Beet juice part of snow plan

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Sugar beat juice is being added to the City of Norfolk's arsenal to combat slick streets this winter.

Jim Koch, city transportation director, outlined the snow removal plan, which doesn't have any major changes, during the city council meeting Monday.

The juice is added to a brine solution -- when the temperature falls below 15 degrees -- to treat streets and keep slush from freezing. A third liquid sander also has been added to the truck fleet.

Koch said plows will be called out for 2-inch snowfalls and even for lesser amounts if high winds are involved.

A 50-50 mixture of gravel and salt will be used to cut down on the amount of gravel washed down the storm sewers.

The city has 135 miles of streets to maintain. The annual open house on city snow operations will be 1-3 p.m. Friday at the street division on South Eighth Street.

"You do a great job," Mayor Sue Fuchtman told Koch at the end of his presentation.