As autumn fades and winter slowly creeps into the Shenandoah Valley, JMU Facilities Management is getting ready for the harsh weather, long before the temperatures drop.
Winter prep normally starts in late September or early October, and lasts for a little over a month. Preparation includes making sure the equipment is working and that staff are completing repairs as needed. To winterize the systems, groundskeepers blow air through the lines to remove water to prevent it from freezing during the winter.
Patrick Puffenbarger, assistant manager for landscaping, says JMU’s grounds staff uses the latest equipment, including trucks and trackers with plows, polar tracks and power brooms, to maintain the campus and keep everyone safe. The staff also uses snowblowers on the trackers, especially when the snow gets deep.
After campus has been plowed, there’s work to be done on the various athletic fields, he said. Since Bridgeforth Stadium is in use year-round, special blades can be added to the tractors to push snow off the synthetic turf.
“We monitor snow heavily by checking two to three weather forecasts,” Puffenbarger said. “Of course the weather is unpredictable, but the main thing is we’re more proactive than reactive.”
Another crucial part of snow preparation involves installing bright-orange drop inlet markers on all of the storm drains along the roadways to prevent damage from snowplows. The drop inlet markers are most recognizable along the perimeter walks of campus.
“Each snow is a little bit different,” Puffenbarger continued. “The procedure depends on when it starts, when students are here and holiday breaks. If snow occurs during a normal school operational day, we focus on the areas around the dorms and D-Hall first.
“Some of the hardest locations on campus to clear are parking lots and East Campus,” he continued, “because it tends to stay colder and ices over more easily.”
Environmental concerns are also considered when it comes to the staff’s snow plans. Instead of dumping the plowed snow near waterways, the landscaping team hauls it to a permitted site.
Reflecting on the dedication required for the job, Puffenbarger, who has worked for Facilities Management for 22 years, said his staff puts in a lot of work to keep students and faculty safe during harsh winters.
“We spend a lot of extra hours here, a lot of time away from family at home.”