The Southwick DPW continued to clear the roads on Feb. 24 after the Feb. 23 snowstorm.
Reminder Publishing photo by Cliff Clark
SOUTHWICK — With one snow event after another over the last two and a half months, the DPW continues to rack up snow removal costs, but as much snow as the town has gotten, there’s a possibility the cost won’t exceed last year’s.
“It’s been one heck of a winter,” said DPW Director Rich Bosak on Feb. 24 as the town’s plows continued to push the snow that fell on Feb. 23.
There had been expectations of considerably more falling, but Bosak said most of the town got between 6 and 8 inches.
And while most of the snow fell on Feb. 23, Bosak said the town’s crews and private contractors were on the roads on Feb. 20 and 21 to clear a small storm that swept through.
In addition to thanking the DPW crews and private contractors for their hard work, Bosak wanted the Southwick Police Department to be recognized for their help.
“They were our eyes out there,” he said.
Bosak has been preparing reports about the cost of each storm, and when in front of the Select Board in January, the monster storm that left 18 inches on the ground had just barreled through the region.
“It’s going to be a big one,” he told the board about the estimated cost on Jan. 26, which held its meeting remotely because Town Hall was closed that day.
On Feb. 24, Bosak said the total cost of that storm was $83,667, which included $56,965 for private contractors, $14,172 in overtime and $12,530 for 121 tons of salt.
He estimated that the Feb. 23 storm will cost a bit more than half of the Jan. 25 storm.
Less than two weeks after the monster storm, an inch of snow fell on Feb. 7, which cost a total of $25,644, including $8,420 for private contractors, $4,716 in overtime and $12,530 for 121 tons of salt.
Each year, Town Meeting approves $111,500 for snow and ice removal, using that figure as essentially a placeholder in the budget because there’s no way to estimate what will end up being spent.
So far, the town has spent about $312,500 on snow removal. If Bosak’s estimate holds, that would be about $355,500 minus the $111,500 placeholder for a balance of $244,000.
That is over $26,000 less than the $270,000 allocated last year, which, added to the placeholder of $111,500, meant taxpayers were on the hook for $381,500.
With spring only 24 days away, it’s possible taxpayers will spend less for snow removal than last year.
But there is more forecast for later this week.
Over the past 10 years, the town has spent an average of $300,000 each year to keep the streets clear, which totaled $3 million.
However, the final cost has been as high as nearly $411,000 in 2018 and as low as $141,500 in 2016, according to the town’s Finance Committee annual report.
When plows are out pushing snow, mailboxes will occasionally be damaged, either by a direct plow strike or by heavy, wet snow being pushed into a single box or bank of boxes along the right-of-way, Bosak said.
According to the town’s snow and ice policy, mailbox owners should check the post annually to ensure sturdiness and that the box is securely attached to the post.
Plow drivers are required to report when they believe they have damaged a mailbox. But there are occasions when the drivers don’t know they’ve hit one.
“Provided the mailbox does not intrude or hang over onto the paved portion of road, if a mailbox is damaged, the homeowner shall report this to DPW at 413-569-6772 within 36 hours of the storm to ensure proper investigation by the DPW director or his/her designee,” according to the town’s policy.
Bosak said when there is a report made, the department will investigate to determine if the cause of damage was from a plow strike, pushed snow, or if the post was rotted or cracked.
