Beka Compton

WAITSBURG-It's been a chilly past couple of weeks, with temperatures dipping into the negatives and the National Weather Service reporting as much as 18 inches of snowfall at the end of December. As a result, the streets of Waitsburg became packed with snow, which eventually turned into ice, making it difficult to leave the driveway and navigate the roads. According to Waitsburg City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe, the city does not provide snow removal services for several reasons. One is the cost to purchase snow removal equipment compared to demand due to the relatively low frequency of snowfall in the area. The state Department of Transportation (DOT) plows Coppei and Preston Avenues and W 2nd Street which are part of the highway system. This leaves snow removal on Waitsburg streets to neighbors with tractors, four-wheelers, and other plow-wielding vehicles. This includes folks like Matthew Hamilton of Prescott, who offered to dig out driveways between Prescott and Dayton last weekend. Hamilton used his personal ATV and only requested a small donation to cover his time. Doug Biolo, co-owner of Nancy's Dream Garden Center, was spotted on multiple occasions on his small John Deere tractor, clearing out parking spaces and other clogged-up areas along Main Street. There were countless kids and teenagers donning snow shovels, helping clear sidewalks to make a little extra money for a trip to Ski Bluewood or to put in their pockets. The heavy lifting has been left to Bill Moran, who was out on the Alpine Industries front-end loader working late at night and early in the morning to clear Main Street and driveways of residents who became cut off from the road. He has made it safer for local traffic and provided easier access for travelers and residents to stop and visit local stores. For years, Moran has provided our city with snow removal service, free of charge. Last year, the Waitsburg City Council voted to reimburse Moran for his fuel costs. This year, the city is unable to provide reimbursement for Moran, as snow removal had not been included in the annual budget. Residents and business owners, including Lynne Carpenter, have taken donations to cover Moran's diesel fuel expense. If you would like to make a donation, please contact The Times at editor@waitsburgtimes.com Hinchliffe said Moran does the work on his own time, without any request from the city. "His efforts are appreciated as the city doesn't have the equipment to do snow removal," Hinchliffe shared in an email.