‘Snowplow Rodeo’ Creates Readiness, Opportunities for Sedalia Public Works

On a nice, warm sunny day last week, a “Snowplow Rodeo” was held at Sedalia Regional Airport.

What for, you ask?

“This is what we do every year to kind of sharpen our skills for snowplow operations,” responded Justin Bray, operations director for Public Works, when asked the purpose of the event.

“We also include quite a bit of different equipment to offer different training, throughout not only with our department, but everybody else with the City. This is actually the first year that we’ve invited Pettis County Road & Bridge, so they’re out with us, doing a little cross training, and we have some different pieces of equipment they may not have, such as our sanitation equipment, but it’s definitely a good team building exercise, working together,” Bray said.

Bray went on to say that “If we have a new employee in sanitation, or in the mowing department or whatever, they’re able to come over and train with streets, sanitation, all the stuff that we have.” Which helps with cross training and simply broadening every employee’s horizons in a controlled environment.

Wet sand was used as a substitute for snow on this particular day (Nov. 13) on a “Snowplow Slalom Course” located on a closed runway at the airport.

In fact, that entire runway was alive with activity over a two-day period with various pieces of large equipment that the City owns.

Bray noted that workers are actually graded on their efforts during the rodeo in such areas as safety and accuracy.

At the far end of the runway was a simulated Class A test involving a semi. Workers took turns going through the motions of taking the truck-driving style test with an instructor.

The Snowplow Rodeo has been going on for many years, but in the past five, more equipment has been added to the mix for more opportunities for Public Works employees to get a feel for other types of equipment that they may be eager to drive and operate someday such as excavation, streetsweeper, backhoe and skid steers. “And every year it’s gotten bigger and bigger and bigger,” Bray said.

Maintenance was being done on the newer runway last week, while the older runway was the location for the Snowplow Rodeo.

“They had to close both of them down, anyway, so it actually worked out, but ordinarily, this runway is closed down when we do this,” Bray emphasized.

Bray noted that he is almost fully staffed at the moment, except for two equipment operators, so we’re maintaining a pretty good level. Anyone wishing to apply, may do so at HR, located at City Hall, or online through the City’s website.

Opportunities for practice and training are the two biggest parts of the Snowplow Rodeo that City Administrator Matthew Wirt like the most.

It also helps “knock the rust off” of workers who will be maintaining City of Sedalia streets this winter, Wirt added, as well as making sure the equipment used only during winter months is ready to go.

“So when that snow flies, they’re ready for it,” Wirt told KSIS.

“And like Justin said, it’s a great opportunity for employees who are working their way up through the department to get out, run the equipment, and test it out. We hope that it gives them a desire to work their way up in the department and become equipment operators, and encourages them to get their CDL so they can run some of this bigger equipment and be on the team that goes out and runs the snow plows, Wirt stated.

“It also gives people like me, or the Mayor or City Council members to come out and run the equipment and see what our folks go through every day who are out there working, and doing things, Wirt said. “It’s a good opportunity to lead by example.”

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Wirt noted that Sedalia and Pettis County have been teaming on several projects recently, most notably on the Cambridge Drive paving project “to make that go faster.”

Wirt added that he hopes the training helps out Pettis County Road & Bridge employees as well. “They have that same opportunity. It’s just a good joint operation.”

Wirt noted that new City trucks are expected to arrive late in the year. “And we sure hope they do come in on time so that we not only have our employees ready, but also our equipment ready,” he said.