Wondering why you’re seeing snow plows in October?
Overland Park’s snow crews are already gearing up for winter weather. These dedicated drivers are ready to handle whatever Mother Nature throws their way, ensuring our streets stay safe and accessible all season long.
With more than 2,000 lane miles of streets and bridges to maintain, including more than 2,000 cul-de-sacs and 59 bridge decks, our snow plow drivers play a vital role in keeping Overland Park running smoothly during winter storms.
Over the next several weeks, snow plow drivers will participate in training courses and practice routes across the city. These courses focus on key skills like using the wing plow to move more snow with each pass, backing up safely and navigating tricky areas. Each driver must complete this training annually to ensure they’re fully prepared before the first snowfall.
Snow Crew Spotlight
Meet some of the hardworking drivers who will keep Overland Park’s roads clear this winter:
David Kendrick
First Snow Season
City of Overland Park Maintenance Worker David Kendrick is gearing up for his first season as a snow plow driver, and he’s hoping for a snowy winter to put his training and skills to the test! After receiving valuable guidance from veteran drivers, David feels confident and ready to hit the streets. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting, playing video games and staying active at the gym.
Dusty Wallace
8 Years
Heavy Equipment Operator Dusty Wallace is following in his father’s footsteps as a driver. Now in his eighth year with the City, Dusty operates a variety of heavy equipment, often behind the wheel of snow plows and other vehicles. His focus is always on making the streets safe for residents. As a Marine Corps veteran, Dusty enjoys taking fellow veterans deer hunting in his spare time, organized through a local organization. When he’s not behind the wheel, Dusty also enjoys trout fishing and spending time with his two rottweilers, Beamer and Lulu.
Dianna Mahaney
20 Years
After 20 years of driving, Dianna Mahaney still values yearly training as a great way to refresh her skills. When she’s not gearing up for snow season, Dianna is a grounds operations specialist at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. She takes pride in driving slowly when operating snow plows, ensuring she does the best job possible. In her spare time, Dianna enjoys water aerobics classes at Matt Ross Community Center as well as cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs, often hosting watch parties at her home on game days.
Interested in joining our team? You can be part of the crew that keeps Overland Park moving! Check out open positions and apply on the City’s website.
For more information on winter storm operations, visit opkansas.org/Snow.