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Selectboard hears road crew report on sanding, frozen truck loads and equipment options
Summary
Bakersfield selectboard discussed winter road operations, staff said sand is freezing in trucks and some vehicles lack cameras; members weighed short-term fixes and equipment upgrades, including v‑plows and a possible loader trade-in from a nearby town.
Chair (Speaker 1) opened the roads discussion and asked the road crew for an update on winter operations. Agency official (Speaker 4) said crews have been “putting a lot of sand on them as much as we can” but that the town is facing an operational problem: “The problem that we're having is the sand's freezing in the trucks,” which forces staff to stop and manually break frozen chunks.
Agency official (Speaker 4) described how visibility during night runs prevents accurate sanding and noted some trucks lack cameras, making the work slower and more hazardous. Board members discussed driver behavior and public safety; Agency official (Speaker 4) urged residents to slow down and let plows complete their passes.
The board explored equipment options to reduce manual effort and improve clearing. Members and Agency official (Speaker 4) discussed adding an angle blade (a v‑plow) or replacing the town's aging snowblower; they also raised a possible trade-in opportunity for a newer loader being offered by Saint Albans. The board emphasized cost considerations and the operational tradeoffs of hydraulic attachments versus simpler plow setups.
Chair (Speaker 1) asked staff to follow up with prices and availability so the board can weigh repair versus replacement and pursue grant or budget options if needed. No formal procurement decisions were made at the meeting.
