Members of the grounds crew in Facilities work to clear the campus of snow and ice after the latest storm early Thursday.
Before the campus awoke from its slumber Thursday morning, Jim Moore was busy getting a jump on the couple of inches of snow and freezing rain that coated the parking lots and walkways. He aimed the plow attached to his Ford 350 to the pavement and pushed the messy mix out of harm’s way.
Later in the day, he would return to touch up his area.
“It’s been constant,” Moore said of the storms this winter. “You just have to keep up.”
If anyone deserves a Valentine’s on campus, it may be the grounds crew in Facilities.
Since the winter term began, the 11-person team has tirelessly worked to keep the College clear for faculty, students and staff.
Snow. Shovel. Plow. Salt. Repeat.
So far this winter, there have been seven storms, with an eighth forecast for this weekend. While none of the storms have been paralyzing, each has produced enough precipitation to require immediate attention.
“We call them nickel -and dime -storms,” said Abby Gant, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Albany. “They are quick moving storms that keep coming.”
A member of the Facilities grounds crew shovels snow in front of Grant Hall Thursday morning.
In January, seven to 12 inches total fell in the area, which is below average. So far in February, nearly 10 inches of snow has dropped, nearly double the average of 5.7 inches for the month.
It may not seem like a lot, but the sheer volume of storms keeps Facilities working long days and nights.
So how do grounds stay on top of the storms to ensure everyone can navigate the campus, whether by foot or vehicle?
Typically, there are rotating on-call shifts for each grounds member. When a storm begins, Campus Safety alerts the on-call person, who heads to campus to clearing and salting key areas. Often this occurs overnight and on weekends.
Soon, other members of grounds appear to assist in the tedious process of clearing lots and walkways. Areas frequented by dining and housekeeping personnel get first priority, as many arrive before dawn each day. Once lots and sidewalks are cleared, attention is then turned to stairwells, delivery spaces and other critical spaces. Eventually, cleared snow is transported and dumped in off-campus lots to thaw.
Snow cleared from campus is eventually transported and dumped in a pile by Fero House.
“This has been a challenging year of nuisance storms,” said Joe Conti, grounds manager. “Whether it’s one inch or one foot, though, the campus roads, lots and other areas need to be cleared.”
Conti is grateful for the effort from his crew. He also appreciates the other Facilities teams that often pitch in, including building maintainers, structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing employees, as well as those from housekeeping.
While spring is still more than a month away, many acknowledge that winter fatigue has set in. Between the snow and several periods of bone-chilling temperatures and gusty winds, people are ready to move on.
“It has felt so relentless because it has been a series of quick-paced storms,” said Gant, the meteorologist. “It’s been busy, for sure. But it’s not abnormal. It’s winter.”