Latest winter storm to shift supplies, cost

In terms of ice and snow removal from Eastern Iowa streets and highways, this winter has not been quite as bad as last year - but that is likely to change soon.

Cedar Rapids

Through the end of January, the city of Cedar Rapids, which maintains 1,400 lane-miles of streets and roads, has used 6,100 tons of salt and 6,000 tons of sand. That compares with 6,700 tons of salt and 7,500 tons of sand at the same point last winter, according to Craig Hanson, public works maintenance manager. So far this winter, city employees have recorded 2,830 hours of snow-removal-related overtime; last year at this time they had clocked 3,720 hours. So far this winter, employees have not had to truck excess snow from downtown, which is a big generator of overtime costs, Hanson said.

Linn County

Linn County, which mixes salt with sand in a 1 to 3 ratio, has used about 1,200 tons of salt and 3,600 tons of sand in treating the 1,100 miles of roads that it routinely plows. Employees have recorded about $35,000 in overtime expenses, which compares with $55,000 through all of last winter. Much of that overtime will be paid in compensatory time off, according to County Engineer Steve Gannon.

Iowa City

So far this winter in Iowa City, workers have used 2,800 tons of salt and 500 tons of sand, which compares with 3,500 tons of salt and 2,500 tons of sand for all of last winter, according to John Sobaski, assistant streets superintendent. Last winter the city spent about $583,000 on snow and ice removal; costs so far this winter have been about half that, Sobaski said.

Fayette County

Fayette County's snow and ice clearance costs so far this winter total $439,000, which compares with $512,000 for all of last winter, according to County Engineer J.D. King. The county has used 1,010 tons of salt and 3,050 tons of sand on its 1,150 miles of road, King said.

- Compiled by Orlan Love of The Gazette