Marshall County Highway Officials defend winter weather storm response after social media criticism

Marshall County Highway officials defended their winter weather response over the New Year's holiday weekend, Monday, addressing social media complaints about road treatment during icy conditions.

Highway Superintendent Jason Peters and County Commissioner Stan Klotz addressed criticism during Monday's Commissioner meeting, providing a detailed timeline of the department's response from January 1-3.

On Thursday, January 1 (New Year's Day), Peters deployed a skeleton crew in the morning to run main routes. As additional issues were reported throughout the afternoon and evening, he called in additional drivers to address problem areas.

On Friday, January 2, the highway crew started early, with additional drivers called in during the evening to handle reported trouble spots.

On Saturday, January 3, highway workers were not called in until the afternoon due to morning temperatures in the teens. Peters said he waited for warmer temperatures since schools were not in session. Once deployed, crews plowed developed slush, treated main routes and secondary roads, and replaced several downed stop signs.

"I was trying to be the most efficient with the county's resources," Peters explained.

Commissioner Stan Klotz said he received several calls from upset citizens over the weekend, questioning why roads weren't salted on New Year's Day. He explained that salt supplies must be carefully managed due to the county's procurement process.

"The county has to go through a bid process to purchase salt and sand for winter weather, and you have to try and anticipate what will be needed," Klotz said. "The county had run out of salt in prior years."

Klotz emphasized that holiday weekend decisions were made collectively, not solely by Peters.

"So, the public understands, it's not shirking responsibility. We just felt that, given the circumstances, everybody was closed, the roads were open, you just had to slow down a little bit. It's northern Indiana," Klotz said. "It's unfair for Jason to take a beating on that when it was a group decision."

Peters noted that November and December saw more snowfall than in the previous five years, putting additional strain on resources.

Superintendent Peters explained that the highway department uses a targeted approach to salt and sand application rather than treating all roadways. "We target areas such as hills, curves, and intersections," Peters said.

He advised citizens with concerns about specific areas to contact the sheriff's department. Deputies can assess whether highway crews need to respond or if the issue stems from drivers traveling too fast for conditions.

The discussion highlighted ongoing challenges facing county highway departments: balancing limited salt supplies, managing holiday staffing, and meeting public expectations during winter weather events.

County officials emphasized that salt conservation remains necessary to ensure supplies last through the entire winter season.