11/7/2005
Media Contact:
Angie Nussmeyer, 327-2053
Donna Blackmon, 327-7868 |
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Student artwork adds splash of color to city snowplows
NDIANAPOLIS - Mayor Bart Peterson and the Department of Public Works (DPW) welcomed winter weather to the city today on Monument Circle with the help of local school children.
The department kicked off the snow season at Snowplowpalooza 2005 - DPW's Annual Snowplow Painting Contest. Twenty area schools participated in this year's event painting scenes from the theme "Winter Wonderland" on 31 of DPW's 91 snowplows. The plows will be used on snow routes throughout Marion County during the winter months.
"The Snow Plow Painting Contest is a wonderful way to get the community involved in our snow plan each year," said Jim Garrard, DPW director. "Asking local students to add their images of winter to our equipment is a great way to brighten the sometimes difficult and never-ending job of fighting the worst Mother Nature might send our way."
"It's a fun conclusion to the many months of preparation that DPW puts into snow planning and a great way to plow ahead into the winter weather season," added Garrard.
This year the city has 91 snow trucks equipped with plows and salt spreaders. An additional 39 pieces of equipment can also be mobilized to help clear residential areas in extreme weather conditions. DPW snow crews have worked to make snow routes more efficient, taken part in extensive training courses, and just two weeks ago conducted a "mock snow fight" to further prepare for the upcoming snow season.
"Safety and access are critical issues on our busy roads, especially during the winter season when motorists are faced with snow, sleet and ice on the city's many roadways," said Mayor Peterson. "Our snow crews have worked hard to prepare for any unpredictable winter weather. Our employees are trained, our equipment is working and our salt barns are stocked. We're ready for the first sign of snow."
Each participating school is invited to attend Snowplowpalooza 2005 and receives the Mayor's and DPW's thanks and recognition, as well as a certificate of recognition for their participation in this exciting program.
The schools' plows are judged individually and winners are placed in one of four categories. The city would like to thank this year's participants and congratulate all twenty schools on their outstanding contribution to the city's fleet.
The city would also like to thank the following area businesses that helped support this event through their generous donations of paint and supplies: Beam, Longest and Neff, LLC, Clark Dietz, Inc.,The Corradino Group, Douglas Brothers Painting, Inc., Farrar Garvey & Associates, LLC, Hannum, Wagle & Cline, Lester Painting, Inc., MD Wessler & Associates, Milestone Contractor LP, R.W. Armstrong & Associates, Inc., Reece Rebholz Company, Inc., Rundell Ernstberger Associates, Sherwin-Williams Paint Stores, Triad Associates, United Consulting Engineers, Inc. and United Water.
Snowplowpalooza 2005 Contest Winners
Best Use of Theme:
1st place - Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy
2nd place - St. Joan of Arc School
3rd place - Indian Creek Elementary and Lawrence Central High School
Best Use of Color:
1st place - St. Joan of Arc School
2nd place - Indian Creek Elementary
3rd place - Bridgeport Elementary
Most Original:
1st place - Pike High School
Best School Spirit:
1st place - Charity Dye Elementary IPS #27
2nd place - Merle Sidener IPS #59
3rd place - Center for Inquiry IPS #2
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