With the first forecast of snow looming, the Town of McCordsville’s Public Works Department is preparing their winter plan of attack. In addition to the four snow plows and one salt spreader used during previous years, the Town has recently purchased a seven ton snow plow/salt spreader and also constructed a 42’x48’ salt bin that now contains 250 tons of salt to add to its arsenal.
“All of the trucks have been winterized and the salt bin is filled to capacity. We’re ready to go” said Ron Crider, McCordville’s Public Works Commissioner.
Prior to 2009, the public works crews had to drive to Greenfield for salt. The ability of the public works department to more immediately fill the salt spreaders should prove a benefit to the residents and those who travel through McCordsville. The Town will also be helping Hancock County plow CR 600W. “Basically, it will be whoever gets there first,” Crider said. However, this change from years past should help keep the Town’s major local thoroughfare clear of snow and ice.
Because of a salt shortage during the past few years, Indiana’s cities and towns have found it more difficult and more expensive to secure the substance. This year, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), through an agreement with the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, allowed for local communities to participate in the State’s salt bid. This allowed towns such as McCordsville to lock in a price and increase the amount of salt purchased. “Because INDOT purchases such a large quantity of salt, being able to participate with them helps smaller towns get a better price on salt than they might have been able to secure on their own,” according to Town Manager Tonya Galbraith.
To get an idea of how much salt is used for a typical snowfall, Crider explained that a 3” snowfall requires the use of approximately six tons of salt.
Residents can find out more details regarding the Snow and Ice Control Policy on the Town’s homepage, which is http://www.mccordsville.org.
