Crystal Crews Battle the Snow
Public Works employees in Crystal are putting in long hours, trying to keep streets and sidewalks cleared of snow.
The snow has piled up on sidewalks, forcing some pedestrians to walk on busy roads. We caught up with a pedestrian who was trying to navigate a snow-packed sidewalk along West Broadway.
“There’s three feet of snow on ’em,” said the frustrated walker. “You can’t walk and you’re forced to walk in the road. I almost got hit.”
Crystal Battles Equipment Breakdowns
The onslaught of snow is taking a toll on public works crews and equipment too.
“We’re concerned, too. We’re actually working on it. Unfortunately, with the equipment breaking down, that is the only equipment that fits on our sidewalks,” explained Mark Ray, Crystal’s public works director.
One of their snow removal machines has been broken for days. It is time crews do not have to waste.
Employees are putting in long hours, working around the clock, trying to keep up with Mother Nature. It is also eating into the city’s overtime budget.
“We’ll look at trying to reduce some of our maintenance over the summer to reduce some overtime labor cost or fuel costs,” said Ray.
Crews will most likely not get a break anytime soon. At least two more inches of snow is in the forecast for Friday.
