As a lot of us know firsthand, this was a great winter for skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing, but not so great for navigating streets and sidewalks.
Snow removal became a big issue, as unplowed snow can lead to accidents and bring business to a standstill. Piles of snow on sidewalks create a dangerous obstacle for pedestrians, who can slip on ice or have nowhere to walk but the street. Some municipalities, such as New York City and Chicago, were heavily criticized for their lack of preparation this winter. But this shouldn't have happened, given the amount of snowfall in the Northeast. It's not like we weren't expecting snow, after all.
I tell my friends that snow removal in my town is amazing. If I can traverse my driveway, the rest of the way is usually a piece of cake. Snow plows and salt trucks are out from the first flake, keeping all roads clear. In fact, the county roads, even back roads, are often in better shape than the nearby Parkway.
Even though I'm one of the furthest away from our office in Hoboken, N.J., and live north of New York City in what I call the "snow belt," there are times when I can make it into the office when many others can't.
That's why I was happy to read in our newspaper, the Journal News, that a nearby town in my county will receive a national award for snow removal. Employees of the Orangetown Highway Dept. have a lot to be proud of.
The department, one of three recipients of this year's Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award, is being recognized by the American Public Works Association, a non-profit with 64 chapters and more than 29,500 members in North America.
The other two award recipients are the Division of Public Works in the Coty of Farmington Hills, Mich., and the Department of Public Works and Parks in the City of Worcester, Mass.
The award promotes excellence in the management and administration of public works snow and ice operations, and to promote best practices in snow and ice removal while minimizing environmental impacts.
According to the article, Orangetown highway crews responded to 13 snow events, totaling about 62 inches. They are responsible for snow and ice control for 206 miles of roadway, including 145 miles of town roads, 45 miles of state roads and 16 miles of county roads. And there's more—they clear snow in business districts of four towns, clear 15 miles of sidewalks and clear 25 bus shelters and catch basins.
Orangetown, and indeed the entire county, has a lot of be proud of because they do a great job. And work of this caliber doesn't just happen. It involves teamwork, dedication and many late nights for Highway Department employees. I'm also happy to hear they apply best practices and are cognizant of the impact of salts and chemicals on our environment.
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