storm center here. Also check out snow safety tips from Chief of Police Matthew Reed here.


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