Geneva was one of 55 municipalities and agencies in the United States and Canada to be named a 2018 Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting Award winner from the Salt Institute.
The City has received national recognition for the sixth consecutive year for excellence in environmental consciousness and effective management in the storage of winter road salt. Geneva again earned high marks on the Salt Institute's checklist that graded safety and service, equipment, materials usage, snow plowing performance, tactical operations before and during a storm, storage and safety, and environmental measures.
The City put those procedures into practice in 2017-18 when the Public Works team plowed 34 inches of snow during 23 various winter weather events. Plow operators used 2,209 tons of salt to keep Geneva's 244 lane miles safe for motorists.
Having enough road salt on hand before storms hit requires advance planning and facilities that provide safe and efficient storage, according to the Salt Institute. The winning communities must also display proper maintenance and good housekeeping practices.
The Salt Institute is a non-profit trade association dedicated to advancing the many benefits of salt, particularly to ensure winter roadway safety, quality water and healthy nutrition.