City and county hold off on most plowing

Editor's note: This version adds a statement from Chinook about running water to keep pipes from freezing.

While this part of Montana has been buffeted by extreme cold, wind and snow, along with a good part of the nation, city and county officials said snow removal is partially on hold due to the extreme wind chill.

Havre Public Works Director Dave Peterson said this morning that his department has been plowing some areas that were drifted in downtown and are keeping the emergency routes clear, but they are waiting until things get just a little warmer before going out in full force to plow and remove snow.

Peterson said the extreme cold is hard on equipment and still pretty dangerous for people so he's trying to keep his employees out of the cold as much as possible while maintaining the essentials for the people of Havre.

"This cold weather, it's hard on the equipment, it's hard on everything," he said.

While this morning's cold and wind wasn't quite as intense as it was Wednesday, it is still bitterly cold. Havre, for example, hit minus 35 Wednesday morning with a wind chill of minus 60, compared to minus 23 and a minus 50 wind chill this morning.

Peterson said weather like this can easily give people frostbite after just a few minutes and cars have a harder time gripping the road as tires become harder in the cold.

He said the department will do more comprehensive plowing when things get a little warmer and less dangerous for the employees and their equipment.

Hill County Road Department Supervisor Jim Bedwell said his department is taking a similar approach, keeping their workers out of the cold as much as possible until things get a little less extreme.

Bedwell said they're playing it by ear and he's hoping things might be a little better in the next few days, but he doesn't want to work anyone on Christmas.

He said they will definitely have some people plowing Monday and hopefully by Tuesday they can start making serious progress, but by the looks of things it's going to be a big job.

In the meantime both Peterson and Bedwell said they are working to keep equipment maintained and people ready to make a big push when conditions become less dangerous.

They both had the same general advice for people during these conditions, stay home if possible.

"If you can, just hang tight," Bedwell said.

Other officials around north-central Montana have also been giving similar advice.

A statement from Phillips County Sheriff Jerry Lytle asked people to "use the most important thing that raises us above other species: your brain."

"If you don't have to be driving around in this type of weather, stay home!" the statment added. "If you must be out, have a full tank of fuel, extra clothing, blankets, food and water, a shovel, medical supplies, a husky dog team, a Sherpa, and a Bible so you have something to read while waiting for spring to come. If you got stuck where you are, we don't have magical vehicles to come and get you."

The Blaine County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post Wednesday that two roads in that county were closed, plowing was being delayed due to the cold, and people needed to be cautious.

The post said Eight Mile Road near Harlem and Bowes Road near Chinook were closed.

"There are vehicles stuck in the traveling lanes on both," the post said. "Please use extreme caution on back roads and county roads. Bad drifting and getting stuck is highly likely. County Road plows not operating due to extreme low temperatures.

Montana Highway 66 in Fort Belknap also was closed this morning.

Havre Animal Shelter said this morning that the shelter is closed to the public today due to drifting on their road. And North Central Montana Transit announced they are suspending bus routes until Tuesday Dec. 27.

Havre Police Department also sent out a message about people removing snow from their properties - and not putting it on other people's property.

"As we gear up for a long winter, the city would like to remind everyone not to plow or shovel snow onto the streets or onto your neighbor's property," a release from the department said. "Snow should be kept on your private property and/or have it removed by contacting a local snow removal service. Do not pile snow onto the streets."

The release also cited the Havre ordinance on snow removal:

"9-1-26: Removal of ice and snow:

"It shall be the duty of the owner of any premises within the limits of the city to keep the sidewalk in front of or adjoining his premises clean and safe for pedestrians and with all possible dispatch to remove snow, ice and slush and other impediments to safe and convenient foot travel and to prevent the continuance or accumulation of the same upon such sidewalk, and in no case in the business district of the city shall the snow, ice and slush or other such material removed from such sidewalk be dumped, placed or deposited in the adjoining streets or avenues within two feet (2') of the curb line. Sidewalks, in all cases, must be freed of the night's accumulation of snow, ice, slush, mud or other like impediments within twenty four (24) hours of such accumulation. (Ord. 97, 8-5-1910)"

Peterson said the garbage trucks are still going, but he's glad to see the schools are closed and the buses off the streets.

If people do need to go somewhere, he said, people should use the routes with the least snow on them.

He said it's very easy to get stuck, and in conditions like this, that is not something anyone should risk if they don't have to.

As for the long-term effect of the recent extreme weather on the roads, he said if it stays consistently cold it shouldn't have too much of a long-term effect, but if they have a year where the temperatures repeatedly fluctuate between above and below freezing, that has the potential to damage the city's already-damaged roads.

Peterson said older roads like those in Havre, which are already in rough condition, are particularly vulnerable to the kind of damage fluctuating temperatures can have.

He said he obviously doesn't want to be at negative 30 degrees all winter, but consistency would have minimal effect on the long-term health of the roads.

One last piece of advice Peterson wanted people to follow, is to leave a small trickle of water going in their houses, especially if it's a trailer home or a home without a basement.

He said leaving a tiny trickle of water going will only accrue a miniscule cost to homeowners, but will help ensure the lines don't freeze, something that is difficult and expensive to repair.

This morning the Havre Police log included a call about a waterline to a residence that broke Wednesday evening.

City of Chinook also is recommending that residents start running a small stream of water, the size of a pencil, through a faucet in their residence to keep water service lines from freezing, a post today on the city Facebook page says.

The post says the city cannot credit people for the water they run, but the associated utility charges could be less than the cost to repair or thaw a service line.

People who choose to start running water to prevent service lines from freezing are asked to call Chinook City Hall at 406-357-3160 to notify the city.

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Havre Daily News editor Tim Leeds contributed to this report.