WILMINGTON — The Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Clinton County facility has about 9,000 tons of salt stockpiled, the county manager said at a preseason storm planning meeting.
Clinton County ODOT Manager Mike Lovelace reported that state officials a couple years ago said ODOT would not be using grit. He said he thinks for some roads — not the Interstate — grit sometimes works out well.
“But the state pretty much is 100 percent all salt, so that’s the way we go,” Lovelace said in the information-sharing meeting held with other road and emergency officials at the county’s main ODOT facility south of Wilmington. ODOT in Clinton County is responsible for treating I-71 and state highways in the county.
Lovelace remarked at one point, “An inch of snow can be major if you have a lot of wind with it. You can really battle an inch of snow for days sometimes if the wind blows.”
Lt. Stanley Jordan, who is the commander at the Wilmington post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, sounded a similar note.
Even after everything has been cleared off roadways, there’s the problem with drifting snow, he said. Open fields and open areas invite blowing snow, he said, specifically mentioning “[State Route] 72 and down Second Creek [Road] and some of those places down there.”
Col. Brian Prickett with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office spoke of the winter weather advisories that the office declares — after it consults with the county highway department and the local ODOT.
There are three weather advisory levels, with Level 3 the most hazardous. Under a Level 3, all roads are closed to non-emergency personnel, and those traveling on the roads may subject themselves to arrest.
Prickett said local businesses are encouraged to designate certain workers as an essential employee, when applicable. The designation should be put on work badges, so if law enforcement does question a motorist when a weather advisory has been declared, the driver will have something from his employer.
As an example of a non-essential employee, Prickett mentioned a custodial person who doesn’t necessarily need to go in to work every day.
“It takes extra people off the road, so you guys [road crews] can do your job by keeping as many cars off the road as we can,” Prickett told the attendees.
Airport Operations Assistant Director Stephen B. Vibbard of LGSTX Services was one of the attendees. There is a Snow and Ice Control Committee for the Wilmington Air Park.
LGSTX Services has added four new state-of-the-art Tempest deicers to the air park, according to an informational handout Vibbard brought to the meeting.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.
