For the fourth time this winter, crews have hit the bricks and plenty of other streets in Fulton.
Street crews left around 4 p.m. Tuesday to begin what would be an all-night project in trying to clear roads through a heavy snowstorm that closed several businesses and public places throughout Callaway County, including Fulton City Hall and the county courthouse.
It likely won't be the last time, either. The National Weather Service forecasts a 40-percent chance of snow Friday night and a 30-percent chance for snowfall Saturday. Lows and wind chills can be as low as -15 Wednesday night.
City Public Information Officer Darin Wernig said that early Tuesday, city officials anticipated about 6 inches on the ground in Fulton by the time snow let up Wednesday morning - putting the snowfall right at the line between the city's street management plan for lesser and more moderate snowstorms.
"We're going to try to avoid the 6-plus inch policies, but we're playing that by ear," Wernig said. "(Director of Administration) Bill Johnson or the mayor will ultimately make that decision."
The city's snow policy, which is available online at fultonmo.org/snowpolicy, states that in the event of a snowfall between 2-6 inches, crews are dispatched for more routine plowing and salting of roads.
Once a "substantial snow event" (between 6 inches to a foot of snow) is recorded, however, motorists can expect delays in clearing streets and limitations on what side of the road they can park.
"The City snow removal crews will strive to have every roadway opened to one lane of traffic within 48 hours once the snowfall has subsided," the snow policy ordinance states. "The crews will continue to remove the snow to the ditch line or back of curb within 72 hours."