Notification from the Sanitation Department

January 5th 2022 

ATTENTION:  The Sanitation Department garbage trucks are having difficulty with the ice getting up some of the steeper hills around town to gather trash.  The trucks are chained up but they are two wheel drive.  Conditions are such that there is concern the truck could slide down a hill creating a dangerous situation. 

Gravel roads typically are not salted as the salt softens the gravel and then creates large ruts and challenges with plows and equipment digging into the road ways.   

Public Works has salted all intersections this week and has begun to spread small amounts of salt in areas that historically did not have salt dumped on them.  This is being done in an attempt to soften the top layer of ice to get the sand to stick for better grip.    

Magnesium Chloride is typically applied to roads as a pre treatment or when there is a thin layer of ice present.  With the ice as thick as it is, and with temperatures as cold as they are the magnesium chloride has minimal effect.  The colder the temperatures are the less effective salt and magnesium chloride are. 

 Public Works is asking if people who’s garbage cans are missed, if it is possible to please bring them down the hill or out to the main road depending on your location.  Once out to the main road operators can make another pass to gather cans that were missed.  If this is not possible can you bring your can to the City Transfer Station to empty there.  The forecast is calling for warmer temperatures beginning early next week.  Public Works is hopeful some of the ice will break up with the warmer temperatures and we will be able to resume normal operations then.  Our apologies for the inconvenience. 

Areas that have been difficult to access this week include 

Upper Ash St 
Sunset Blvd and Ocean View Dr 
Mill Park 
Most sideroads heading out Zimovia Hwy (Phillips St, Rilatos Hill etc.) 

Please call the Public Works Department with any questions or concerns.  Public Works can be reached at (907) 874-3904.

Thank you.
Tom Wetor
Public Works Director