Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
With Kosciusko County's large size and location on the fringe of the lake effect snow belt, Rob Ladson has a theory: If you don't like the weather, drive to another part of the county. Quite often, it can be different.
While the county highway superintendent was driving in snow in the northern part of the county he learned it was raining in southern Kosciusko County.
With that in mind, Ladson is working to establish a network in all parts of the county to alert the highway department of weather conditions.
Eight workers who normally take home snowplows in case of snow will now have phone cards to report weather that necessitates a decision by the highway foreman.
"We're trying to build a network," Ladson said. Calling out the snowplows isn't an easy decision, so the more information we can get - the more people we can get involved - hopefully, it will make it easier."
In the past, the highway department often relied on the sheriff's department for updates on road conditions. But those updates normally come after a patrolman has covered a weather-related accident.
That's not early enough, Ladson said.
In addition, the department is attempting to establish regular communications with the towns of Nappanee and Syracuse, both in the northern part of the county and both of which experience lake effect snow more than other parts of the county.
The coordination isn't an attempt to copy the action of other towns, but rather remain aware of what's happening, Ladson said.
"Weather conditions in the northern part of the county can vary greatly from the southern part of the county," Ladson said.
The towns would contact the county sheriff's department, which would relay the information to the highway department, Ladson said.
Kosciusko County has 1,200 miles of roads and is geographically one of the biggest counties in Indiana.
The highway department's snow removal program includes eight districts and a maximum of 24 snowplows.
Other changes are also being made to improve snow removal efforts.
When bad weather is anticipated, some of the other 16 workers who drive snowplows will be allowed to take the vehicles home. That eliminates up to an hour spent by the driver who otherwise has to drive to the highway garage and then to the designated snow plowing district, Ladson said.
The county has also lined up a location near Silver Lake to store sand so trucks working in the southern part of the county don't have to drive back to Warsaw to replenish their supplies.
A weather satellite with a link to the National Weather Service was installed last year and provides updates every 15 minutes. The device is not only beneficial in the winter but in the summer as well because it allows better preparation for road construction crews, Ladson said.
