Clearing the C1
Landscapes project supervisor Bart Davis gives a behind-the-scenes account of how grounds and facilities management cleared campus roads, walkways and parking decks after last week’s inclement weather.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, a winter storm descended on the Southeast, leaving the UNC Charlotte campus and roads covered in a thin layer of snow. The University entered C1 protocol, and while some faculty, staff and students prepared to work remotely, Davis and the grounds team were outside restoring safety to the campus.
“The roads and bus pull offs are a high priority,” said Davis. “Dining areas are one of the most important areas to clear because they never close when students are on campus.”
When inclement weather is forecasted, facilities management assesses the situation and devises a plan. Once the weather hits, crews of five to 10 are deployed to different sectors of campus. The teams communicate constantly to identify problem areas. The crews treat and pre-treat roads, walkways and parking decks, a process that sometimes forces some to work in shifts through the night and sleep in residence halls and offices.
Davis took surface treatment to a new level this time in the form of a handmade invention. Davis, who creates metal art in his free time, welded a hitch to the front of his truck and attached an ice melt dispenser. By putting the ice melt dispenser in the front, he was able to disperse the product more efficiently and load upwards of 600 pounds of product into the bed of the truck.
“It was a big game-changer because I could put so much ice melt in the bed of the truck and haul it around without having to go back to the shop,” Davis said.
This modification came in handy when it came to Craver Road, the hilly road that cuts through the heart of campus, dividing Popp Martin Student Union and the CHHS/CoED Plaza. The road had originally been closed in anticipation of the campus condition change on Wednesday. Davis had other plans.
“I said, ‘No, we’ll have it cleaned up.’ I filled the truck to the brim, and I went up and down Craver probably six times and put out probably 250 pounds of ice melt and within an hour and a half, it was gone,” Davis said.
Snow is a rarity in Charlotte. Still, the grounds team stays prepared for anything. Shop manager Bill Allerton tests snow-clearing equipment before Thanksgiving every year to make sure they’re ready when needed.
“Even a little snow can cause a lot of havoc on campus with the buses and the students,” Davis said. “We would rather be overprepared than underprepared.”
Davis, who has worked at UNC Charlotte since 2012, has responded to all types of inclement weather events. Ultimately, he feels his team is in the best position to respond to any weather crisis and keep the campus community safe.
“Every snowstorm is different, and every time, we learn a little something,” Davis said. “It’s gotten easier because of the number of guys we have plus the knowledge that all of the team members have combined.”