By Lucky Kidd
LARNED, Kan. — Larned City Manager Brad Elits provided an update this morning on the city’s plans to deal with the winter storm.
Street Department crews have been maintaining trucks, installing chains, filling trucks with sand and salt, installing plows, and coordinating extra drivers from other departments.
Police Chief Lance Duft has arranged with Valley Church to meet emergency shelter demands if needed. The Red Cross trailer will be parked in their lot. Officers will monitor road conditions and notify the street department when additional sand/salt is needed at intersections.
Staff has posted information on extreme cold weather safety for people and pets.
In the City of Larned, Elits said city policy is to not clear streets until snow accumulation reaches or is expected to reach four inches. The State handles the highways while we sand intersections and major traffic routes to address icy conditions.
Larned’s Emergency Snow Route includes the downtown area, 8th and 10th Streets west from Broadway, and Carroll from Edwards to the Hospital. Signs mark the Snow Route, and vehicles parked along these streets will be towed. City crews will address other and side streets as needed. Snow drifts will be managed to the best of their ability.
Elits also said the 5th Street hill will not be open for sledding until crews have ensured that streets are safe for travel.
