Towns prepare for winter's arrival

With many of us pulling out our fall jackets and turning the heater on, this week has brought the certainty of winter to the fore. As residents of Moorcroft and Pine Haven prepare for the coming season, so too do our municipal caretakers.

Moorcroft Public Works

Director Cory Allison and his crew have shut off the water to the four municipal parks and the community garden this week, “blowing” the lines dry to ensure nothing freezes.

The seal coat is almost complete for the season and the Powder River Sewer Project is almost a month ahead of schedule and, except for the resurfacing of the avenues, will be complete this week. According to Allison, “They’re kickin’ butt!”

The invitation to bid will be advertised in October, said Allison, for the next phase of the Powder River Water Project that is expected to break ground in the spring and will travel along Park Street and dog leg around Noonan Park before finishing the phase on North Powder River Avenue.

Pine Haven Public Works

Director Sunny Schell and crewman Randy Flowers have started preparing the town’s plow truck and sander ready for the snow and winterizing the weed whackers and mowers for storage as well as clearing and closing the sprinkler systems for the parks and ball field. The lagoon will also be “set up” for the coming cold.

The drainage project got off to a good start this summer and, with the exception of a few more items of work left on Cedar Hills Drive, will be complete before winter, according to Schell.

This was the first phase of work predominately conducted by the two person public works crew and they plan to address other drainage issues next spring. The department is responsible for many other matters so they are trying to create a plan by which they do not become overwhelmed.

“We’re trying to set it up so we do a couple of projects each year, I’d hate to start something and not be able to finish it,” Schell said.

This year’s slash pile will be used for training by the volunteer fire department later this season, serving the town two fold, to be rid of the biodegradable waste and to offer an opportunity for more training for the town’s firemen, of whom Schell is one.