Winter Maintenance Management
Public Employees Leadership Institute
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Modules
1. Policy and planning
2. Winter storms/Weather
3. Use of chemicals and abrasives
4. Snow/Ice fighting techniques: city
5. Snow/Ice fighting techniques: county
6. Snow/Ice fighting techniques: state DOT
7. New technology in winter maintenance
Winter Maintenance Management is often one of the most demanding and challenging activities that new (and even experienced) foremen and supervisors face. Extreme winter events can wreak havoc on planned winter operations, budgets and public perception. Factors ranging from having adequate and proper operational policies in place, to the selection of the most economical and efficient material mix for the weather conditions/forecasts can easily become confusing. Pre-planning, analyzing the labor, equipment and materials available to you and having some knowledge of matching proper treatments with conditions can make that management process much less daunting.
This module walks you through the process of planning ahead, developing policies (to match your level of service and budget), using forecasts and conditions to choose the proper chemicals and abrasives, as well as using new and proven snow fighting techniques. Much can be learned from how other agencies have dealt with each these issues. A glimpse of what is in store for future technology in this area will also be explored, offering you the opportunity to begin creating your own vision of possible changes for your agency’s operations.
Skills are developed by knowing:
- That an agency’s adopted policies and procedure directly affect resource needs and finances
- The appropriate factors to be used in making and modifying accurate forecasts
- How chemicals and abrasives work, both singly and in combination
- Effective snow and ice fighting strategies for various conditions
Once completed, participants should be able to:
- Distinguish both important and costly components of a snow policy
- Identify major weather factors that can help predict (and modify) forecasts
- Recognize conditions when certain combinations of materials work best
- Use some of the techniques learned effectively and economically in his/her agency
- Recognize advances in equipment design and usage and the direction of improvements
Key concepts include:
- While not totally predictable, weather trends and conditions may be forecast with some certainty
- Current and future weather conditions often dictate what methods and materials should be used for treatments
Instructors
Bret Hodne
Position
City of West Des Moines Public Works Director
Experience
Bret has been with the City of West Des Moines Public Works Department since 1989. He started his career as an equipment operator for before moving into various managerial roles. He was promoted into the Superintendent of Public Works position in 1994 and into his current position as the Director of Public Works in 2008.
Bret has served as the APWA Iowa Chapter President and Delegate. In 2006 Bret was presented with the APWA Donald C. Stone Award for Excellence in Education. He was selected by the APWA in 2007 as one of the Top Ten Public Works Leaders in North America. For several years Bret chaired the National APWA Winter Maintenance Sub-Committee. He currently serves as a Past Chair with this group and is still actively involved. Bret currently is a member of the APWA Institute Review Committee and recently served as a member and Chair of the APWA Leadership and Management Committee.
Professional affiliations
He has served as President of the American Public Works Association Iowa Chapter and chaired the APWA Winter Maintenance Sub-Committee. Was presented the APWA Donald C. Stone Award for Excellence in Education in 2006. Selected by the APWA as one of their Top Ten Public Works Leaders in 2007.
Other Institute course(s)
Supervisory Techniques and Skills
Effective Communication Skills
Finance
Resource Management Skills
Sustainability in Public Works
Tina Greenfield Huitt
Position
Iowa Department of Transportation Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) Coordinator
Education
MS from Iowa State University
Experience
Tina Greenfield Huitt is the Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) Coordinator for the Iowa Department of Transportation. She manages the installation and maintenance of the Iowa DOT’s 68 RWIS weather stations, designs and conducts road weather training for the DOT’s winter maintenance personnel, and oversees the weather forecast and information services provided to the Department by private contractors.
Ms. Huitt graduated from Iowa State University with a Master’s degree in Meteorology in 2004.
Mark DeVries
Position
Lead Consultant, Vaisala, Inc.
Experience
Mark serves as a Lead Consultant and winter maintenance expert for Vaisala Inc. In his new role he serves as a resource that is helping clients/agencies/etc. to improve their operations and works with them to solve problems, offers training opportunities and serves as customer support. Previously, Mark was with McHenry County Division of Transportation (retired,) for 30 years.
Chairman of the National APWA Winter Maintenance Sub-Committee. Member of the Winter Maintenance Technical Service Program. A member of the of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Winter Maintenance Committee and the TRB Surface Transportation Weather Committee. Member of the APWA Chicago Metro Chapter. Former Trainer for the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Mark has presented at Snow and Ice seminars all across North American and abroad, many environmental seminars and various Municipalities across North America. Mark has also traveled several times to Europe, South America, Scandinavia and China.. Mark has been published in every major industry Magazine. Mark is the recipient of many awards including, the 2014 APWA Distinguished Service Award, the 2012 APWA Presidential Leadership Award, the 2010 APWA Top Ten Public Works Leader of the year, the 2007 APWA Donald C. Stone Award and the 2006 award of achievement from the APWA Chicago Metro Chapter.
Mark and crew were the recipients of the 2006 APWA Technical innovation award and the National Association of Counties Achievement award for the County’s Liquid De-icier Blending System.
Professional affiliations
Chair of the National APWA Winter Maintenance Sub-Committee and a member of the Winter Maintenance Technical Service Program. He is also a member of the APWA Chicago Metro Chapter and a trainer for the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Matt Dolan
Position
City of West Des Moines Equipment Operator
Experience
Matt Dolan is an equipment operator for 11 years for the City of West Des Moines. He has been active as the organizer and a trainer for Snow Plow Operator Training (SPOT), which is promoted by the Iowa LTAP organization. He serves on the Steering Committee for the Snow Plow Rodeo that is conducted every year in conjunction with the SPOT training.
Matt has served as a state and national speaker about “Snow and Ice Removal” to Public Works groups in Allentown, PA, Estes Park, CO and St. Cloud MN as well as at the APWA North American Snow Conference.
In his spare time, Matt is a part time farmer, enjoying the outdoors.
Greg Parker
Position
Johnson County Engineer
Education
BS in Civil Engineering; Colorado State University
MS in Civil Engineering; Iowa State University
Experience
Greg Parker has served as the Johnson County Engineer for 12 years. He has over 25 years of experience from previous employment with cities, other counties, and as a private consultant. He received a BS in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University and a MS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University.
He is a member of the Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA), the National Association of County Engineers (NACE), the American Public Works Association (APWA), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
He is the current Chair of the APWA Road Safety Sub-committee, Member of AASHTO/Winter Maintenance Technical Service Program, NACE Safety Committee, NACO Transportation Committee and past president of the Iowa Chapter – APWA.
Professional affiliations
Iowa County Engineers Association (ICEA)
National Association of County Engineers (NACE)
American Public Works Association (APWA), Iowa (past president)
National Society of Profession Engineers (NSPE
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Other Institute course(s)
Resource Management Skills
Emergency Management
Mark Black
Position
Iowa Department of Transportation District 2 Maintenance Manager (retired)
Experience
Mark Black retired from the Iowa DOT in 2014 after more than 30 years of service. He started in 1979 as a mechanic at the Hanlontown Interstate Maintenance garage on I-35, then was promoted to supervisory position in 1988 on the district pavement marking crew and became a supervisor in the Mason City Maintenance garage in 1993.
He was promoted to an Area Manager in 1995 and in that capacity supervised maintenance operations in about 10 counties. In 2002, Mark was promoted to District 2 Maintenance Manager, where he managed all maintenance operations in 19 counties in the Northeast area of Iowa. He also worked for the Iowa DOT as an accident Surveillance Engineer for six years before beginning to work for the City of Des Moines as the Principal Traffic Engineer. In 1997 he was promoted to the position of Assistant Director of Traffic and Transportation.
Mark has a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Transportation Engineering both from Kansas State University. He is a licensed engineer in both Iowa and Kansas.
He is a member and past president of the Missouri Valley section of Institute of Transportation Engineers, a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a past president of the Iowa section of that organization. He is also a member of the International Municipal Signal Association, Inc. and the International Parking Institute.
Testimonials
“The Winter Maintenance Management course contained a lot of new and useful information which I can begin to apply immediately.” —Chris Decoskey, Crew Leader, Town of Kernersville, NC