Snow is deep, pockets not, for Winsted Public Works

WINSTED —  Although the Northwest Corner has been spared from most of this winter’s major snowfall events, Winsted’s Public Works Department has been required to dig deeper into its pockets to replenish this season’s road salt budget.

Interim Public Works Director Pat Hague told The Journal Tuesday that he was required to transfer $21,000 from the department’s road patching budget to its salt budget two weeks ago after funds appropriated this year for salt were depleted.

The town’s overall snow budget — which funds sand, salt and overtime labor expenses — for the current fiscal year is $297,594. Of that, $81,739 was set aside for winter salt and sand used by the Public Works Department.

The recent transfer allowed the department to purchase another 600 tons of salt for use on town roads.

“We have enough now for a couple more storms,� Hague said, adding that if there are several more significant snowfalls, the department will have to appropriate additional funds to allow the town to purchase more salt.

The town’s sand piles, however, have remained in good shape, with Hague expecting the current stores to last until about the end of March, generally considered the tail end of the season.

“Hopefully, we have enough for another month,� he said.

Hague said so far this season’s snowfall totals for the area sit at about 20 inches or so, excluding Tuesday’s several inches.

“And that’s way under our average total for the year,� he said.

But while Winsted has only had to plow itself out from under one or two major snow events, every time the roadways get slippery and slick during the winter months, town road crews are required to salt, sand and plow to keep the streets safe for travel.

“We still have to go out,� Hague said.

Whether there are 10 inches of snow on the ground or 2, the department must treat all 162 of the town’s roads — a total of 90 miles of pavement.

“The little storms are just as bad as the big ones,� Hague said.

One important money saver for the department has been the timing of the storms this winter, with many occurring during the regular Monday-to-Friday work week. This has kept the department’s overtime expenses to a minimum.

“We’re keeping good track of it, and we are at more than 50 percent,� Hague said of the overtime portion of the snow budget. “That’s helped out a real lot.�

In addition, the department recently resumed offering limited amounts of free sand for residents to use on their driveways and sidewalks.

The town’s budget crunch had forced public works to suspend the program last season and for much of this winter as a cost-saving measure. But Hague said the department is once again putting out a couple of buckets each day at the town garage on a first-come, first-served basis.

“It’s been working out OK,� he said.