Snow keeping Palmer plowman busy this winter

Feb. 9, 2007

By SHARON G. McBRIDE

Frontiersman

PALMER - He's been working for the city for more than 25 years, and it's been a long time since he's seen snowfall accumulation like this - 76 inches so far this winter.

Usually, the average snowfall per winter is closer to 69.5 inches, according to statistics kept by the National Weather Service.

&#8220For the past 10 years, we have had mild winters. People have gotten used to that,” said Greg Dellinger, a heavy equipment operator for the city of Palmer. Dellinger is part of a four-man crew who starts work in the wee hours of the morning to keep city roads clear.

But the snowfall this year has brought him a lot of overtime, he said.

&#8220They try to tell us the night before to come in early the next day when the forecast calls for a lot of snow,” he explained.

But there was no getting a jump on Mother Nature this year.

&#8220Those guys have been working on average 12- to 14-hour days,” said Roscoe Barrett, Palmer public works director. &#8220Whenever it snowed, they were out there.” Weekends, holidays - even Christmas Eve.

&#8220They have been doing one heck of a job of trying to keep the roads clear and safe for everyone,” he said.

But recently, Mother Nature decided to give the crew a break with some unseasonable warmer weather.

&#8220We finally have gotten caught up,” Dellinger said.

After clearing the roads, crews began the long, arduous task of snow removal from the sides of the roads with snowblowers, graders and trucks. Then they throw down gravel to shore up the icy spots.

And, despite what most people might think, Dellinger said, they do make an extra effort to not shove snow into people's driveways.

Dellinger said he has been working for the city of Palmer since 1983.

&#8220When I first started working for the city, we used to get snow like this,” he said. &#8220This year, we have had weather that belongs to the days of the past.”

According to the National Weather Service, the top five highest winter snowfalls are as follows: 1954-55 saw 132.8 inches; 1955-56 saw 128.8 inches; 1994-95 saw 121.5 inches; 2003-04 saw 111.5 inches; and 1948-1949 saw 111.0 inches.

Contact Sharon G. McBride at 352-2250 or sharon.mcbride@frontiersman.com.