Peoria, Ill — Thanks to ongoing impacts from the pandemic, the team of snow plow drivers in Peoria will remain smaller than in pre-COVID winters.
The City’s Public Works assistant director Sie Maroon told city council members about it Tuesday night.
He says attrition from early retirements and significantly lower applicant interest combined to create challenges in hiring this time around.
Maroon pointed out how it’s a problem facing employers in both the public and private sectors across the country.
He says for the upcoming winter, Peoria will have 32 permanent maintenance workers and 15 part timers running 17 primary routes.
In a typical pre-COVID year, Peoria Public Works would employ 37 permanent and 22 part time workers on 21 primary routes.
Maroon said, despite the challenges, “I believe we’ve assembled a pretty good team with some returning temps.”
During his presentation he did also hint at a request for patience from Peoria residents during snow storms.
He said, “I can tell you the perception is that everybody is the last street to be plowed,” he continued, “…and that’s just not true.”
Maroon says, “You’re never going to be first every storm and you’re never going to be last.”
Crews will be responsible for 321 residential streets in Peoria once all primary routes are run.
Maroon says there will likely be snow-pack on those residential roads, not bare pavement.
Most detailed snow plow guidelines and parking restrictions will remain similar to those of past winters.
