Chicopee copes with snow costs

Date: 2/5/2015

CHICOPEE – With three storms already this year, the city of Chicopee has spent between $400,000 and $500,000 in snow removal, but Mayor Richard Kos and Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent Jeffrey Neece believe this year’s total might be more than last year even if the city has its usual amount of 60 inches of snow.

A greater cost is expected because of the cost of salt increased about 30 percent more than last year, Neece said. The city could see a hike of about $100,000 for salt.

Despite a possible increase, Kos has conveyed his philosophy of snow removal to Neece: “more is better.”

Kos explained effective snow removal is not only a public safety issue but also an economic development one.

The city spent $749,000 on last year’s winter, Neece said. With $349,000 spent on salt alone, a 30 percent increase accounts for an extra $100,000.

 Kos said the final number for this year could approach $1 million. The state allows municipalities to deficit spend on snow removal and other emergencies and Kos added, “You don’t really budget an amount you don’t need.”

The city has about 150 vehicles clearing the 23 square miles of city roadways and Neece said about 60 percent of those are private contractors. Although he praised the job they do, he noted there is turnaround among the private drivers and the most significant problem is making sure less experienced drivers understand how to plow intersections without blocking sidewalks.

Kos added the large piles of snow at intersections are “band for visibility and access to the sidewalk is compromised.”

Both Kos and Neece explained how the city treat major roads with a liquid that lowers the freezing point of water keeping the initial snow slushy and easier to move. Plowing starts when there are four to five inches on the surface.

Neece said the Monday storm required the plow crews to make three passes on all city streets. Most storms require just two. He added drivers rest two to three hours for every eight to 12 hours they put behind the wheel.

Both men also stressed the need for people to understand the city’s parking rules during a winter storm. There is no parking on “main roads,” which are defined as any thoroughfare that is divided by a painted line. Secondary and residential streets under a parking ban have a simple rule: if it’s an odd year – such as this one – parking is allowed on the odd side of the street.

Kos said, “One of the most difficult parts, costly parts is addressing parking bans.”

The city will tow cars and 70 were removed during the snow clearing operations on Monday.

Kos urged the public to call the DPW at 594-3557 with questions or issues and asked residents to sign up for Everbridge, the city’s emergency alert program, by going to https://ww2.everbridge.net/citizen/EverbridgeGateway.action?body=home&gis_alias_id=970791.