Wintertime in New England always delivers its fair share of surprises. This year is proving to be particularly arduous due to an influx of snow and ice storms. These problematic conditions pose a challenge to the safety and accessibility of our community, both during storms and in the aftermath of their impact.

In the face of surging ice and snowfall, the Greenfield Department of Public Works continues exemplifying determination and dedication to keep our community safe. I could not be prouder of the team’s efforts this winter as they step up to the plate and take on enormous challenges week after week. The staff members are truly giving their all, working around the clock to perform physically demanding and mentally strenuous jobs.

I know that not everyone in Greenfield is always happy with their roads, but I wanted to take an opportunity to break down some of the nuts and bolts of our DPW operation. I think this information will be helpful to some in understanding just what our DPW does.

Tracking the weather is the first step. As we all know, forecasts are ever evolving. Sometimes, an update can come in mere hours before a storm hits, altering the complexion of how much snow and ice we may receive. The DPW leadership team is mindful in their preparation, tracking forecasts closely and ensuring that staff is on hand to meet the challenge.

Pre-treating roads is an integral piece of the road treatment puzzle. Pre-treatment occurs throughout the hours leading up to a storm. For the snow/ice storm that occurred during Presidents Day weekend, the DPW pre-treated roads before the storm commenced, during the storm, and after plowing operations ceased. Every storm is different, and in this particular storm the roads needed to be treated three times due to changing conditions, otherwise we certainly would have had inches of solid ice remaining on our roads.

Plowing the roads poses additional challenges. Drivers often operate while the storm is in progress, carefully traversing through snowfall, ice and hazardous roads. Driving a plow is unlike driving a typical vehicle. It takes an immense toll on the driver’s body to push mounds of snow off the roads.

In cases where snow occurs on the weekend, as it did twice in February, the DPW completes this work after concluding a whole work week that includes picking up trash/recycling, maintaining our water and sewer systems, patching potholes, and maintaining all city vehicles. The endurance these individuals possess, some working for 30 hours during a storm’s duration, is that of superheroes. All hands are on deck in these instances, with some even cooking up breakfast to make sure the team has the energy to tackle their days.

Whether it’s pre-treating or plowing roads, the DPW utilizes 27 vehicles to address 110 miles of roads and 7.4 acres of parking lots in an approximately seven-hour period. This includes four passes per street, clearing all intersections, and navigating traffic to do so. During the Presidents Day storm, the team plowed through Greenfield roads five times across a 2½-day period.

We know the roads are not always perfect right after the storm, but the DPW’s work does not stop there. The office is proactive in answering calls throughout the week and placing work orders to help restore areas that need additional attention. The team truly gives their all in approaching storm mitigation, from the first snowflake hitting the ground to the day when the snowfall finally melts away.

This winter has not been easy for anyone. I know there are times when we feel frustrated being stuck inside while snow and ice cover our streets. Just know in times like this, when we can escape a storm inside the comfort of our homes, the DPW is out there facing the challenges head-on to keep our community safe.

Virigina “Ginny” Desorgher is the mayor of Greenfield.