FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

GRAND HAVEN, Mich -- The Ottawa County Road Commission wowed the judges at the American Public Works Association Midwest Michigan Branch 2018 Snowplow Roadeo with its Breast Cancer Awareness Month themed plow truck -- the winning entry in the Pride of the Fleet competition at this year's Roadeo.

The OCRC was announced as the winner of the event on Wednesday, Oct. 10, during the event, which took place in Norton Shores.

The winning entry embraces October as being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The front plow was painted pink by Assistant Equipment Supervisor Rob Franklin and his summer high school help, with graphics created by the Road Commission's sign shop.

In addition to the pink paint, the front plow is emblazoned with snowflakes, an outline of a pink ribbon and the words "Fight the fight, find the cure." The truck's side wing plow is also decorated with pink ribbons and snowflakes, along with a pink blade along the bottom.

The Road Commission also took home top honors in the Innovative Idea award category. The OCRC's winning entry was its detachable wing support bracket for its plow trucks.

The detachable wing bracket -- which supports the side wing plow -- is attached via bolts. This allows the bracket to be easily removed in the summer months for stone chip seal road work.

In stone seal operation, the truck's buffalo hitch needs to be exposed so that the chip spreader can be attached. 

With a traditional setup, the wing bracket is in the way. By bolting on the bracket instead of it being permanently fixed to the truck, the Road Commission is given the flexibility of using its trucks in the winter and for additional work in the summer.

In addition to the two awards, the OCRC's Coopersville garage placed in the top five of the 30 teams that competed in the Snowplow Roadeo road course.

The competition is an obstacle course designed to simulate actual snowplowing operations where drivers are timed and scored for accuracy, safety and speed. The competition -- which also includes an educational component -- requires each team member to complete the course independently and the scores are combined for a team total.  

Each city/county is allowed one team of two drivers for each garage facility, with the OCRC having competitors from all four of its facilities at Wednesday's event.

To learn more about the APWA Snowplow Roadeo, visit http://michigan.apwa.net/.