They go by names like “475” and “474” right now, but some of Jackson’s snow plows are about to be bestowed with more interesting names from the community. The City of Jackson is now taking submissions on what to name five plow and salt trucks operated by the Department of Public Works.
Residents with name suggestions may submit them through the City website. The deadline to submit names is Friday, Jan. 21 at 5:00 p.m. Following the deadline, City staff will review the names, pick their top 10 favorites, and then have the community vote on social media. The top five names will be assigned to five rigs who have the important jobs of clearing City streets during winter weather events.
Local and state governments have held similar plow naming efforts in recent years. Public Information Officer Aaron Dimick looks at this as a fun challenge for the community. “We’re hoping to find some amusing name suggestions that reference the community, and are excited for what people in Jackson can come up with,” Dimick said. “Our plow trucks do a lot of important work in the winter, so it’s only fitting that we show appreciation by giving them better identities than just numbers.”
The City is starting with naming five plows in 2022 and will consider more naming efforts in future winters. Names deemed inappropriate by staff will be removed from consideration. In 2019, four leaf vacuum machines were named in a poll on the City’s social media. The winning names were Jack (for Jackson), Rose (referencing Jackson’s name as the Rose City), Ella (after Ella Sharp Park) and Cooper (after Cooper Street).