KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI -- With a snow storm headed our way, and many questions from viewers on the conditions of the roads, KTVO investigated and found that MO-DOT is in charge of all of the major highways and the lettered roads, while the county is in charge of the rock roads, which are named.
So, what is the policy on keeping the county roads clear of snow and ice? Adair County Commissioner Carson Adams said the plows will not go out unless there are at least three – four inches of snow.
"On the rock roads, we cannot put the blade down onto the ground because you'd be taking the rock off as you went, so it's just simply a judgment call," said Adams.
Who makes the judgment call?
“Jami Sevits, our road superintendent is the one who actually makes that decision when we get a snow,” said Adams. “He and the other members of the road district go out and travel the roads to [view the] conditions, [and] of course, a lot of people call in and let us know whether or not they have snow drifts and just how bad they are.”
Adams said they get many questions about why they sometimes only plow one lane of the roadways.
“We have, I believe, around 630 miles of county roads, so we need to make sure everybody can get in and out, so the first pass usually is to make one lane,” said Adams.
After they make sure all of the roads are passable, they go through a second time to widen the path and create two lanes.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO