A Snow Job That
Everyone Appreciates
by Bernie Fratto
March 2004
 

There’s an old saying that football teams are built in the fall, but football players are built in the summer…

I guess you could say the same for Benny McCusker and his team. When winter hits and the real games begin, the preparation and practices that began the prior summer, determine the ultimate success he has.

As the Director of the Department of Public Works, Benny McCusker has been with the City of Novi for 4 years. And in addition to overseeing roads, drains, water and sewer functions, snow removal is a big part of the overall services his team provides to the grateful citizens of old Postal Stop No. VI.

“We have a bare pavement policy,” Benny stated. In other words, when snow hits home, he and his crew swing into action to ensure that our roads are clear, safe, and able to provide thoroughfare. And, as with many things in life there is more to it than meets the eye, and this endeavor is no different.

It all starts with the “Snow fighters Handbook” which is the bible when it comes to all facets of snow removal. By the end of June, Benny McCusker and his troops are starting to assemble and get ready for winter, even though it is still 6 months away. Like I said, it’s all about the preparation.

A lot of mock training is done in the summertime; in fact they even compete in a Snowplow Rodeo in Southfield which takes place every year in the dead of summer! Employees are constantly drilled on the best use of equipment, how to calibrate spreaders, and the divide and conquer manifest so that all corners of the city are blanketed, especially those around high traffic areas.

Again, much like a football team and their gameplan, each “player” has a position and an area to cover, and in fact the City of Novi is broken up into 16 sections. Each geographic area is rotated and broken up periodically so no area ever feels like they are last on the list. The team starts out by covering major intersections, major thoroughfares, and high traffic areas, with the focus on stopping bottlenecks around malls and major freeway exits. Meanwhile all communications systems are kept sharp so trucks can communicate with trucks, and back to dispatch as well. All warning systems, route knowledge and department communications are critical from operations to maintenance.

And planning ahead is really the thing that makes the overall gameplan the most effective it can be. “We always try to stay ahead of the game,” McCusker said, “there’s nothing worse than seeing a salt truck stuck in traffic!”

Even before any of that takes place, McCusker and his team are tuned into storm tracker satellites that closely watch for impending precipitation. The weather alert system can track within ½ hour of an incoming major storm (anything over 4 inches is considered potentially major).

To get the trucks ready, they check the blades, the fluid levels, and all pertinent areas, so the vehicle can accommodate up to 8 hours of usage while battling a snowstorm. And even then there are backup plans and contingency plans for breakdowns. It has to be that way, each vehicle is on the hook to distribute 400 lbs of salt per mile. The chloride-based mixture is designed to melt snow and is a key component in keep the roads safe and clean during the tough winter months.

All in all Benny McCusker and his group of dedicated snow fighters oversee their responsibility with great diligence. They have taken over the bulk of the county roads like Grand River, Novi rd and 10 Mile rd, as well as parts of 8 Mile and 12 Mile.

There’s so much to know when it comes to battling the snow of a Michigan winter, it would be impossible to really tell the full story here in Profile Novi.

However, there is one story that is interesting to note. Both of Benny’s kids have relocated to Southern California! So they don’t have to worry about snow. But then again, with McCusker and his team at the helm, we don’t have to worry about it much, either.