Shawnee Co. solid waste, public works reflect on week of intense winter weather

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Winter weather presents a unique set of challenges for everyday tasks. Two groups see that impact more than others, the solid waste and public works departments.

KSNT 27 News met with the directors for both groups as they reflect on the winter challenges they've faced do far, and how they're looking at prepping for the week ahead. The intense winter weather in northeast Kansas led to something we don't see often, a delay in trash pickup.

The Shawnee County Solid Waste team doesn't take delaying operations lightly. The director, Bill Sutton, says that decision impacts employees from a work life balance standpoint, and of course the customers that expect the service.

When there's extreme cold, the team sometimes runs into maintenance issues with fueling. That's what happened last week, which caused a shift in operations with everything moving to the right one day as a result.

Some streets they have to navigate include hills, and getting up and around with snow presents a dangerous situation for the drivers.

“Our trucks are very big and very heavy," Sutton said. "Just because you might be able to get around your neighborhood in your little car, we’re talking about big trucks that can do a lot of damage if we go get ourselves in a situation where we’re sliding. That’s why we’ll delay those operations, and we’ll get into those neighborhoods as soon as possible.”

Sutton says even with the city, county and township doing the job of getting the streets cleared, there are some side streets with hills that they still cannot get up and down because they are snow packed or covered with ice. The solid waste department is not wanting to take that chance with those large vehicles when it could be that dangerous.

Thankfully in the upcoming week ahead, the above freezing temperatures will benefit the department greatly, specifically with hitting those side streets after they've had the opportunity to thaw.

With that warming one group is especially enjoying the snow reprieve, the public works team.

With multiple school districts, and even Fort Riley delaying operations Monday due to road conditions, we're not out of the woods quite yet with the winter weather.

Still, without the roads needing immediate attention, the 40 to 45 employees that take care of the county roads are making the most of the time away from the streets.

Operating heavy equipment with often times low visibility at odd times of the day for the 12 to 14 hour shifts, that can be hard work. Trudging through the snow and ice we've seen lately takes a toll on workers, as well as machinery.

“We’re maintaining our equipment between these snow events, our mechanics are getting these machines ready for the next event," Public Works Director Curt Niehaus said. "It’s just a never ending cycle, it’s only when we have some time between snow events that we can move on to other things involving road maintenance.”

Even on days without intense winter weather impacting the roads, the team continues monitoring conditions throughout the day in preparation for the next weather system that will move through our area.