Employees dread more snow
By David Brunner
Staff
Writer
December of 2000, one of the coldest and snowiest
in recent history for Central Indiana, kept Purdue grounds crews busy
before and throughout winter break.
Peterson Fraw, director of Street Operations, said,
"Purdue has about 64 miles of sidewalk and 30 miles of University and
state roads. That is a lot of snow when we get just four inches and
we got a lot more than that last month."
Purdue has a strong arsenal of plows and tractors
capable of moving tons of snow and ice and laying sand and salt mixtures.
"We start the year with 120 tons of salt and mix
that with 240 tons of sand for a 360 ton mix," Fraw said. "We have eight
sidewalk brooms, two trucks for the streets, two for the parking lots
and 14 Bobcat tractors. All are operated by a three or four dozen man
crew that accumulated a lot of overtime in December."
Although most Purdue Grounds employees are happy
that December is over, historically, spring is the time that this area
receives the majority of its snowfall.
But Mike Teusch, a sophomore in the School of Management,
said he hopes to get more snow during spring.
"I was gone all of winter break when we got the
most snow, and I didn’t get a chance to get into a big snowball
fight or go sledding," he said.
Fraw is not so excited. "I cannot give an exact
number, but we are doing fine on our supplies and budget so far. Our
projections are good, just as long as we do not get too much more,"
he said.
It is just the middle of January, however, and
Central Indiana has long springs. The region could receive snow fall
as late as April and experience morning freezes well into May.
"The only time I don’t like the snow is when
it is on the roads; that makes driving a big hassle," Teusch said.
"We'll do just fine," Fraw said, "but snow is not
a good word to say around here right now; we'll be happy when it’s
over."
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