He slowly drove through the snowy frozen yard to the end of a long line of snowplows and prepared his truck to be filled with a mixture of sand and brine (salt water), which is used to melt the snow and ice off of intersections and hills.
This is how Blizzard earns his wages during the winter months.
Blizzard said, “It’s a good job. We are just trying to keep the roads clean for people.”
Blizzard slowly turned right onto Lincoln Road, lowered the plowing blade underneath his truck, and began his plowing route.
The blade made an abrasive scraping noise as it passed over the pavement.
Blizzard said, “ Sometimes I’ll burn up a plow in a single day.”
That particular morning, the overnight snowfall had only accumulated roughly two inches, so the job that morning was mostly light cleaning and salting.
The ride was bumpy and slow. Blizzard carefully positioned his vehicle so that the centerline will be visible after he makes his pass.
It wasn’t long before a small car drove up behind the large truck, seemingly anxious to pass.
He said that the worst part of his job is dealing with other drivers who lack common sense.
“I am always watching out for myself and the other guy,” Blizzard said.
Blizzard explained, other vehicles are not obligated to yield to him while they are plowing because Isabella County snowplows are no longer considered emergency vehicles.
At this time, Blizzard stopped the truck in an attempt to back into a turnaround point, but before he could back up, he rolled down the window, and directed two confused drivers behind him to pass around the truck.
He said that this job has given him a good perspective as to how other people should be driving.
Blizzard recalled that he was once the first person to stop at the scene of a white Jeep Cherokee that had been driven into the Chippewa River.
Blizzard said that he had seen many accidents, but due to regulations, he is not permitted to offer people rides in his truck. He is, however, allowed to pull vehicles out of the ditch and make phone calls for assistance.
Every third week, Blizzard is put on call to be available 24 hours a day in case of emergencies and very heavy snowfall.
Blizzard said that the budget for this winter season is almost gone, so the road commission may have to cut back on some of its services. This may include longer periods of time between plowing certain roads and using more sand than salt to help make icy conditions more drivable.
At this point, Blizzard had completed one circle of his plowing route, so he pulled back into the road commission office to stretch his legs and get fresh supplies.
With more than six inches being predicted for later on that afternoon, Blizzard has a long day of plowing ahead of him.
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