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LAWRENCE: Winter snow, ice cleanup cost $330,000

By the time the last snowflake had fallen about a month ago, it had cost township officials nearly $330,000 to clean up for drivers and pedestrians, according to Lawrence Township officials.

By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
   By the time the last snowflake had fallen about a month ago, it had cost township officials nearly $330,000 to clean up for drivers and pedestrians, according to Lawrence Township officials.
   Some of the money came from the current budget and the rest came from the snow reserve fund. The municipal budget contains a dedicated snow reserve fund. If there is money left over, it can be carried into the next budget year — but only for snow removal purposes.
   The first of 20 “snow events” — both large and small — and a few more “icy conditions” events occurred in December. It continued to snow from time to time throughout January, February and March. The frequent snowstorms caused the public schools to close seven times, chewing up the three snow days built into the 2013-14 school district calendar and an additional four days.
   It was one of the costliest winters in recent memory, said Municipal Manager Richard Krawczun.
   While the snow was costly to the school district in terms of lost school days, it was also costly to Lawrence Township for the money that was spent on manpower and materials to keep township-maintained roads clear and the sidewalks shoveled around municipal buildings.
   The Lawrence Township Department of Public Works used about 3,000 tons of road salt on the 200 miles of municipally maintained roads and parking lots, plus the parking lots at the public schools. During a typical winter, the DPW uses about 1,500 to 1,600 tons of road salt.
   Between New Year’s Day and April 7, the township spent $98,636.11 on salaries and wages for Department of Public Works employees who drove the snowplow trucks and the mechanics who maintained them. This includes $74,000 in salaries and wages budgeted for 2014, and $24,636.11 from the snow reserve fund for salaries and wages.
   Lawrence Township also spent $231,296.72 for road salt, Mr. Krawczun said. It spent $21,462.94 in December from the 2013 budget, and the rest between New Year’s Day and April 7. A total of $61,431.73 was spent from the 2014 budget, and a combined $148,402.05 from the 2013 and 2014 snow reserve fund. There is about $37,000 left over in the snow reserve fund.