More snow on top of last week’s heavy snowfall means more work for Marion County workers trying to plow the roads; and drivers are being warned to be cautious, as well as patient waiting for roads to be cleared.

The county has limited manpower and equipment, so plows are only on the streets from 4:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. unless otherwise directed by County Engineer Tyler Christian. Crews are responsible for a total of 860 miles of road in the county, with 650 miles being gravel.

He tells KNIA/KRLS News homeowners on the county’s roads should beware of shoveling or dumping snow right in front of their driveway, because it could very easily be pushed back and build up on them.

“And what we’ve seen a lot this week is, we get done with our operation and then a homeowner or resident will push snow back out into the middle of the road…which could then get tracked down and become an icy spot or be an obstruction for someone. Our ordinance says we’re not liable for that,” Christian says.

Drivers also have to take into account how much time plows can spend on roads; some roads may take more than one pass, but the county crews have a lot of area to cover and may not get back to a particular stretch of road for a while.

Plus, budget limitations and crew fatigue have to be taken into account when deciding how long to keep drivers out on the highway. Christian says they don’t have enough personnel to do multiple shifts, and drivers need to rest after a 16-hour day.