GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Green Bay and surrounding areas accumulated about one to three inches of snow Sunday morning — enough to bring out the familiar sights and sounds of snowplows.
Gov. Tony Evers declared Monday “Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day” and local officials say the best way to honor their efforts is by giving snowplow drivers the proper time and space they need to clear the roads safely.
“I think the biggest thing is, the city of Green Bay is 43 square miles, so there’s a lot of different routes, lot of different maps to get to learn… Just learning the lay of the land and figuring out where you’re going at what time,” said Josh Brassfield, street superintendent for the Green Bay Department of Public Works.
He said other important duties include pretreating roads, brining, completing salt routes and primary routes and preparing for a crucial transitional period for the trucks and equipment.
“I think the most challenging part is just knowing how to be prepared for snow, like how much equipment do we need to have together, compared to still trying to fulfill leaf pickup that we’re trying to finish,” Brassfield said.
Brassfield said another aspect of being prepared is making sure there’s enough staff on hand, especially around the holiday season.
“I think you have to have a willingness to help your community. I mean, it’s a big portion of what we do here at DPW,” Brassfield said. “Just keeping the roads open for our emergency services and then the rest of the public… [when] people want to be out and about.”
If you’ve thought about becoming a snowplow driver, there are things you should consider. Brassfield said snowplow drivers tend to work long hours, with early mornings and overnight shifts. Plenty of patience is also key.
