Snow removal cost about $43,000 so far

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The last four snowstorms of 2003 that deposited a total of 14 inches of snow on the city cost taxpayers $43,405.06, according to reports submitted by Street Commissioner Tom Patterson to the City Council.

The largest of the storms when the city received 7 inches starting Tuesday, Dec. 9, cost $18,086.58. Patterson reported 211 loads of snow were hauled, involving 328 man-hours, $10,375 in equipment rental and $880 in salt/sand material and contract hauling.

Only one hour of overtime was recorded, Patterson noted, and that was on the first day as snow was removed over a three-day period, starting Dec. 9.

However, the 3-inch snowfall on Nov. 23 which resulted in 117 loads being hauled required 240.5 man-hours, with 48.5 hours being overtime hours on Nov. 23. As with the other snowfalls, snow removal was accomplished over a three-day period at a total cost of $6,489.10.

A 2-inch snowfall Dec. 16 required 175 man-hours, with 13.5 hours being overtime on the first day, as 112 loads were hauled at a total cost of $9,958.12.

However, another 2-inch snowfall Dec. 18 only required 40 loads being hauled, with an expenditure of 169 regular man-hours and a total cost of $8,871.26.

The Street Department also reported the vacated coal-pile area next to the generation plant now is being used as a snow removal dump site prior to 6 a.m. After 6:30 a.m., the snow is hauled to the snow dump site at South German Park.