Facility&Operations
Prepping for the powder: how to prepare for any snow event
Editor's note: This article was prepared by Alyssa Kram of IRONCLAD Marketing, West Fargo, ND on behalf of Arctic Snow & Ice Control Inc., Frankfort, IL.
snow has been an unwelcomed surprise. And in most parts of the country, people equipped to rid their region of that snow remain in high de- mand. For safety and sanity, it's critical to get snow and ice off of traveled areas quickly and thoroughly—of course, that's easier said than done. A haphazard approach or partially com- pleted job will create more problems than it solves in the long run, making it imperative for you to be thoroughly prepared. After 36 years in the snow-removal business, Randy Strait could easily be considered an expert
R 26 SportsTurf | October 2011
ECORD-SETTING SNOW- FALL coupled with strong winds socked cities across the United States last winter. For some areas it's the norm, but for many the
on getting rid of the white stuff. He owns Arctic Snow & Ice Control Inc. and has tackled every- thing from his own driveway to parking lots at some of the nation's largest businesses. And he stresses the key to quality work and reduced lia- bility is to be prepared for each and every snow removal job. No matter the size of the job, Strait says "it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to preparing for snow removal." Although there are many issues that need to be addressed beforehand, such as the size of the lot and the state of the equipment, taking a little time to do so will en- sure any event is handled quickly and effectively. This is especially true, Strait says, since, "the cli- mate is changing and the times are changing, and you never know what Mother Nature may bring."
>> SNOW EVENTS don't operate on a 9 to 5 schedule. Implement a chain-of-command plan to en- sure all events are handled as quickly as possible, even in the middle of the night. Photo cour- tesy of Randy Strait.
"Snow and ice removal is a compromise for my passion to manage sports turf."
www.sportsturfonline.com
-Mark Frever
CSFM, director of grounds,
,
Albion College, Albion, MI
.