While Guthrie County received the largest amount of snow yet this winter over the weekend, the County Secondary Roads Department was on the clock to get the roads clear for motorists.

County Engineer Josh Sebern says his department prepares year round for winter weather with a stockpile of sand and salt at the ready. If snow falls overnight, Sebern shares when the secondary roads crew responds, “The next day we’ll be out at five, that’s our start time. Being a secondary road unit we’re just not equipped to run 24 hours (a day). That would require a whole new set of staff and personnel and management, and it’s just not something we’re equipped for at this time. So we’d be out at 5 in the morning and stay out until 5 (p.m.) if necessary.”

Sebern says it’s all hands on deck during a winter storm, with 10 motor graders and about 12 snow plow routes in the county. Sebern reminds motorists to always drive cautiously this season and to not crowd the plow when they encounter a county road truck.