Most Wiltonians will agree that snowstorms every three days or so is not much fun anymore! This has been a winter to remember ... and perhaps one to forget! For the record, we have had eight storms to date and about 60 inches of recorded snow! January set a record with snowfall four times normal, combined with frigid temperature levels.
As our residents cope with snowed-in homes, ice dams, leaking roofs and narrow driveways, the town used all of its available resources to manage the issues created by repetitive snowstorms that have buried Wilton.
Besides the regular plowing of 127 miles of town roads and 4 miles of sidewalks, roofs of town buildings have had to be cleared of tons of snow. In addition, piles of snow in the village right-of-ways and at various intersections have had to be trucked to Allen's Meadow to improve safety and traffic flow. At times, our equipment has been overwhelmed by the heavy snow and more recently by thick coatings of ice that have made road-widening efforts difficult.
Employees from the Department of Public Works and the Parks and Grounds have worked around the clock to keep our roads and sidewalks clear of snow. But we need the assistance and understanding of residents and business owners because our resources have been maxed-out at times.
After snowstorms, as required by town ordinance, it is the responsibility of property owners abutting sidewalks to clear the snow and ice from public walkways. It makes good sense to do this promptly when the snow is fresh and easy to shovel. Business owners and landlords wish to make their shops and offices easy for customers to access and to limit potential liability issues from an injury because of an unshoveled or icy sidewalk. For the most part, we have had good cooperation and wish to thank all property owners for their assistance and neighborly efforts during this difficult winter.
Obviously, all this effort and activity has a price tag! To date, the storm has cost the town more than $325,000 in materials, overtime, equipment rentals, repairs and contractor assistance, representing about 75 percent of Wilton's total winter snow budget. The school snow-removal budget has also been depleted, using 85 percent of its funds to date. And we still have six weeks of winter left!
For example, up to 5 feet of snow had to be cleared from the roofs of town buildings (Town Hall, Annex, Police and Fire Departments, Comstock Community Center, schools, etc.). Roof drains were cleared to facilitate melting snow and reduce the potential for costly repairs due to leaks.
Fortunately, the town has had few storm related emergencies, although two structure fires occurred between two severe storms. Several power outages occurred, but most were corrected by Connecticut Light & Power in reasonably quick time. Overtime for firefighters and police officers for storm-related coverage has cost more than $13,000 to date. Police responded to some minor emergencies, and firefighters have worked every day to dig out buried hydrants.
Though many citizens have complimented our DPW crews for their snowplowing efforts, we have had several complaints of driveways blocked with snow after secondary plow passes. Please understand that the primary responsibility of our plow crews is to make the streets passable for public safety as soon as possible. Fire engines and other emergency vehicles must be able to get through all town roads to respond to fires and other emergencies. It is therefore essential that residents have their driveways cleared to provide access in case of emergency.
Plow drivers often make several passes on streets to clear the roads sufficiently. They cannot avoid leaving snow in front of driveways as they plow, and the town of Wilton does not have the manpower available to clear snow from the front of driveway entrances for thousands of homes! It is the responsibility of homeowners to clear residual snow at the front of their driveway and to clear access to mail boxes. If your neighbor is elderly and needs assistance, please offer whatever help you can provide. It will be most appreciated.
A winter with this magnitude of snowfall has challenged our DPW employees. Cold weather, equipment breakdowns, poor visibility and icy road conditions have required long work hours. Please understand and help us, and yourself, by considering the following suggestions:
Drive with caution at slower speeds. Sight lines are restricted at many intersections and leaving many commercial locations on Route 7 is hazardous because of large snow piles.
Remove heavy accumulations of snow from roofs and decks to limit the buildup of ice dams and to prevent any structural damage because of heavy snow loads.
If you know a fire hydrant is buried in your area, please help our firefighters by digging it out. In case of an emergency in your neighborhood, it could be a lifesaver!
Please help yourself to free sand/salt at Town Hall. A pile for residents is next to the Annex Building. Be considerate of others by limiting your take to 5 gallons per visit. Keep some sand/salt in your car trunk. It adds weight that helps traction and can be invaluable when emergency sanding is required.
Plan ahead. All of this snow will eventually melt, and we can expect some flooding. Residents that have basement moisture problems should make sure their sump pumps are operating. Now is the time for any necessary maintenance. Also, make sure to clear sump pump surface exits of snow and ice. For more serious drainage problems, consider purchasing a portable pump now before expected high demand in the spring.
Be a good neighbor and help others who need help.
Lastly, spring is just 37 days away! It will get warmer, and we will all survive this winter to remember!
William F. Brennan
First SelectmanClick here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
