Snow Plows Will Be Out In Full Force

The men and women who drive snow plows couldn’t care less that Bing Crosby’s dream came true this year for Spokane.

To them, a white Christmas means spending the day behind the wheel, clearing streets lined with houses full of people who wouldn’t think of leaving their own families or trees.

As of Tuesday night, the city of Spokane was planning to call a full crew - up to 36 drivers, if they could be located - into the streets today. A normal shift is four or five people, said operations engineer Larry Neil.

“If we go full condition red, we’ve got about 18 plows and 18 graders, plus radio people,” said Neil. “Trying to find everybody for a full shift could be difficult on a holiday.”

Neil didn’t know what the plan would cost city taxpayers, but the storm couldn’t have come at a worse time. Holiday pay for most workers is 2-1/2 times their normal salary. Those who took the holiday earlier in the week still earn time-and-a-half.

Spokane County crews worked extra hours Monday and Tuesday, trying to get roads into reasonable shape so extra workers wouldn’t be needed today, said county engineer Bill Johns. The plans would change only if the State Patrol and Sheriff’s Department start reporting a lot of accidents, he said.

So, careful driving could not only save lives, but money.

, DataTimes