With streets now cleared and passable following last weekend’s historic snowstorm, the City of Perryville has shifted from emergency response to recovery — while keeping a close eye on the potential for more winter weather later this week.
Perryville Public Works Director Jeff Layton said road conditions across the city have improved significantly after crews worked through and beyond the storm that dropped more than a foot of snow.
“The official measurement was 13 inches,” Layton said. “Our crews have finished clearing the roads, including removing piles of snow from the square. All of our main thoroughfares and side roads now have pavement that is safe to drive on.”
Layton said the priority throughout the response was ensuring that residents could safely travel to work, school and essential services, even as snow and bitter cold complicated cleanup efforts.
“I’m confident there is drivability on our main streets to get to and from school and work,” he said. “At this point, it’s about widening where we can and preparing for whatever comes next.”
Road widening remains a secondary but ongoing effort, though Layton noted it is limited by parked vehicles along city streets.
“What limits us on widening the roads is off-street parking,” he said. “When cars are parked along the street, our equipment just can’t get in there. We do try to widen when cars aren’t present, but there are some areas where we simply can’t push it back any farther.”
While streets are now open and functional, Layton emphasized that snow removal from sidewalks and private property is the responsibility of property owners, both residential and commercial.
“The city’s focus is the roadway,” he said. “Sidewalks, driveways and parking lots fall to property owners. We know there’s still a lot of snow out there, but clearing those areas is important for pedestrian safety, especially with continued cold weather.”
With cleanup well underway, attention has turned to the forecast. Layton said crews are now preparing for the possibility of ice or freezing rain later in the week.
“We’re doing repairs and maintenance on equipment right now to get ready,” he said. “Ice is usually our next hurdle, and we want to be prepared in case that forecast becomes reality.” The Public Works Department operates under a structured response plan for winter weather, using a two-shift system designed to keep crews rested and compliant with safety regulations.
“We plan for a Shift A and Shift B whenever we know something is coming,” Layton said. “That helps us cover overnight operations and stay within CDL regulations on how long drivers can be in a vehicle. Safety is a big part of how we do this.”
In addition to planned storm coverage, the department maintains a three-person on-call crew available around the clock to respond to after- hours calls and minor incidents, often dispatched through emergency services.
“If something happens after hours, they page us out,” Layton said. “We always have people ready.”
For major, unplanned emergencies — such as tornadoes or other sudden disasters — Layton said the city follows an “all hands on deck” approach.
“The tornado is a good example,” he said. “When something like that happens, everyone comes in when they can. Winter storms are usually forecast, so we can prepare, but we do have a plan for the unexpected.”
Layton credited the community’s patience and cooperation for helping crews do their jobs during and after the storm.
“We appreciate people understanding what it takes to respond to something like this,” he said. “Our goal is always to keep the city moving safely, and we’ll continue doing that as long as winter has more to throw at us.”
