Snow Removal Continues in Stevensville

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:  February 28, 2019; 10:00 am

(Stevensville, Montana)  In the aftermath of one of the worst snow events in recent history, the Town of Stevensville has shifted from emergency response priority plowing to clean-up efforts.  As the Town moves forward with snow removal clean-up, Mayor Brandon Dewey asks citizens for their continued support and understanding as cleaning up this record-breaking snowfall will take some work and several days to address.

Unfortunately, snow removal is not simply plowing a street and calling it done.  Snow removal efforts over the past few days involved moving snow to the side of the road, pushing them into big piles, creating mountains of snow everywhere and one big long berm of snow down the center of Main Street. Due to the significant snow fall in such a short period of time, the Town quickly ran out of places to put the snow.  Therefore, additional steps were needed to address the situation. 

The Town enlisted the assistance of local contractors with the equipment and experience to work side by side with the Town’s Public Works crew members and the State Department of Transportation.  The team assembled at 6:00 pm Wednesday night at Town Hall, received a briefing from the Mayor and then began the tedious process.  Crews worked late into the night and early morning to clear snow around Main and Buck Streets between 2nd and 3rd Streets and Park Avenue near the schools. The crews also began removing many of the mountains of snow located in these areas.  This coordinated effort involved front-end loaders filling dump truck, after dump trucks with massive amounts of snow to physically take it out of neighbors and move it to the one of the Town’s only areas large enough to handle this much snow – the Lewis and Clark Park and Wastewater Treatment Plant.  

This effort will resume again this afternoon with work anticipated to continue through the night.

Yesterday, February 27th, Mayor Dewey issued an “essential travel only” declaration asking citizens to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary and where possible move vehicles off the streets.  This request allowed for easier, safer and more efficient snow removal on all the Town’s roads.  This essential only travel declaration will remain in effect until 5:00 am March 1st. The purpose of this restriction is to get as many vehicles off the roads in order to effectively clear the snow and ensure the safety of the snow removal crews and citizens. 

A few things that you can do to help our snow removal crews:

Please limit your travel.  The fewer the cars on the road, the quicker snow can be removed.
Watch out for the snow plow trucks and equipment.  While you may be able to see them, they may not be able to see you.
Brush the snow off your vehicles.  It’s difficult for snow removal crews to see vehicles when they are buried in snow.
Remove garbage containers from the streets.

Mayor Dewey says “Thank you for your patience, cooperation and appreciation as our dedicated Public Works crews work around the clock to clear snow.  We have had a series of major snow events over the last few days that has taken a toll on our personnel and equipment, but they are still getting the job done. I love this Town and its community spirit, it is impressive and heartwarming to see neighbors helping neighbors with storm clean up.”

For more information about snow removal efforts, to volunteer to help with snow removal or to request assistance, please contact Town Hall at 777-5271.