Storm dumps foot of snow on area; borough rallies contractors for snow removal

SHENANDOAH – Shovels, snowblowers, Bobcats, and more are a regular sight in the region and will be for the next few days after this weekend’s storm dumped more than a foot of snow on northern Schuylkill County.

Snow totals reported to the National Weather Service at State College today included 15 inches in Brandonville and 11.5 inches in Ringtown. The National Weather Service at Binghamton also reported 11.5 inches at West Hazleton.

ShenSentinel spotted folks all across Shenandoah shoveling out cars and sidewalks, or braving the weather for a bite to eat at Burger King, among other things.

Bobcats and skidsteers were at work clearing commercial properties.

Some cars remained buried in the snow.

The storm forced Boyer’s Food Markets and Redner’s Warehouse Markets in town to close Sunday.

It also forced the Schuylkill Transportation System and Hazleton Public Transit to nix bus service Monday.

Borough rallies contractors for clean-up

At midday Monday, borough officials met with local contractors to develop a plan to clear snow throughout town.

Borough Manager Mike Cadau led the meeting, which also included Police Chief George Carado, Mayor Bob Cook, Public Works Supervisor Brian Oliver, and Councilmen Jacob Alinsky and Michael Whitecavage. Council President Joe Boris, Vice President Mike “Zeckie” Uholik, and Councilman Joe Gawrylik joined later.

Prior to the meeting, Cadau told ShenSentinel, “The guys did a great job.”

Costs, equipment, and procedures were all discussed at the meeting.

“Our goal is to get as much snow out of the town, now,” Cadau said.

The borough extended the local disaster emergency and snow emergency until Thursday at noon and garbage collection is suspended “until streets are accessible for sanitation trucks,” Cadau said.

Contractors and the borough streets department will begin snow removal operations at 7am Tuesday on the west end, beginning at Main and Centre and following Centre to Boyers Food Markets, as well as alleyways and side streets that intersection Main and West Centre.

Once that’s done, crews will move on to Coal Street, including intersecting side streets and alleyways, followed by Lloyd Street.

Work on Wednesday will include Cherry Street and Oak Street and intersections, followed by East Centre to Bridge.

Residents who live on streets affected by Tuesday’s operations are asked to move their cars. Displaced vehicles can be parked at the Shenandoah Valley Elementary School parking lot off Route 54 and must be removed from the school lot no later than 4pm.

“The Borough’s intent is not to tow or ticket vehicles unless they have not been removed during active snow removal operations,” Cadau said. “Residents are being asked to shovel out their vehicles so they are able to move them when snow removal is occurring.”

Cadau also reminds residents to check on and help their elderly neighbors and also not to throw snow into the streets.

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The article Storm dumps foot of snow on area; borough rallies contractors for snow removal first appeared on The Shenandoah Sentinel.