El Paso County crews to participate in annual snow school training today

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Winter weather that brings snow and ice doesn't just come in the winter; we've seen it come in mid-fall and in early spring.

So, El Paso County public works crews must prepare for snow removal and related tasks ahead of time, in good weather -- whether crews are new or experienced.

That's the purpose of the annual "snow school" training event.

It helps crews learn and refresh their skills, including how to plow snow properly, put snow chains on their tires, and other duties.

You may not realize how large the county is: Hundreds, if not thousands, of roads, many of them unpaved, and as far as 40 miles from the Colorado Springs city limits.

It takes an appropriately large staff to cover that much territory.

Supervisors say that a full call-out for a winter storm event is 140 people, and last season, the county was close to being fully staffed, with 135 drivers.

The height of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced those numbers significantly.

In response, the county eliminated some job requirements, such as having a high school diploma, and raised pay and benefits to attract new employees and retain existing workers.

The county has also found success in outreach programs that have continued since the pandemic.

Supervisors occasionally host students at the transportation complex and make presentations at schools, exposing students to a possible career in public works.

The county will allow media to watch the training between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. today; KRDO 13's The Road Warrior will have a full report at noon.