By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
For the second year in a row, the City of Kentwood’s Department of Public Work snowplow team has won the local Snowplow Roadeo.
On Oct. 6, the City of Wyoming Department of Public Works hosted the 2021 American Public Works Association Midwest Michigan Snowplow Roadeo and Equipment Show. The event featured a timed obstacle course where drivers from across Michigan competed to test their skills.
The roadeo provides an opportunity for public agencies to prepare for winter snow removal operations by training drivers, networking with each other and viewing a variety of useful products and services. More than 28 public agencies competed in this year’s Roadeo. Public administrators and elected officials, as well as other local celebrities were invited to operate snow removal equipment in a non-working/non-emergency atmosphere.
This year the Kentwood team of Jeff Bremer and Zach Wolford won the roadeo with Wolford also being named the top driver. The city also took home first place in the “Pride of the Fleet” competition.
“It is wonderful to celebrate Jeff Bremer and Zach Wolford as the winning driving team of this year’s Snowplow Roadeo,” said Kentwood Public Works Department Director Chad Griffin. “We look forward to the Snowplow Roadeo and Equipment Show each year as part of our training for winter snow removal operations. Placing well in the competition demonstrates the quality of our training and our commitment to excellence in the public works profession.”
Griffin along with Mike Kaminski won the 2020 Snowplow Roadeo and went on to compete in the national competition held annually in Loveland, Colorado. Bremer and Wolford will represent the APWA Midwest Michigan area at the national competition in October 2022.