Interim Public Works Director Joe Kuhlenbeck says his crews were short-handed last winter due to a hiring moratorium and financial worries caused by the pandemic. And in the past, the plows would focus on the hills and main streets first.
"We want to get into the residentials at the same time, that's why the increase in employment and the increase in the use of private contractors. So when we deploy, we deploy everywhere, and we stay on it a little bit and hope we can maintain our residential areas a little bit better."
The new people he wants to hire will become full-time employees of the city, working during the rest of the year for the streets and parks departments.
"The city's fleet is pretty vast - we definitely have enough equipment, trucks, and plows. If we have the bodies to bill them we have enough to get out there and hit the city snow plan with all the equipment that we need."
Kuhlenbeck says Moline has about 700 miles of roadway to be cleared during winter storms. People can check the Public Works website for updates on which streets have been cleared and where his crews still have to work.
