Talk of the Town - Whitley County

(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) After 27 years at the wheel of a snowplow, Whitley County resident Perry Ramsey has an interesting perspective on all that's changed and what has stayed the same. Below, Ramsey at his desk in the INDOT's Laud Unit -- a place you'll rarely find him with multiple projects going on at all times. 

By Jennifer Zartman Romano

Since 1982, Perry Ramsey has been among the county’s weather warriors – heading out in the worst winter has to offer in hopes of making roadways safer for citizens.

Ramsey, crew leader for the Laud Unit of the Indiana Department of Transportation, has seen great change in his 27 years behind the wheel of the snow plow.

“In the old days, you could sit at a light and put out a whole pile of salt,” Ramsey said. The old snow plows had valves and five speeds and it was up to the driver to determine how fast they had to drive to evenly distribute the sand or salt mixture on roadways.

Today, snow plows have become more high tech – featuring a computerized system that not only evening distributes salt, and other substances, providing snow plow drivers with a level of control and accuracy unachievable in the past.

“You’re putting out a more uniform amount per mile,” Ramsey said, noting the benefits. “Part of it is environmental. You’re not putting too much salt out there and you don’t want to use any more than you have to.”

At the price of granulated salt, between $70-$100 per ton, there’s a cost savings too. Since the state buys their salt in bulk, they get a lower price. Yet, when trucks carry on average eight tons of salt, depending on the route, drivers can use up that load within hours. How fast that load used up varies.

“It depends on the rate,” Ramsey said saying he can typically complete a round on his route with one load.

Another change has been the use of liquid calcium, a substance that is sprayed onto the salt as it exits the chute at the rear of the trucks. Ramsey said the substance is only applicable below 20 degrees.

“It just helps lower the melting point salt,” he said. Ramsey also said that although there is much discussion about the use of beet juice, it is interesting to note that the liquid calcium mixture used in Whitley County contain another food item – molasses!

In the early days of driving the snow plow, Ramsey recalls sand was used frequently. “We don’t use sand much anymore,” Ramsey said. “Occasionally we will if we have hard-packed ice, but even then we only use a 50/50 mix.”

“It really has no de-icing benefit to it,” he said. “You have some traction when it is on the road, but once it’s off there, it isn’t doing anything. Then, it can be more detrimental.”

Ramsey said that while salt desolves, sand, as it builds up along the side of streets roads gets into drains and clogs them. “I like salt better. It is just more effective,” Ramsey added.

The blades on snowplows have also changed during Ramsey’s career. Early on, the blades were made of softer metals and as they roared down the roadway, it wasn’t uncommon to see trails sparks flying as the metal fragmented off, wearing them down over time.

Today’s snow plows feature 12-foot carbide blades that are strong and while sparks can still be seen flying over the hood occasionally, the new blades last much, much longer.

Ramsey also adds that snow plows now feature diesel engines – helping them to run better in cold weather than the old gas engines did when he first began.

“There have really been a lot of improvements in the past decade,” he said.

A further change that has affected Ramsey: weather forecasting. Much of his time on and off duty is spent monitoring weather conditions since they are the best indicator of if and when he’ll be putting in long hours. He checks weather radar online frequently, and can see it on television as well. But, as he’ll tell you, forecasts aren’t always helpful!

“I think the weather forecasting this year has been the worst I’ve ever seen,” he said.

The advances in modern technology, including the internet, voice mail and cell phones have enabled Ramsey to lead a bit more carefree lifestyle. Early on in his career, he had to stay at home near the telephone in case he would be called in to work. Now, with a cell phone, he can leave the house and participate in hobbies and really enjoy his time between shifts in a way he was unable to in the early years of plowing snow.

For many years, Ramsey’s route carried him up and down SR 205, but this year he was up for a change and is now running a route that carries him from SR 9 near Airport Road south to a short portion of East Van Buren Street, back to SR 9 and south to SR 114 at the Whitley-Huntington County Line. While he travels up and down that stretch of roadway during his sometimes 12-16 hour shift, drivers cover similar paths on ten other highway routes across the county using the Laud Unit’s 11 trucks. Laud Unit covers all of Whitley County and into portions of all surrounding counties.

With so many years at the wheel, Ramsey has seen a lot and feels that his experience gives him a unique perspective on people’s driving habits, which he says, seem to have gotten worse since he began plowing snow. “Traffic is up over 500% and people’s driving seems to have gotten worse,” Ramsey said. “I see a lot more aggressive driving.”

Ramsey, who says he personally hates driving on ice, looks at winter weather travel differently as well because of his job. “I think it makes you more prone to prioritize what’s necessary – I’m certainly not going to go out in this type of weather for a case of pop or something,” he said with a laugh.

Though his job has sometimes made family life challenging – as it did one year when the opening of gifts on Christmas day had to be delayed, he appreciates the fact that his job keeps families safe. Family is important to Ramsey. He and his wife, Lori, have raised two sons – Justin and Tyler Ramsey.

There’s a certain amount of adrenaline and excitement about getting ready to face the winter’s worst weather and while many snow plow drivers look forward to the first snows of winter, by February, after long shifts, people start to get…well…tired and crabby.

“By February, I’m ready for a little rest,” Ramsey said in January. “We all are.”

With spring comes new projects as the Laud Unit transitions from plowing snow to mowing ditches, patching roads, fixing culverts and tiles or digging ditches.

Ramsey said he enjoys the challenges of his job and enjoys what he does. “I like doing this. I feel like I’m helping keep people safe,” he said.