Splash photo by Kelly Moore Mike and Rich Peplinski stand next to their newest loader fitted with a snow blade and snow wing. The father-and-son team has contracted to plow snow for the city since it was incorporated in 2001. More News Greenstone Development continues NOLL K9 Unit Joins LLPD Front Line Goodbye 2025, Welcome 2026 Eat, Shop, and Be Merry Liberty Lake Leads in Manufacturing Innovation 2025 Election Liberty Lake 1st Lego League Back to School Winterglow a No Go 2025 Yard Sale Interactive Map Scroll Down to see and enlarge map 2025 Yard Sale Guide It's time to find some treasures during the 31st Annual Liberty Lake Community Yard Sale!

Search the News Archive

Snow business
2/1/2012 12:06:31 PM

By Kelly Moore
Splash Staff Writer

The father and son team at Peplinski Excavation has plowed snow off Liberty Lake's streets since the city's incorporation in 2001. Rich Peplinski said the amount of work they get from the city varies, but usually averages about a third of the company's business - in the springtime, they manage Liberty Lake's road repairs.

Plowing during winters like this one is slow, but the duo was ready to work when the mid-January storm hit two weeks ago. The Splash sat down with Rich and Mike Peplinski to learn more about the action plan for a snow event and what the guys do when temperatures are unseasonably warm.

Q: So what was your first thought two weeks ago when you woke up and we finally had snow in Liberty Lake?

A: Rich: Great! We love it when it snows because it gets us out of the shop.

Advertisement

Q: What is a snow day like for you guys?

A: Rich: Depending on the amount of snow, a typical day could be anywhere up to 24 hours of non-stop work. When we start plowing, it takes us 10 to 12 hours to go through the city. Then there's usually de-icing before and a lot of times sanding or de-icing after to maintain the roads. Usually after any kind of snow, it turns cold and then becomes ice, so we have to watch that. In the bad winter we had three years ago, we were all out for about 40 hours straight. The minimum is 18 to 20 hours. That's a typical day.

Q: How did the most recent snow event go for you guys?

A: Rich: Good. It was about the same. My only complaint is that it didn't snow enough.

Q: How do you guys decide when or when not to plow?

A: Rich: Whenever the snowfall reaches two inches and there's more coming in the forecast, we're here out on the main arterials. When it reaches four inches, that's when we start plowing the whole city, including the residential areas.

Q: What is the game plan when you set out?

A: Rich: We try and switch it up. Sometimes we'll start on the east end of the city and work our way west. This time we did the opposite. That way no one is always the last to get plowed out. The main roads are the priority. We always keep those open. Three years ago, we had 24 inches dumped on us in a very short time. We didn't get off the main roads for 12 or 14 hours. After it slowed down, we did residential streets, then turned around and went right back to the main roads.

Mike: We're coming from Newman Lake, so we usually start at Harvard Road at the city limits and work our way in from there.

Q: Are there any challenges you face when plowing in Liberty Lake?

A: Mike: Traffic and wind are always issues for us.

Rich: The wind creates drifting on streets like Molter Road. We'll have to come back every 45 minutes or so to keep plowing because the wind blows snow back into the roadway. It comes off the schools and the golf courses. But it's a high priority to keep that area open because of the school, so it's definitely challenging. We also see drifts on Harvard Road and Country Vista Drive. This last snow we didn't have any wind, so it was pretty simple.

Q: When people have places to go, I think snow days can be particularly frustrating when waiting for the plows to reach particular areas. I know it's a challenge, but do you ever get positive feedback?

A: Rich: Yeah, I think we've had positive comments. Probably no comment is a good sign. Really, we usually have everyone plowed within 7 to 8 hours after the snow quits, or after we get started. When you look at neighboring cities and how long it takes to get things plowed there, that's not a bad deal.

Q: What do you guys do during winters like this when there isn't much snow to keep you busy?

A: Rich: Well, we own a small construction company, and we do excavation work. If we aren't doing dirt work, we're working on equipment or bidding jobs to get ready for spring.

Q: Have you had time to work on any new plowing techniques? Maybe a top-secret move to prevent the dreaded end-of-the-driveway snow berm? 

A: Rich: (laughing) That is still under planning, so to speak.

Q: Honestly though, is it even possible to avoid that?

A: Rich: Unfortunately, no. Everybody gets a berm.

Mike: Free berms!

Q: Have you ever found interesting stuff in the road while you were plowing?

A: Rich: I can't remember anything out of the ordinary, but I do see a good amount of sleds. Kids leave them out in the road. The kids usually play on the cul-de-sacs and then leave their sleds out, so they get piled into everything. I'm sure they find them in the spring when the big berms thaw out.

Q: Is there anything people can do to make your job easier?

A: Mike: Moving cars and basketball hoops out of the street helps more than anything.

Rich: That's probably the biggest thing for us. Trying to negotiate around cars is extremely difficult. I think you'll find that with many municipalities, like in Spokane, they tow them. It makes things tight, and it's hard for us to make sure we can keep the roads open.

Mike: Usually when you get one or two cars, we're only able to plow an area about one lane wide. When you can get it out to the curb on either side, it makes it better for everybody.

Q: What is one thing you wish people understood about the plowing process?

A: Rich: It's hard to explain, but we have 90 miles of road to take care of, and we can't take the snow with us magically. We have to keep the roads open for emergency vehicles, and the only efficient way to do that is to plow it off to the sides. We're not trying to make extra work for anyone.

Q: So are you guys praying for more snow?

A: Rich: Sure, but the way things are going this year I think we're on a downhill slide to spring. If we plow once more, I think we'll be lucky.

Profiles:
Peplinski Excavation

Team
Father Rich Peplinski and son, Mike

Established
2007 (started plowing for city in 2001 under different company name)

Goal
Do the best quality work we can feel good about later

Latest company purchase
Loader fitted with snow blade and snow wing