O'Fallon public works outlines response to 10–12 inch storm, cites 4,600 staff hours and large salt use

Assistant Director Jay Harigot, who led the city's winter-storm briefing, told the O'Fallon City Council on Jan. 9 that public works crews have been operating around the clock since the system began on Thursday. "We have had crews going 24/7 since Saturday morning," Harigot said, and described shifts, routes and how the department stages plows and salt.

Harigot gave quantitative details about the response: the city deployed roughly 15 operating plow trucks (with additional tandems arriving), maintains four salt storage facilities, and over the course of preparation and response put down about 2,700 to 3,000 tons of salt and roughly 60,000 gallons of liquid de-icer. He said personnel hours since the previous Thursday totaled "over 4,600" and that plow crews had driven nearly 30,000 miles during the event.

He explained operational priorities and terminology used by the department: the stated goal is to establish a two-way clear path for emergency access within two shifts after a storm ends, which he emphasized is not the same as clearing curb to curb. "It's not clean pavement — it's for safety purposes for emergency services to get into the subdivisions if they need to," Harigot said.

Council members and several speakers praised the crews. Council member Otttermeyer told Harigot and staff, "You guys did a great job," and Councilman Herwick and others echoed appreciation for drivers, fleet personnel and call-center staff who handled resident calls.

During public comment residents and council members raised related service concerns: one council member said the post office had not delivered mail for several days in parts of the city and a resident asked whether sidewalk clearing is required. Harigot responded that city policy expects property owners to clear sidewalks and that the city’s "two-way" standard typically leaves about 20–22 feet of cleared travelway, not curb-to-curb snow removal.

Harigot also described operational challenges that increased workload during the event, including late forecast changes that required sudden additional resources and mechanical issues that temporarily sidelined large trucks. He noted the last similar event was about 11 years ago and said the department is evaluating route sizes, staffing and equipment to adjust for growth in lane miles and cul-de-sacs.

Next steps: Harigot said crews remain in cleanup and repair mode — including mailbox repairs — and asked residents for patience during ongoing work and melt cycles.