County public works staff described the department's response to a statewide winter storm and explained why the county did not pretreat roadways with brine in advance.

A public works representative told the commissioners that pretreatment is effective only in a "very specific scenario" and that in the heavy freezing-rain and drifting conditions during the storm "it's gonna melt. It's gonna take away the brine with it," reducing benefit and increasing costs. The staff member said treating in those conditions can cause material to stick to roadways and require repeated applications.

Commissioners and public works described response priorities: open paved (blacktop and concrete) roads first, then major collectors and the Federal Aid Secondary (FAS) network that connects towns. The public works update said crews worked throughout the weekend and into early morning, plowing and opening routes while managing safety and equipment limitations.

Chair Nathan Leiker praised crews' work and noted the difficulty of the conditions. "Our crews have put in a valiant effort to get out there and do what they can," he said, adding that staff sometimes must stop for nighttime safety and then restart in the morning.

Officials discussed common citizen concerns: county crews do not clear private driveways after plowing, and limited staff means operators cannot reopen every driveway without leaving much of the county unplowed. The county confirmed it budgets for overtime in these scenarios and said employees may flex time or use overtime pay, depending on operational needs.

Public works also reported limited equipment damage (minor issues such as blown fuses and chain adjustments) and said the new public works facility's driveway remained usable after the storm. Commissioners encouraged residents to stay home during severe conditions and thanked highway crews, EMS and volunteer responders for coordinated emergency response.

Officials noted hiring needs for equipment operators and invited qualified applicants to apply.