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Glencoe Public Works chief ready for winter
The winter person in Glencoe Public Works General Superintendent Mike Moran is "yearning for the day I’ll be a summer person full time!" Karie Angell Luc~for Sun-Times Media
Updated: December 30, 2012 6:13AM
Mike Moran, Glencoe Public Works general superintendent, counts his holiday blessings while counting snow plow lane miles. It’s tough battling Old Man Winter when you’ve got Mother Nature fighting over the same Lake Michigan beachfront, but Mike Moran and crew are ready when holiday carolers start singing “Let It Snow.” Meet Mike Moran.
Q. Tell us about yourself.
A. I’m a resident of Third Lake, Ill., grew up in the City of North Chicago and attended the College of Lake County in Grayslake.
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. Fishing, golfing and spending time with family.
Q. How do you plan to spend the holidays?
A. With two of our three sons. My other son lives abroad in Finland.
Q. You’ve been with the Village of Glencoe for 33 years. Why is Glencoe such a special community?
A. Having worked for the City of North Chicago and Highland Park, many of the services provided are similar. The difference being, in the dedication of the employees to deliver these at a high level of performance and the appreciation shown to us from the warm residents of the village.
Q. How many lane miles make up a first pass in a snowstorm?
A. There are roughly 58 miles of streets and 59 acres of public parking areas cleared in a storm.
Q. Any other fun facts about snow removal?
A. Illinois averages about five severe snow events each season with January leading the pack of worst events. On average, 10 inches of snow equals about one inch of liquid. There is one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look just as good as your neighbor’s (lawn).
Q. How many plows in the fleet, etc.
A. The Village employs six large scale trucks, three medium duty trucks, four light duty trucks all with plows, three end loaders, two skid steers, four sidewalk tractors and two multi-use trucks all playing a role in the snow and ice control program.
Q. Not that you are a weatherman, but do you predict a snowy season?
A. If I could predict the weather with any accuracy I’d be a wealthy man. The best we can do is to try and be as best prepared for whatever comes our way.
Q. Are you a summer or winter person?
A. Being a lifelong resident of the area, I am yearning for the day I’ll be a summer person full time!
Q. Any funny stories from your time at Public Works?
A. Got a call once from a resident wanting to know why we turned off her hot water!
Q. What is your advice to residents about snow?
A. Caution is always the best policy, especially in early winter driving. Don’t forget to clear snow from around fire hydrants to keep them accessible to our friends in public safety.
Q. Cul de sacs … gotta love them to plow, right?
A. Driveways are the issue. As plows turn in at cul de sacs, snow will tend to drop out and be deposited in a driveway opening. Try as we might, when snow gets deep, it is a difficult task to clear these and we don’t like to aggravate our residents!
Q. What have you learned while working at the Village of Glencoe?
A. The day doesn’t pass when there isn’t something to be learned. I have had the good fortune to work with and for some talented and amazing people. My association with these folks has allowed me to gain valuable knowledge and experience as a public servant.
Q. Why is it so important to be a good Glencoe neighbor?
A. I think it’s important that we all lend common courtesies to all in Glencoe and elsewhere. A smile or a kind word is always appreciated by all.
Q. Why is Glencoe a great place, you think, to raise a family?
A. Great schools, great services and great people, quite a combination.
Q. What’s your wish for the New Year?
A. Good health and peace for all.
