2007-2008 OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARDS
Project Service Award
Team Project: Snow Removal During the March 1, 2007 Blizzard
Dan McClelland, Tom Ballou, Chuck Shaw, Roger Rose,
Craig Robarge, Chris Untiedt
On the evening of Thursday, March 1, 2007, most UMD staff were home.
The campus had closed at 1:00 that day, in anticipation of the blizzard
which had been predicted in advance. But there were some UMD staff from
Facilities Management Department that were not nestled safely at home
with their families, and we want to recognize their efforts today.
UMD grounds and fleet services crews dealt with unbelievable conditions
for several days as a result of that storm. Throughout Thursday night
and into Friday morning they struggled to keep the snow removal equipment
working and the snow cleared, so that emergency access to the campus was
available. With visibility so poor that a second crew member had to ride
along to watch for pedestrians and obstacles (so the driver could focus
strictly on plowing) they managed to keep the campus open for emergency
vehicles. At one point, Roger, Chris and Chuck even cleared the snow to
free an emergency vehicle. A fire truck was stuck over at Fire Hall 4;
our crew freed it and then cleared the Fire Hall driveway, since the City
crews couldn't keep up. Crew members were exhausted from the work but,
even after the storm had passed, continued to work long shifts for the
next 3 days so that classes could resume on Monday.
For your dedicated service during that March 2007 blizzard, I am very
grateful and pleased to present you with this project award.
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