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Warm weather could save the city $1 million in snow-removal costs
Kathryn May, Ottawa Citizen
More from Kathryn May, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: December 13, 2015 | Last Updated: December 13, 2015 7:54 PM EST
Without snow so far this fall, the city hasn’t had to send out any crews, saving on salt, gas, vehicle maintenance, overtime of snowplow drivers and contracts with private snow-removal operators. Darren Brown / Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa’s unseasonably warm temperatures will save about $1 million in snow-removal costs and help reduce the $12-million deficit that piled up in winter operations over the year.
Coun. Keith Egli, chair of the transportation committee, said the savings should hit the $1-million mark by year-end if the warmer-than-usual weather continues for remainder of the month.
The city had budgeted $59 million for winter operations and estimates it will have spent about $71 million. Snow removal is a key part of winter operations, which includes pre-treating roads as well as removing ice and snow from roads, sidewalks and pathways.
Without snow, the city hasn’t had to send out any crews, saving on salt, gas, vehicle maintenance, overtime of snowplow drivers and contracts with private snow-removal operators.
Among those costs, Egli said the biggest expenses are salt and gas. As of Sunday, the city had dispatched salt trucks once so far this year during a freezing rainstorm. Some freezing rain was expected in the area Sunday night.
And if the mild weather continues into the new year, Egli said the city could spend less than the snow-removal budget set for 2016.
Ottawa’s snow budget is calculated on a yearly rather than seasonal basis. This year’s $12-million deficit was partly the result of huge snowfalls in March when the season is typically tapering off.
Egli said money earmarked for snow removal is built around five-year averages, using the average snowfall and number of trucks sent out for snow clearing as a barometer for future costs.
“Some years the averages work well and other years Mother Nature decides it’s not going with the average,” said Egli. “This year, who would think we wouldn’t have any snow? It’s a factor we can’t control.
“And without snow, I think people are also having trouble getting into the Christmas zone.”
Kathryn May, Ottawa CitizenMore from Kathryn May, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: December 13, 2015 | Last Updated: December 13, 2015 7:54 PM EST
Without snow so far this fall, the city hasn’t had to send out any crews, saving on salt, gas, vehicle maintenance, overtime of snowplow drivers and contracts with private snow-removal operators. Darren Brown / Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa’s unseasonably warm temperatures will save about $1 million in snow-removal costs and help reduce the $12-million deficit that piled up in winter operations over the year.
Coun. Keith Egli, chair of the transportation committee, said the savings should hit the $1-million mark by year-end if the warmer-than-usual weather continues for remainder of the month.
The city had budgeted $59 million for winter operations and estimates it will have spent about $71 million. Snow removal is a key part of winter operations, which includes pre-treating roads as well as removing ice and snow from roads, sidewalks and pathways.
Without snow, the city hasn’t had to send out any crews, saving on salt, gas, vehicle maintenance, overtime of snowplow drivers and contracts with private snow-removal operators.
Among those costs, Egli said the biggest expenses are salt and gas. As of Sunday, the city had dispatched salt trucks once so far this year during a freezing rainstorm. Some freezing rain was expected in the area Sunday night.
And if the mild weather continues into the new year, Egli said the city could spend less than the snow-removal budget set for 2016.
Ottawa’s snow budget is calculated on a yearly rather than seasonal basis. This year’s $12-million deficit was partly the result of huge snowfalls in March when the season is typically tapering off.
Egli said money earmarked for snow removal is built around five-year averages, using the average snowfall and number of trucks sent out for snow clearing as a barometer for future costs.
“Some years the averages work well and other years Mother Nature decides it’s not going with the average,” said Egli. “This year, who would think we wouldn’t have any snow? It’s a factor we can’t control.
“And without snow, I think people are also having trouble getting into the Christmas zone.”
