Whitman County commissioners met Tuesday to discuss plans for handling the inclement weather and one member’s experience volunteering at COVID-19 clinics.

People may have noticed that it has snowed over the last few days, said Mark Storey, county public works director. The commissioners did not want the snow to get ahead of them, so they had crews work over the holiday weekend to plow the snow. 

Storey said this was expensive for the county, but the commissioners are trying to prevent the fallout that happens with a fast melt. The weather forecast predicts an increase to 44 degrees on Friday. 

“I’m hoping we aren’t going to have a fast melt. That could create a lot of problems,” he said. “Do your snow melt off dances.”

Brandon Kruger, maintenance operations manager, said the amount of snow varies across the county. Pullman acts as a barrier, but the snow gets deeper in some areas because of the wind. 

Kruger said any questions or requests regarding snow plow schedules should be directed to him. 

Commissioner Tom Handy said he spent the weekend volunteering at COVID-19 clinics. Handy volunteered at Pullman Regional Hospital and the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Health Clinic where he handled the transportation of the COVID-19 vaccines. 

The operations at the clinics run differently. He said clinic staff moved a lot of people from all over the county through the hospital and SEL clinic. 

“The amount of teamwork that is happening between the health department, WSU and all of the medical professionals is incredible,” he said.