Mild Winter Cuts City’s Snow Plowing Cost by Half
Winter is not over, but it looks like Inver Grove Heights will end up saving tens of thousands of dollars on snow removal.
After last winter’s snow apocalypse, it seemed like the season never really arrived this year. Snowfall totals have been modest, so far, allowing Inver Grove Heights to keep almost $100,000 in its coffers. Between November 2010 and February 2011, the city spent $52,000 on overtime for snow plowing crews, and $121.340 on 1,896 tons of salt, said City Manager Joe Lynch. For the same months this winter, costs are down by $95,120. The city spent $62,120 on salt, and a mere $16,100 on overtime. Inver Grove Heights has no dedicated snow removal budget item for its 125 miles of local streets. Instead, expected expenditures are included in the general fund each year. The annual estimate is based on long term averages. “We have enough history to …
Tom Lawrence
10:09 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
If you use a lot of salt to melt the snow and ice doesn't the melted snow penetrate the asphalt, refreeze, and expand breaking up the asphalt creating potholes, cracking and damaged roadways? Growing up in Eagan as a kid they only used sand and let the snow pack down on the roadways to seal them. We had less cracks and damage than now (although I'm sure materials have changed!) I'm sure the wear … more ›