Ramsey Resident - 2019 - January/February

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Salt and Ice Control To better understand ice control and what methods the City uses to provide traction on streets in the communi- Sand is primarily used as an abrasive to provide tempo- Sand on its own does not have ice-melting capability. rary traction. Sand works best on hard packed snow where it can embed itself into the snow and remain there. When weather or freezing rain. Salt has a practical Pure salt is used on all of Ramseys primary roads and intersections to help control ice. working temperature of 15 to 20 degrees F. Water normally freezes at 32 degrees, but with the introduction of salt, Before a dry de-icing chemical can act, it must dissolve into a brine solution. Brine is the term come from snow on the road surface or from water vapor in the air (humidity). Heat is required to At extremely low temperatures many of these sources are not available. - - ting provides moisture to make brine and speeds up the melting process. In addition, the wet salt has less of a ten- lost or wasted salt can be as high as 20 to 30 percent with the use of pre-wet- ting. Better Smiles With over 183 miles of roadway and some 860 plus intersections, the City relies on the Police Department for a Better Life and phone calls from citizens to alert the Public Works Department to problem areas that may occur because of extremely cold temperatures. Get the care you need and want with the Latest technologies by our talented and compassionate team. out of an intersection or by packing down the snow be- fore the salt has a chance to work. Maintenance crews a storm and sometimes problem areas occur before they can get back to complete the salting operation. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Public Works Superintendent Grant Riemer at 763- 433-9863. 10Ramsey Resident January/February 2019