The city of Madison received help from Dane County prison inmates to hastily remove the snow buildup on city streets after another winter storm Sunday.
According to the Dane County Sheriff's Office, the inmates volunteered to dig out fire hydrants around the area. The record levels of snowfall this winter buried hydrants so deep they would be hard to reach in a fire emergency.
Dane County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Matt Alsaker said a volunteer coordinator set up the program for inmates who are allowed to leave the Dane County Jail for work or volunteer efforts.
Any of the volunteer stuff they really like to do,"" Alsaker said.
Madison residents are encouraged to continue their own clearing if physically able, but Alsaker said many elderly residents are not capable of doing so. He said the inmates were enthusiastic about helping the community's elderly, noting that snow removal is a new volunteer project to the work-release program.
""They like to be able to get outside and do some physical labor and get some fresh air,"" Alsaker said.
Streets Division spokesperson George Dreckmann said the inmates' help is greatly appreciated, especially during this exceptionally snowy winter.
""If the inmates want to do it and the people in the jail want to supervise them or let them out on monitoring, great. It's something that needs to get done,"" Dreckmann said.
Cars violating snow emergency parking regulations would normally receive a $30 ticket and a two-day grace period before getting towed, but the city has begun towing vehicles immediately.
Dreckmann said it is vital streets remain clear after snowfall so ambulances, police cars and fire trucks can pass through. During the Feb. 6 snow storm, a snow plow had to clear the way for stuck ambulances trying to reach the emergency room.
""It's a step that is made necessary by the extreme amounts of snow [because] emergency vehicles can't get through,"" Dreckmann said.
