Jillian A Rhoades, PE

Assistant City Engineer

100 S. Market Street, P. O. Box 3003
Troy, Ohio 45373-7303
phone: 937-339-2641/fax: 937-339-9341
jillian.rhoades@troyohio.gov
TO: Patrick Titterington
FROM: Jill Rhoades, Assistant City Engineer
DATE: October 3, 2014
SUBJECT: Winter Weather Procedures/Policies

After last winter season, the City of Troys salt supply is extremely limited this year. The city participated in a
bidding consortium for salt. The consortium consists of 90+ local. Since the 2013-14 winter season was hard
and trying, the salt bids were quoted at more than double in price and quantities are very limited. The city
received a bid of $119.85 (last years price was less than $53) and the consortium only received bids for 30%
of the requested salt quantity. The increased price and limited quantities is a region-wide issue. In
discussion with the consortium, salt may continue to be an issue for several years. The salt companies have
stated that it will take at least two (2) years to build their salt storage back to adequate levels.

Last winter season, we used almost double our average salt: 1,700 tons of salt when our average salt usage
is 1,000 tons. The city has approximately 450 tons of salt in storage and will only be able to secure 275 tons
through the bid. Our total salt supply of 725 tons is approximately 75 percent of our average usage. As part
of the 2014 budget, we have sufficient funds to purchase the 275 tons. We will continue to look for
additional salt in hopes of obtaining our average of 1,000 tons. If the opportunity arises to secure additional
salt, we may need to request a budget reappropriation from City Council.

The City has been tailoring our winter plowing and salting procedures over the past decade to address our
limited resources and to be more efficient in addressing winter events. Due to the limited amount of salt
available, it is necessary to understand that the winter weather policy has to change further in order to
assure not only the best utilization of salt but also to make it last as long as possible this coming winter.

After review and concurrence by you and Mayor Beamish, the revised Winter Weather Policy is attached. In
an effort to educate the citizens, we will be placing the updated policy on social media pages including our
website, Facebook and Twitter. We will also issue one or more press releases to the media. Finally, the
Mayor has agreed to remind the public continuously during his weekly radio shows, as well as during any
public forum at which he may speak.

It is important to note that we will continue to monitor each event as it is forecast to make maximum use of
pre-treatment brining. Since each winter event is unique, we will continue to have constant
communications with you to make the most effective use of our time, materials and resources.

As always, I am available for questions or concerns.








WINTER WEATHER TREATMENT POLICY

GENERAL OVERVIEW: This Winter Weather Policy is a general policy to help residents
understand the citys approach to dealing with typical winter storms. It is a general guideline
only. Pre-treatment, plowing and salting operations will be evaluated on an event-by-event
basis, based on the type, temperature, severity, longevity, and timing of the winter event.
For the purpose of this policy, Primaries are streets classified as primary or secondary, as well
as state routes, hills, bridges, and the streets immediately surrounding schools. Residentials are
streets including tertiary (branches off of Primaries, local (or residential) streets, dead-end
streets and cul-de-sacs.
PRE-TREATMENT Salt brine pre-treatment will be applied to all Primaries and Residential
when conditions permit in an effort to treat small storms of one inch or less. This treatment will
also help alleviate larger snows from bonding to the road making it easier to plow. When the
forecast allows, City crews may pre-treat Residentials one or two days in advance of the
forecasted event. Primaries will be pre-treated as close the forecasted event as possible, to
minimize the elimination of brine by heavy vehicular traffic.
PLOWING OPERATIONS Plowing will begin once Primaries are covered by three or more
inches of snow, regardless of the time of day or night of the event. Only Primaries will be
plowed while snow is falling. Once snowfall has ceased and the Primaries are cleared, plowing
of Residentials may begin, provided plowing will not begin until the first regular work day after
the storm has ended. Plowing of Residentials will continue during regular work hours until they
have been plowed curb to curb. In the case of a major event (four or more inches of snow),
plowing of Residentials during regular work hours may be restricted to providing a single path,
in order to provide two-way traffic on these streets.
SALTING OPERATIONS Once plowing of Primaries has been completed, and the snow has
stopped falling, Primaries only may be salted. In the event that no pre-treatment was applied
before the storm, salting Primaries may occur prior to plowing. In the event the City determines
it is necessary to salt Residentials, salting will take place during regular work hours and include
intersections only. This policy shall be enforced unless exceptional circumstances warrant
emergency measures, as determined by the Director of Public Service and Safety, in
consultation with the Mayor.