Issue date: 1/21/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Photo by Derrick Hawkins/Alestle Holding around 500 tons of salt, the 2-year old storage building near the police station can hold enough for Facilities Management to use for the entire year. The amount of salt used for a storm that hit SIUE the week before school started was around 150 tons of salt, according to Superintendent of Grounds Kenneth Porter.

While the snow may be gone for now, SIUE is ready with a few hundred tons of salt for whatever unpredictable weather southern Illinois throws its way.

Dealing with the first real snow storm of the year in the week before classes began, Director of Facilities Management Bob Washburn said the university starts preparing for the inclement weather before it starts.

"When snow or freezing rain is forecast, we spread liquid salt to pre-treat roadways so the snow and ice doesn't stick to the pavement," Washburn said.

Washburn said the school has two large plows to clear roadways, among other vehicles to clear away snow. Superintendent of Grounds Kenneth Porter said they even use mowers with a heated cab to make pathways across the academic area on campus.

After the storm, however, the roadways are littered with salt. Porter said there are approximately 13 miles of road and parking lot to cover.

Washburn said last year was the first normal weather in the last seven years. He said they were lucky to have missed a major ice storm last year because additional contractors may have been needed to help with the relief.

"Cleanup on a major storm can take three to five days," Washburn said. "It's about $5,000 a day for a full blown snow effort."

Junior early childhood education major Amanda Painter said the university provides a good service for students, although getting around on campus during the ice storm last year was a bit of a problem. She commutes to school and said the roads on campus were better than those in the city.

"The sidewalk was a little iffy [last year], but overall they do a decent job. The main problem I have is getting here," Painter said.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools