This winter’s ongoing deluge of snow has left municipalities low on road salt and faced with the need to make budgetary adjustments to deal with the cost of those storms.
By John Tredrea, Special Writer
This winter’s ongoing deluge of snow has left municipalities low on road salt and faced with the need to make budgetary adjustments to deal with the cost of those storms.
Hopewell Township Administrator/Engineer Paul Pogorzelski said last week: “If we only knew how long this ‘winter’ will last! At this point we have enough salt for today. Our salt deliveries were stopped 200 tons short of our requested 750-ton order yesterday.
”This was due to a shortage in the port, according to our vendor. We have begun rationing use of our salt and limiting salt applications to streets and intersections with the greatest traffic volumes.”
On the budgetary side of the issue, Mr. Pogorzelski said: “The winter has definitely impacted our budget. We’ve spent our entire 2013 budget for salt already.”
Pennington is also facing problems with road salt.
”At present we do not have enough to finish the season,” Pennington Public Works Supervisor Jeff Wittkop said Friday. “We do have enough on hand for present needs. I do have an order in for more, but don’t know when it will be delivered.”
Pennington Borough Clerk Betty Sterling said, “We’ll most likely be over budget for overtime” due to the storms.
Early last Saturday morning, Pennington public works crews ploughed all the streets in the borough to their full width. This ensured adequate room for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
Also over the weekend, snow was cleared off the edges of North Main Street, to clear the parking spaces in front of businesses. Borough residents were made aware of these jobs via reverse 9-1-1 calls that were made before the work was done.
Hopewell Borough Administrator/Clerk Michele Hovan said: “We’ve managed to get by, so far, with the limited salt supply — one storm at a time — and continue to do all we can to keep the roads as clear and safe as possible.
”The numerous snow events have had a financial impact, to be sure. Storm costs are never predictable and always expensive and we will find a way to fund what is necessary to ensure public safety.”