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Sunbury reviews snow-and-ice plan, highlights new truck, staffing and 300 tons of salt
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Summary
City staff told the Services Committee the city used an emergency-priority plow map during the recent storm, added one Ford F-550 to the fleet, maintains five sections (about 75 lane miles) and has refilled its salt barn with roughly 300 tons, with mutual-aid and township agreements helping coverage.
Sunbury City staff briefed the Services Committee on Feb. 4 about how the city managed its recent heavy snow event and steps to bolster capacity going forward.
Jake, a city public‑works staff member, said the department deployed an emergency-conditions priority map that covers arterial and state routes so emergency vehicles could reach residents during high accumulation events. "We just refilled the barn with about 300 tons of salt," Jake told the committee, and staff expect that supply to carry the city through the remainder of the season.
The city operates five plow sections, each about 15 lane miles, totaling roughly 75 lane miles of roads. Jake said operators are assigned to the same section and run loop routes to minimize stops and improve familiarity with local hazards. The fleet now includes three Ford F-550s and two larger Western Star trucks; the committee was told Sunbury added one new Ford F-550 this year to handle Section E (Magnolia, Rolling Hills and Price Ponds).
Committee members asked whether the publicly posted priority-road map explained why certain roads are prioritized. Jake said the city’s Facebook post noted the roads are priority because they are state routes, collectors and arterials needed for emergency access.
Staff also described cross-training and mutual aid: wastewater crew members Luke Urban and Doug Stroup supported snow operations during the event, and the city has a cooperative salt‑purchase agreement plus the ability to obtain additional salt from the county engineer when needed. The city also described a cooperative plowing arrangement with Berkshire Township (and Berlin Township involvement) that trades lane-mile responsibilities to improve logistics.
Officials said night shifts sometimes run with fewer drivers (during one night two operators covered multiple sections) but daytime coverage typically staffed all five trucks (5 a.m.–5 p.m.). A two‑person sidewalk crew using brush-equipped compact equipment and a plow attachment handles sidewalks and trails toward the end of events.
The committee praised staff for operational performance and for minimizing curb-to-curb impacts where feasible. No formal action was taken; staff said they will return with follow-up items as needed.
