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Park County airport board weighs formal snow‑removal policy, recommends 1.5‑inch trigger
Summary
Board members debated a formal snow‑removal policy for Mission Field focused on protecting pavement and equipment; Chair Hunter Breich recommended starting plowing at about 1.5 inches of accumulation and conditioning work on traffic and wind. Contractors would be required to follow airport standards.
The Park County Airport Board discussed a first draft of a formal snow‑removal policy for Mission Field that would set a clearer threshold and operational rules for runway plowing.
Chair Hunter Michael Breich told the board his recommendation is "an inch and a half of snow on the runway before we start plowing," and that plowing decisions should also be "traffic and weather dependent." He said running plow blades directly on pavement in the past produced large maintenance costs and equipment wear.
Paul Lineman and consultant Lance urged the board to adopt language that prevents plow blades from contacting asphalt. Lance described industry practice and advised that "those plows are intended...to be set so that they ride slightly above the pavement, not removing the shoes," saying that operating blades directly on airport pavement can damage both the surface and the plow. Paul Lineman added that any contractor hired to assist during large snow events should be required to follow the airport’s operating rules.
Board members discussed balancing safety, operations and long‑term maintenance. Members noted prior instances of equipment damage and higher maintenance costs when blades scraped pavement; the chair said previous events resulted in thousands of dollars in equipment repair and that the airport is preparing for a larger pavement maintenance project this year.
The board did not adopt a finalized written policy at the meeting. Members instructed staff to draft a written policy that: sets a plowing trigger (the chair suggested 1.5 inches), adds traffic and wind criteria, requires contractors to adhere to airport standards, and clarifies operational responsibilities for maintenance staff. That draft will return for further discussion at a future meeting.
The discussion focused on practical tradeoffs between keeping runways clear for arriving traffic and preserving pavement and equipment; the board emphasized that plowing should be targeted to scheduled or imminent flights rather than routine clearing when the field is quiet.
The board did not take a formal vote on a policy at this meeting; staff were directed to draft language and bring it back for review.
