Prineville, Crook County getting ready for winter

(Update: Comments from Monday evening meeting, Prineville store, residents)

There may not be any snow on the roads in Prineville right now, but the city is getting ready to make sure they can clear snow efficiently when it does arrive.

The city’s Public Works Department is already hard at work getting the roads prepped for the winter season.

Scott Smith, streets superintendent for Prineville, said Monday his small crew is ready to get out there and keep the streets clear.

Smith said they start plowing when there’s about 5 to 6 inches on the ground, and this year they will be plowing the snow to the middle of the downtown streets, to allow for better access to businesses.

“With the City Council’s endorsement… we’re going to go back to the middle,” Smith said. “As soon as practical, we are going to try to get in and get that snow hauled off, to get it out of there.”

Smith added that this year, the budget to clear the snow doesn’t necessarily have a cap on it. And he hopes that it will allow for them to make decisions on the fly to get snow moved out of the area as quickly as possible.

He added that they aren’t making any real changes to the snow removal plan, other then plowing to the middle of the streets.

Jessica Lay, the owner of The Vintage Cottage in downtown Prineville, said she is happy to hear they will be plowing the snow to the middle of the road.

Lay said during last year’s tough winter, as soon as she would clear a path to her door, the plows would cover up her work, and she would have to clear her sidewalk all over again.

“It was hard last year, because they plowed sort of a wall around our entire store,” Lay said. “So there was a good 6-foot wall that you basically had to mountain climb over to get in, and it really hindered business.”

Lay said she was forced to close for about seven days last January, due to the heavy snow.

Crook County is also getting ready for whatever this winter may throw there way.

County spokeswoman Vicky Ryan said the main concern of county officials is that people are prepared for the weather.

Ryan added that they want to help out with the snow removal process as much as they can.

“The county Roads Department will continue to plow the county roads,” she said. “So anyone who lives in a neighborhood with and HOA, a homeowners’ association, they are responsible for their own roads. And individuals who don’t have an HOA but are out on private roads, they also need to be prepared to plow their own roads.”

Crook County officials are urging residents, especially those who live in more rural areas, to have supplies ready, in case of an emergency.

But Ryan added that the county and first responders will be standing by to help out wherever they can.

At a gathering Monday evening, officials advised people to sweep snow off their roofs the moment it starts to fall and not let it build up. They also told citizens to get to know their neighbors in case of emergency situations and to just be aware of who is and is not around if a big storm comes through.

Crook County Emergency Manager Michael Ryan said it is difficult for emergency police fire, or ambulance services to get to people if roads and driveways are not plowed, meaning someone may not get immediate help.

“If you have to call 911 and it’s in the middle of a snowstorm and the access is there for your ambulance to get down the driveway, it makes it easier and quicker for them, frankly,” Ryan said.

Crook County Judge Seth Crawford said communication is key.

“Communicate with your neighbors, stay on top of the snowfall as it falls and don’t just wait until there is a lot there, and have supplies for the long term,” Crawford said.

Prineville’s Ace Hardware store has thousands of items right now. It is stocked with ice melts, shovels, roof rakes, snow blowers, winterizing pipes, yak-tracks, and heat tape.

Assistant Manager Tammy Woodley said the store has been preparing for months. She said one of the most important things to remember is the pipes.

“I think we are pretty prepared this year than last year. Last year, we couldn’t get hardly anything, because we waited until the snow was already coming,” Woodley said. “Everybody’s been preparing. They’ve been buying lots of heat tape and vent plugs.”

Prineville resident David Hale said he and his mom have about a month’s worth of food and supplies.

“Being from Southern California with the earthquakes, my mom and I are stocked with food and supplies,” Hale said. “We have flashlights, cellphones, food supplies and water.”