Public/Private Efforts Helped Keep Roads Open During Winter Storm

By Naomi Hatch
   A severe winter storm throughout the northern portion of the state brought Arizona Department of Transportation workers to Taylor and Snowflake by 5:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, to clear snow.
   Snowflake Town Manager Paul Watson was in Pinetop, and was unable to make it to his Snowflake office, but he reported previously to the council that Vice Mayor Kerry Ballard who chairs the Apache and Navajo County Mayors and Town Managers Committee, had written a letter for area cities and towns encouraging ADOT to keep the roads open.
   Town Manager Eric Duthie told the Taylor Town Council Jan. 13 that, “ADOT is committed to keeping roadways in northern Arizona open as best they can.”
   Duthie said that ADOT had material left from last year and will use that until it is depleted, but officials are not sure how they will purchase more materials. They are hopeful there is enough to make it through this winter.
   Town staff cannot clear private driveways and Duthie noted, “We focus on clearing the main arteries throughout town. We don’t have snow removal equipment that the state has and can’t borrow from them, so it takes a lot of time.
   “I was amazed at the private citizens that were out helping clear people’s driveways,” Duthie continued. “We support that, but from a main priority standpoint, our major focus is on the main traffic arteries.” He expressed thanks to those citizens who have helped clear roads.
   In a Jan. 22 interview, Duthie said, “We are concerned about flooding…we are monitoring areas where we have flooding history, and have contractors on standby who have agreed to clear areas and move water as necessary.”
   Both Snowflake and Taylor town halls have sandbags on hand, and officials planned to issue them to anyone in need.
   Snowflake’s staff was also concerned about flooding issues. Public Works Director Gary Fenstermaker was out most of the night on Thursday, Jan. 21, and planned to work through the weekend.
   The Navajo County Board of Supervisors held a special meeting Thursday and declared a state of emergency.