Ice being cleared from campus parking lots

By Scott D'Amico, Staff Writer

Parking lot A, parking lot A North and parking lot A South has been closed Thursday for ice removal. Physical Plant Director J.B. Messer said the goal is to have these parking lots open tomorrow.           

On Friday, parking areas B and C will also be closed for ice removal, according to an e-mail sent to faculty and staff by OCCC Safety and Security Officer Kevin Tipton.        

Tipton’s e-mail stated that more areas of the parking lot may be closed for ice removal if time permits.          

Messer said Minick Materials has been contracted to work in removing the ice.          

“It makes sense for us to go ahead and start removing as much ice as possible,” Messer said.          

He said the work needed to be contracted out because the school doesn’t own any heavy ice and snow removal machinery.          

“When we get snow and ice that builds up like this we have to find other means to remove it,” Messer said.          

The ice clearing, which began Thursday, comes after a storm of ice and sleet blanketed much of Oklahoma City last weekend.           

A similar storm may approach the city again this weekend.          

According to The Weather Channel there is a 90 percent chance of snow on Saturday with the high on Sunday only reaching 38 degrees.          

Although the forecast is calling for more winter weather this weekend, Messer said the ice removal will continue if this new storm hits.

Staff Writer Scott D’Amico can be reached at onlineeditor@occc.edu.