JOHNSTOWN — The storm that pounded the region Friday and Saturday ate up enough money to support winter maintenance in Blacklick Township for a whole month, supervisor Chairman Joe Sherwood said Monday.
“Our budget is taking a real hit and that just means we’ll be able to do less this summer,” Sherwood said.
Many municipalities and Penn-DOT are still adding up the costs of clearing streets and highways during the near-record storm that dumped more than 2 feet of snow on much of the region.
Those same officials now are keeping an eye on another storm in the region that could dump up to 12 inches of snow.
From a statewide prospective, the winter has been costly, especially because of the high number of weekend snowfalls, on days when skeleton crews are usually scheduled.
“It’s been an expensive winter. We’ve been fighting a ton of storms on the weekends, said PennDOT spokesman Steve Chizmar.
As of Jan. 31, PennDOT spent $131.9 million of its $245 million winter maintenance budget, Chizmar said.
That figure does not include costs of snow removal this past weekend.
Chizmar stressed that even if snowstorms push PennDOT over budget, the roads still will be plowed.
But that means fewer dollars for more permanent improvements later this year, he said.
If the snow and ice were to stop now, many municipal officials say they would be OK from a budget standpoint.
“We did have a lot of overtime, but we should be OK. Of course it can’t snow until next winter,” Somerset Township Secretary Jack Biancotti said in a lighthearted moment.
The 2-foot storm of this past weekend took a toll on equipment, said Ray Guzic of Washington Township and Buzzy Shook of Cambria Township.
“It’s harder on the equipment we use for removing the snow,” Shook said. “The deeper the snow, the tougher it is on equipment.”
With heavy snows common in the northern end of Cambria County, officials in Patton and Carrolltown said they plan ahead, putting money in the budget for overtime and monitoring workers’ hours to minimize the financial drain.
“We’ve been keeping it pretty thin as far as additional overtime,” Carrolltown Manager Lonnie Batdorf said.
Patton Mayor Stephen Bakajza said budgeting for winter overtime is a given in his community.
On a positive note, Jackson Township Manager Dave Hirko said while snow has been heavy, the ice has been minimal, decreasing the amount of salt needed.
Local News
Related Photos
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PennDOT equipment removes snow Tuesday along Scalp Avenue in Richland Township in anticipation of the next storm. todd Berkey
Discussion
Another storm moves into region
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