West Chester committee reviews storm cleanup, broken plows and problems with new salt mix
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Summary
Residents praised crews for 24‑hour snow operations after an unprecedented storm while staff reported three broken snowplows, outside heavy‑equipment hires and problems with a new enhanced rock‑salt product that clumps and freezes in trucks.
West Chester’s Public Works Committee on Feb. 10 reviewed its response to an unusually severe winter storm, heard a resident’s proposal for more efficient snow staging and discussed operational problems that left crews hauling frozen, compacted snow.
Chair Bernie Flynn and Public Works staff described round‑the‑clock operations during the storm and confirmed the department broke three snowplows, requiring outside contractors with front‑end loaders and dump trucks to remove hardened piles. Resident Alice Hall praised the crews and urged a change in tactics: “why not have the plows come in on those mornings and just push everything down to the end of the street?” she said, suggesting plows consolidate snow to a central pickup point for loaders to collect.
Public Works Supervisor Mister Anderson explained why some tasks require heavier equipment after prolonged cold: when temperatures plunged “you can no longer use a plow. You have to use a front end loader or some type of heavy machinery,” he said, describing crews’ efforts to pull snow from curb lines so emergency vehicles can pass.
Staff also flagged operational issues with a new enhanced rock‑salt mixture. Anderson said the product “tends to lump up…it gets clumpy,” which can cause it to freeze inside spreader trucks and require crews to spend hours chipping it out. The department is evaluating whether to revert to the previous product or adjust handling and storage procedures.
The committee emphasized enforcement limits for vehicle removal: towing requires police authorization, and staff said warnings and posted restrictions are prerequisites to towing. Members invited residents to continue offering photos and practical suggestions as the department develops a more robust response plan.
The committee did not vote on a new snow‑removal policy at the meeting; members asked staff to return with operational recommendations and a plan for addressing the salt‑product handling problems.