Snow removal policy released

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners (BOCCC) is seeking public input on a proposed snow removal policy before their first meeting in February. The proposed policy appeared before the BOCCC during their January 21 meeting. The policy was also discussed at the January 7 meeting.

“I think this is a very good idea. It’s been a long time coming. However, I think we should publish this and take action on it next time to where we see if anybody has any issues with it they can come talk to this board,” said BOCCC Chairman John Johnson.

The document, which can be found at http://carbonwy.com/DocumentCenter/View/5136, is approximately three pages long and includes Carbon County Road and Bridge’s policy as well as a list of county roads that will receive either minimal or no season maintenance.

“Our priorities are the more highly traveled roads and the main arteries, such as established bus routes and mail routes,” the policy reads. “We start early on mornings with fresh snowfall and try to get to (sic) as many roads plowed as possible. On most days we plow snow all through the day. We are not a 24/7 establishment and we cannot work around the clock. The Road & Bridge Department will collaborate with each District Area to determine whether snow removal operations are necessary outside the normal scheduled work hours. The normal schedule work week is Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.”

During discussion about the policy, Johnson brought up one sentence in the policy that read “It is your responsibility to know the condition of the roads you drive.”

“How can they know these roads if they live out in the country and they get halfway from Leo to Hanna, say, and the road’s closed?” Johnson asked.

As of publication on the county website, that sentence had been changed to “You are responsible to know the weather conditions that may impact these county roads. You must use your judgement on the weather conditions and whether you and the vehicle you’re in possess the skills to traverse the road.”

Some of the county roads listed that will not receive seasonal maintenance include County Road 211, also known as Blackhall Road, from milepost 4.1 to 6.6; County Road 387, also known as South Spring Creek Road, from milepost 12.01 to 16.5; County Road 500, also known as Jack Creek Road, from milepost 11.1 to 23.63; County Road 508, also known as Pick Bridge Road, from milepost 3.02 to 6.91; County Road 400, also known as Rattle Snake Pass, from milepost 11.4 to 20.3 and County Road 115, also known as Elk Mountain/Carbon Road, from milepost 1.0 to 14.6

A complete list of the roads can be found following the proposed snow removal policy. 

Any comments on the proposed policy may be emailed to Kandis Fritz, Carbon County Road and Bridge Interim Coordinator, at [email protected] before noon on February 3. Comments may also be made at the next meeting of the BOCCC.

The next meeting of the BOCCC will be at 9 a.m. on February 4 at the County Courthouse in Rawlins.