City of Bend gearing up for upcoming winter

Bend city staff and councilors discussed winter preparations at a work session Wednesday evening. Officials said residents will see more equipment, staff and efficient quality control all over the town this year.

Part of the discussion included the possibility of being able to ask people to move their cars on certain streets if plows cannot get to all the heavy snow. Certain major roads have already been listed as top priorities, such as 27th and Third streets, Newport Avenue, and Wall and Bond streets.

The city also talked about the possibility of using salt in limited instances in places where roads are especially treacherous, though a resident warned councilors during the visitors’ section of their meeting that runoff from hilly streets into the river that has salt in it will cause environmental issues.

Mayor Casey Roats said the council heard the community’s concerns regarding last winter’s heavy snowfall and the city’s removal work, and councilors gave extra funds to the streets budget in order to give staff more ability to bring on new equipment, pickups and plows.

“The way the community can best help is first and foremost is just take care of their neighbors,” Roats said. “If you know someone in your neighborhood or on your street that literally cannot get themselves dug out, pitch in and go help them out. We want to try and get on the roads as quick as we can before it gets driven over and packed down.”

The mayor also said he wants people to recognize it’s not possible to clear out every driveway. The city wants to clear the streets that will help the largest amount of people travel around the city quicker.

The Streets Department will bring a study before council on salt usage and what storm drains lead to waterways in the near future.