Elgin already making plans for snow season

With spring in full bloom, the last thing most people want to talk about is that four-letter word - snow.

But Elgin public works leaders are planning for the inevitable, and believe changes they made for the previous winter paid off.

"It sounds a little crazy, but it's only six months away," said Dan Rich, Elgin's public works superintendent.

In preparation for the next snowfall, the city is mixing its own brine solution that is better for the environment than spreading granular salt.

The city previously would buy a product called Geomelt from a third party, but for the upcoming snow season it will follow the lead of McHenry County and make its own mix of brackish water and beet juice.

The solution prevents snow from bonding to the pavement during extremely cold weather, keeping the roads less slick.

The move is expected to save the Elgin about $75,000 a year.

"That's significant. It's a big number," Rich said. "It's more environmentally friendly than spreading rock salt everywhere."

City leaders got an earful from residents after poor snow removal service in the winter of 2007-08. In response, they bought more plows, altered routes and built more salt domes to reduce down time when trucks were refilled.

Even though 54.2 inches of snow fell in town last winter - well above the 38-inch average - city leaders said they received few, if any, complaints.

Councilman Robert Gilliam said public works did a fantastic job.

"I didn't get one phone call, one complaint," he said. "You had the largest snowfall in a long time and you did it with 20 fewer men."