The winter storm that brought metro Atlanta traffic to a standstill two weeks ago is over, but the idea of preparing for the next one was on the minds of the Senoia City Council last week.
Introduced as a topic for discussion by City Manager Richard Ferry, council members along with Ferry and Police Chief Jason Edens reviewed the circumstances of the winter weather event.
By the end of the discussion the council reached a consensus that the city this summer should apply for a 50 percent matching grant to purchase winter weather equipment and that the county be approached to see if commissioners would be willing to supply the salt and sand needed for road application.
The council’s first suggestion would have the city’s public works department assess the advantages of acquiring a hopper which would mount to the rear of a dump truck or one or more hoppers which would mount to the rear of a pick-up truck. Both pieces of equipment can be the subject of a grant application and would come with a 50 percent match.
Application for the grant would be made in June.
If accepted, the city would also have to include the cost of salt, sand and storage in the budget, Ferry said.
The second suggestion from the council, while amounting to a cost savings for materials, may prove to be more problematic since Coweta County government has approximately 916 miles of county roads for which it has responsibility.
“This has happened three times in eight years and we need to be prepared,” Ferry said, citing the need for enhancing preparedness when facing ice events.
Ferry during the discussion noted that while keeping Rockaway Road open to traffic was a primary concern, other areas of the city such as Howard Road, Pylant Street and bridges throughout the city also act as thoroughfares for motorists.
Council members also cited the need to keep Ga. highways 16 and 85 in mind even though those roadways are the responsibility of the Ga. Dept. of Transportation.
The city currently possesses a limited ability to respond to icy conditions on roadways.
“But it’s extremely inefficient,” Ferry said, explaining that the current ability is, “having salt or sand in the back of a pick-up and shoveling it out.”
