KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In Kansas City, Missouri, the Public Works Department is responsible for treating and clearing more than 6,000 lane miles. So when it comes to winter weather, the department can use all hands on deck.
Unfortunately, due to budget cuts related to the pandemic, KCMO Public Works had to leave 30 vacant positions unfilled this year.
"So, when we look at the 'boots on the ground' and the potential for people to be out there plowing snow, there are less boots on the ground this year than in previous years ... so, we are feeling that a little bit," said Maggie Green, a spokeswoman for the department.
However, Green noted that Public Works does have plenty of snow-clearing equipment and supplies, including salt and brine. And even with fewer drivers this year, she said the department has maintained enough staff to keep the roads clear.
Public Works also has the option of pulling in help from other city departments, if needed, including KC Water and Parks and Recreation.
Meanwhile, at the state level, the Missouri Department of Transportation said it's not worried about budget woes impacting efforts to fight winter weather.
"We have a full supply of salt and money available to pay our workers to working 12-hour shifts and two shifts per day to work through winter weather," MoDOT Communications Director Linda Horn said.
But like road crews across the state, the big concern for MoDOT right now is keeping available workers healthy.
"The impact of COVID-19 has been more on keeping our workforce healthy and also hiring and training new maintenance workers," Horn said. "We have a small amount of staff quarantined due to the illness or close contacts. Since March, we have had about 10% of our total MoDOT team be affected by the virus, although the majority have recovered and (gone) back to work."
Keeping available drivers healthy and safe is something the Lee's Summit's Public Works Department has been focused on, as well.
"During this time of year we will have 50 or 60 people coming through the building all during shift changes. So we’ve had to figure out a way to keep everyone separated and maintain some distance, make sure we’re wearing masks .... we want to make sure the trucks get disinfected in between shift changes, so if somebody is infected we’re not spreading that to another person," Lee's Summit's Assistant Director of Public Works Shawn Graff said.
Meanwhile, on the Kansas side, the state's Department of Transportation has seen COVID-19 cases impact staffing.
"There have been some equipment operators and office personnel that have tested positive for COVID. And when that happens, then others in the office might have to quarantine regardless if they’re symptomatic, or however they test," KDOT Director of Communications Steve Hale said. "So, that’s something that we have to keep a close eye on at all times. Here in the Kansas City metro area, knock on wood, our crews have been pretty full in terms of available employees. But in other parts of the state and some of the other outlying districts and subdistricts, they’ve had to deal with staffing issues."
Hale said part of KDOT's plan is constantly evaluating where a storm will hit the hardest and having crews ready to travel to other parts of the state as needed, especially if one area is facing staffing shortages due to COVID-19.
Still, the crews have a lot of ground to cover, with KDOT responsible for treating and clearing 289,786 lane miles.
With this in mind, KDOT, MoDOT and other local public works departments who spoke with 41 Action News agree: They are all focused on keeping COVID-19 at bay among staff so they can keep motorists safe on the roads.
