Page 6 - March April 2026 Vol 43 No 7

CITY OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS By Donna Osmon
Snow Big Deal – We’re On the Job

When storms were predicted for
the weekend of January 23-25, City of
Columbia Public Works crews started
treating our roadways on January 22 in
advance of the predicted impending ice/
snow storms.
Employees worked rotating 12-hour
shifts to clear our streets and assist
Tennessee Department of Transportation
(TDOT) with state routes in our area,
while Winter Storm Fern steadily
produced snow, ice, and then even more
ice.
Our overall stats:
• 450 tons of salt applied to city streets
• 80 tons of salt applied to state routes
• 4,850 miles traveled in the process of
treating and plowing city streets
• 750 miles traveled in the process of
treating and plowing state routes
• 48 locations/calls of tree debris and
removal from city streets as of January
27. (Those numbers rose over the next
few days)
• 2,461 hours worked through 1/29/26
Services Ranged from Treating Streets
to Repairing Potholes
After treating streets that retained ice
due to the dangerously low temperatures,
we turned our focus to tree/debris cleanup
and potholes repair.
Winter weather events like this can
test even the strongest employees, but
Public Works Director Jeff Dewire felt
that City of Columbia’s workers rose to
the challenge, saying “thank you to our
Public Works winter response teams.
Your quick action, long hours, and
dedication keep our community safe when
it matters most.”
He said all the workers were appreciated
for plowing and salting streets, removing
trees, handling phone calls and notifying
social media. He pointed out that the tasks
were “far from being complete after this
event, but the city will do what we always
do...stay strong together and get the job
done.”
What Made Fern Mad?
Donna Osmon, the city’s Senior
Administrative Assistant, said “we still
don’t know who made Fern so mad,
but we politely ask that it not happen
again! We’re tired!”
6 TPW March/April 2026