Marshall County Highway Department Commended for Efforts

 The Marshall County Commissioners commended the highway department on their efforts during the weekend to keep roads clear for travelers.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters said the crews went out Sunday morning as opposed to Saturday night as visibility was low and cars were stranded in the roadways.

“At nighttime it’s hard to see especially with snow-covered cars sitting in the middle of the roads,” commented Peters. “Why jeopardize taking a chance of hitting a car sitting in the middle of the road?”

He added that no notification was made that the car was left in the roadway.

“They just vacated them. They didn’t call anybody or notify anybody. They just left them. I think there’s actually still a few down around Culver that we still had to go around up until 11 a.m. or noon. I think when I went down through there I could tell they just pulled them out.”

Peters said the plow crews have a hard time in extreme snow storms as blowing snow quickly shuts roads just as fast as they’re plowed.

“As long as the wind is blowing, there’s nothing you’re gaining up to a certain point- maybe morning commute if you have to get somewhere or back home, but you’re just defeating the purpose.”

Peters told the commissioners yesterday morning that the crews did a great job clearing the roads.

“I’m very pleased with the way the roads look right now with what we had. You get them pushed back while they’re fresh, but if you wait a couple of days and they harden up it’s tough pushing.”

Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery told WKVI News that an ordinance is in place when an emergency is enacted by the commissioners. That ordinance is included here: 2011 Travel Advisory Ordinance (1)