Minute with the Mayor

Question:

How do you determine what roads should be addressed when the snow and ice create bad road conditions?

Answer:

The city of Sparta has approximately 55 miles of roads within the city limits that must be addressed when road conditions become hazardous.  Recently, the snow and ice that created many beautiful pictures in our area also created some very dangerous road conditions.

The city street department has three trucks that are equipped with plows and scrapers to help keep the roads safe.  During the hazardous weather conditions, we scraped and salted one 1,011 of those roads within the city limits. The continued snowfall and the dropping temperatures did not offer much help in melting the snow and ice buildup. 

Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) did a great job with the main arteries of our city and county.  With the resources the city and county have, we did the best we could do with what Highway Department spent many hours trying to keep the county roads clear as well. 

One thing that we have begun to prepare is a map with all the roads listed in order of priority when the weather creates hazardous road conditions.  The essential roads would be taken care of first, such as the main arteries of the city and then the hospital area, nursing homes, emergency services, and fire department areas.  Then set up a series of routes that will be addressed in that order so we will know that the city has been taken care of. 

The city of Sparta Street Department and the White County Highway Department spent many hours out in the weather working.  We are thankful for all they did.  We must also look back at the things that we could have done better and more efficiently.  The road plan will help us as we plan and prepare for future weather events.  

Be safe out there, and finish strong.