Winter storms seem to take up a lot of time and dominate conversations this time of year. With predicted storms, and even worse, unexpected ones, how do city crews prepare and respond?

According to Jim Ryschon, Superintendent of the City street department, the crew tries to keep equipment ready to go at all times.

Part of this preparation includes keeping the sand truck loaded. After each storm they may take two or three days to maintain and prepare the equipment, he said.

For emergency situations and major events, the street department not only has equipment ready, but they also work closely with the police, according to Ryschon.

When Mother Nature makes a mess on the Kimball streets, the city crews work hard to clean it up fast. Ryschon said the job may be done quicker and better if residents pile snow or debris from sidewalks and driveways into their yard instead of the streets or take limbs to the dump.

The city electrical department often helps the four-man street department when snow or tree limbs need to be moved, they return the favor when possible, according to Ryschon.

The street crew includes John Heidemann, Jim Shoup, Randy Jefferson, and Ryschon who start clean up efforts in high-priority areas first according to a map the department has. Although the City of Kimball has not officially adopted this plan, it has been in use for many years.

These areas include the hospital, manor, schools main streets, and high traffic areas. This ensures safer travel for emergency vehicles and makes it easier to get to the higher priority areas, Ryschon said.

"Sometimes we don't get enough respect when it comes to the crew in the streets with heavy equipment," Ryschon said of safe street clean-up, "We would like others to take more care. It seems like you have to have eyes in the back of your head sometimes."

PRIORITY LIST

1. Highways 71 and 30

2. Burg, Fifth, and Sixth streets from the highways to the hospital

3. Downtown, roads surrounding the firehall, courthouse, and senior center

4. Streets surrounding the schools

5. Major Arterial streets, i.e. Sixth, Oak, Ninth, and E. County Road 43

6. Truck Route and the Clean Harbors Route

This snow removal plan will be implemented with six inches of snow or more and will go into effect at 4 a.m. the morning following the snow and emergencies are to be handled first.