The blizzard expected to sweep over New Jersey this week didn’t live up to its potential, with local forecast amounts dropping from a "snowstorm of the century" to light drizzle and icy rain over the weekend.
By:Vanessa S. Holt and David Koch
Area Public Works crews expected the worse and prepared accordingly, said local officials.
In Bordentown City, Mayor Zigmont Targonski, Police Chief Phil Castagna and Public Works Manager Bob Erickson met on Sunday morning to map out their plan to deal with the potential storm.
"It was really overblown," said Mr. Erickson. Although Mr. Erickson said he had believed the storm would not turn out to be as bad as predicted, city snowplows and salt trucks still were ready for the worst.
"It’s been a hard year because there were so many storms," said Mr. Erickson.
So far this year, about five storms have dumped a total of some 2 feet of snow in the region, slightly more than an average winter.
Bordentown City has about six snowplowing vehicles and one salt truck. Every road in the city gets salted when there is a snowstorm, said Mr. Erickson, and city plows also go down every street.
Mr. Erickson said narrow streets such as Mary or Thompson Street are thoroughly plowed so city workers can collect garbage on schedule without having to contend with vehicles parking far away from the curb and impeding garbage trucks.
Garbage collection was scheduled as usual for this week. The only time in recent memory that the city missed garbage collection was during the blizzard in January 1996.
Although the budget for this year has not yet been formulated, Mr. Erickson said he expected allowances would need to be made for snow removal, supplies and overtime hours.
"It’s nothing unusual," Mayor Targonski said of the preparation efforts. "Public Works already have the equipment ready to go."
The city normally budgets $3,000 to $4,000 for snow removal. Mayor Targonski said he does not expect the costs will be significantly higher this year. The last major snow removal effort occurred in 1996, when about 3 feet of the white stuff fell in the region.
"Right after that storm, I bought a snow blower," said Mayor Targonski. "It’s more than paid for itself."
As of Monday afternoon, the snow accumulation was still slight and roads were clear.
"The storm’s a dud," said Mr. Erickson.
"The media got everybody hyped up," added Mayor Targonski.
Next door, Bordentown Township also was preparing for heavy snowfall.
"We were well in advance prepared for any snowstorm," said Bordentown Mayor William Nine.
Trucks had been salting the streets since Sunday night in Bordentown Township. A combination of salt and sand was added to the roads Monday morning. Officials were ready to start plowing if heavy snow started falling.
Although there were no figures given, Township Committee members said this has been one of the most expensive years in recent memory for snow preparation.
"We’ve spent more in money and time this year than any since 1995," said committee member Pauline Angelo.
Florence Township police and public works officials also began mapping out their strategy to deal with snow removal over the weekend, salting and sanding the roads on Sunday night when frozen rain, sleet and light snow began to fall.
"We don’t want to be unprepared in the event that it does happen," said Mayor Michael Muchowski. "But it’s frustrating to put out all the time and money when it doesn’t."
Florence Township Business Administrator Richard Brook said the township already has spent more this year than in recent years on snow removal.
The snow removal costs for the township this year could exceed $20,000, he said, including expenses for salt and sand, overtime and service to condominiums in the township.
Municipal governments weren’t the only ones preparing for the worst this weekend. Local supermarkets, hardware and video stores were bombarded by residents preparing to be snowed in for a couple of days.
The ShopRite in Bordentown Township on Route 206 stocked up on milk and had extra employees ready for weekend customers. Saturday was the busiest rush for a snow storm on area supermarkets so far this year, said ShopRite General Manager Kevin Young.
Apps Hardware on Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown City had only six snow shovels left after the weekend. Employee Eric Goos estimated that a couple thousand pounds of rock salt were sold this weekend.
T and V Home Video owner Ed Tobiens in Florence said his new release shelf was almost emptied over the weekend. Many people, expecting to be snowed in, rented four or five movies to entertain themselves and their kids.
"This Sunday was equivalent to a Saturday night’s business," said Mr. Tobiens. "Maybe a little more."
