Public Works crews salt, sand city streets in anticipation of possible freezing rain storm

Fort Scott Public Works crews were preparing Monday for another round of ice expected to hit the area before the end of the day. As it turns out, the ice storm forecasters called for on Monday didn't hit after all.

Temperatures stayed above freezing late Monday and into early Tuesday, keeping ice build-up to a minimum or non-existent.

It seems Fort Scott dodged the ice storm bullet for the second time in several days.

The area experienced heavy freezing drizzle late Saturday and into early Sunday morning, resulting in a quarter of an inch of ice build-up. However, it wasn't as much as counties south and southwest of Fort Scott, which received upwards of one-half to three-quarters of an inch of ice. The ice buildup in those areas downed power lines and trees, leaving some residents without power.

Areas of Crawford County, especially southern regions of the county, were pummelled by freezing rain that tore down tree limbs and power lines.

Fort Scott Public Works Director Eric Bailey said crews began working at 5 p.m. Saturday. Around that time, freezing drizzle began falling. Snow plows cruised city streets, sprinkling a mixture of salt and sand.

Three employees in three trucks worked 12-hour shifts and switched drivers after each shift, meaning the trucks were treating roads around the clock.

Bailey said the roads over the weekend were slick in places for his trucks. However, none of the trucks wrecked during the constant driving, he said.

The city's policy of treating streets starts with the main throughfares and then secondary streets are then treated. The secondary streets will be slicker, as a result.

Bailey said public works officials haven't fielded many requests from residents asking to clear their particular street.

Crews got a break from treating roads Monday, before a second round of precipitation entered southeast Kansas that may bring another one-quarter or one-half inch of ice accumulation.

There is another chance of light freezing rain Tuesday night, when temperatures will be close to freezing.