Driving around town this winter looks like it’s going to get a little western this season.
While winter does not technically arrive until December 21st, all of its trappings are literally piling up in Jackson. And the Town of Jackson’s Public Works Department and the Town and County’s Parks & Rec Department say they are working around the clock to respond the snow.
However, they say not to have too high of a level of expectation for their efforts. Officials say that this winter, the level of service for snow plowing will be reduced because they don’t have enough people to clear the snow. The Town of Jackson has only filled about half of the snowplow operator positions needed to provide a normal level of snow removal.
Prioritized snow plowing
Given the limited staff, officials say they are prioritizing the plowing of highways, bus routes, primary through-connectors, downtown streets, and hillsides.
They say that many streets may not get plowed on the first day of snowfall and will only be cleared when possible.
Alleys and parking lots may also not get plowed until there are enough snow-free days for the winter street crews to get to them.
Snow will pile up on streets until it becomes necessary for public safety, or there is staff capacity to remove it.
The Parks & Rec plow crew will prioritize plowing of walking routes in Jackson and Wilson and during large snowstorms, Safe Routes to School and sidewalks in the Town Core will be prioritized before other areas are plowed.
