Ahead of the upcoming snow storm, which is expected to result in total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches from Saturday through Monday, Elkins City Operations Manager Michael Kesecker said the City’s Operation Department has been watching the weather forecast closely and is ready for what is to come this weekend.

“We’re prepared. We’re keeping a close eye on the forecast and it does seem like, with every update, it changes a little bit,” Kesecker told The Inter-Mountain this week. “So I guess it’s going to be one of those things where basically we just have to wait and see what we wake up to this weekend and how intense the snow gets.”

On Wednesday, the National Weather Service declared a Winter Storm Watch for most of the state, calling for heavy snow with larger amounts also possible in higher elevations. The NWS reports that travel could be very difficult to impossible, with “hazardous conditions” possibly impacting the Monday morning commute.

Kesecker stated that the Operations Department has been doing preparation work on all of its equipment to get it ready for this weekend. The department has also been addressing areas in the city with left-over ice from the recent cold weather, trying to resolve the issue before we receive more ice and snow.

The Inter-Mountain photos by Joey Kittle Multiple area fire departments battled a house fire Friday morning on Highland Avenue in Belington. Responding units included the Belington, Junior, Philippi and Coalton volunteer fire departments, the Elkins Fire Department, EMS units from Barbour County and the West Virginia State Police.

“I feel pretty confident where we are now,” Kesecker said. “Fortunately, we don’t have piles of snow throughout the city from previous storms. It’s all pretty much melted, so we have plenty of room to move snow should we get the amounts they’re calling for.”

Asked when the Operations Department would begin salting city roads, Kesecker said there was no set timeline.

“We try to play it by ear. See exactly when the weather event starts, and we monitor the roadways with the cameras throughout town,” Kesecker said. “We’ll monitor (the roads) with that, and then also I’ll touch base with the Elkins Police Department and (Elkins) Fire Department to make sure they’re not noticing anything with their crews that are working, and if they notice some trouble areas, we’ll go out and hit them right away.”

Kesecker stressed that, while he knows it can be difficult, citizens of Elkins should try to be patient with the Operations Department during a storm of this magnitude. With a crew of 10 and outfitted with eight snowplow vehicles and two salting vehicles, Kesecker explained that the Operations Department is more limited than the West Virginia Department of Highways, or other larger cities, in terms of how quickly they can respond to certain areas.

“What we have to remember with those crews, we try to run as long as possible, but we also have to be sure they get rest during the (weather) event so it’s safe for them to be on the road as well,” Kesecker said.

The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie One of the eight City of Elkins vehicles outfitted as a snowplow is being prepared for this weekend’s winter storm.

He also pointed out that residents can refer to the City of Elkins website and to social media where the officials have posted a “very detailed” Q&A memo about snow plowing. Topics on the memo include what to expect with city snow plowing, when to expect it, what to do with snow in private driveways and more.

It has been confirmed that the Elkins Sanitation Department is planning on running its normal trash pick-up route Monday morning; however, Kesecker noted that pick-ups could be later than usual Monday due to the weather and road conditions.

The city asks that any citizens with problems contact the Operations Department at 304-636-1414, using either ext. 1437, ext. 1433 or ext. 1441. Those extensions will put callers in contact with someone in the administrative staff of the Operations Department.