You thought I forgot about this series, didn’t you? Nope, it’s all in the timing . . . or indicates my proclivity towards procrastination! (The Alders Snow meeting is today, cancelled last week due to snow.) Here’s a review of how much we have spent, how many workers we have and how much new equipment we have bought. This is part of a 5 part series on snow.
Part I – The Snow Report
Part II – Peculiar discussion during budget
Part IV – Comments on Paul Soglin’s posts on snow. Some good, some bad.
Part V – Suggestions/comments
You can skip past all the facts and see the conclusion at the end if you’re not interested in details. The data and information changed over the years but its mostly comparable.
BUDGET
1998
– Actual Snow & Ice Control $2,149,503
1999
– Budgeted Snow & Ice Control $3,908,702
– Actual Snow & Ice Control $2,679,603
2000
– Budgeted Snow & Ice Control $3,997,084 (23% of streets budget)
– Actual Snow & Ice Control $3,448,332
Salt is applied only to predetermined routes which cover bus routes, main streets, connecting streets and streets leading to and from schools. All other City streets, hills, intersections and railroad crossings are sanded. Calcium chloride will be used on specific salt routes on a limited basis during the winter season in order to measure its effectiveness. A snow accumulation of three inches or more requires that streets be plowed. In addition to the City’s 85-90 pieces of equipment available for plowing, the City employs private contractors capable of furnishing graders and endloaders for emergency plowing operations. Under normal conditions, a major plowing effort is completed in 12 to 14 hours. Snow removal from crosswalks, school crossings and bus stops is performed after each plowing
operation.
Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
1989-1990 1989-1990 34.8 in. 4 5,605 7,843
1990-1991 1990-1991 55.0 in. 3 5,836 7,733
1991-1992 1991-1992 42.4 in. 3 4,950 5,064
1992-1993 1992-1993 71.2 in. 4 7,147 5,563
1993-1994 1993-1994 73.7 in. 8 6,825 5,336
1994-1995 1994-1995 52.8 in. 5 5,910 5,664
1995-1996 1995-1996 60.5 in. 6 8,094 9,485
1996-1997 1996-1997 50.9 in. 6 9,862 8,256
1997-1998 1997-1998 53.9 in. 3 7,451 5,484
1998-1999 1998-1999 38.1 in. 4 6,644 9,227
50 Year Average Snowfall – 44.49 in. per year
50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 5.12 per year
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 96
Street Machine Operator 2 = 20
Street Machine Operator 3 = 21
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 6
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 7
Total Streets Employees* = 151
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
$400,500
2001
– Budgeted Snow & Ice Control $3,887,050 (21% of the Streets Budget)
– Actual Snow & Ice Control $2,488,071
– Same notes at 2000, include test on chloride solution.
– Update on snow info
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
1999-2000 1999-2000 34.1 in. 4 7,978 6,351
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 44.44 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 5.16 per year
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 96
Street Machine Operator 2 = 20
Street Machine Operator 3 = 20 (loss of one)
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 6
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 7
Total Streets Employees* = 149
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
$410,500 (plus $10,000)
Equipment – None
2002
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $4,069,662 (22% Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control $2,197,152
Budget Notes
– An increase of $30,300 in snow and ice control supplies, to reflect an anticipated increase in the price of salt.
– The creation of two new Street Machine Operator 1 positions, at a cost of $83,240, to better enable the Division to keep up with the growth of the City.
– Elimination of two Street & Sewer Maintenance Worker 1 (custodial) positions, and a transfer of related custodial duties to the Building Inspection Unit.
– Elimination of one vacant Street & Sewer Maintenance Worker 2 position, which was responsible for the maintenance of snow and ice equipment, leaf collection equipment and brush chippers, for savings of $45,053.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2000-2001 52.2 in. 5 12,485 10,555
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 44.30 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 5.06 per year
– a major plowing effort is completed in 12 to 14 hours. Snow removal from crosswalks, school crossings and bus stops is performed after each plowing operation.
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 99
Street Machine Operator 2 = 20
Street Machine Operator 3 = 20
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 3
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 148
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
$440,800
Equipment
$93,000 for a articulating tractor
Fixed Assets
Plow Frame For Tractor 1 2,000
Plow For Skid Loader 1 1,800
2003
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $4,128,095 (22% Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control $2,322,084
Budget Notes
– Funding of $53,873 for the Crosswalk Snow Removal Program.
– Addition of one additional Street Machine Operator 1, and one additional seasonal (35 week) Street and Sewer Maintenance Worker, to enable the Streets Division to keep up with growth of the City.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2001-2002 31.8 in. 3 6,423 2,320
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 43.80 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 4.98 per year
– a major plowing effort is completed in 12 to 14 hours. Snow removal from crosswalks, school crossings and bus stops is performed after each plowing operation.
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 100
Street Machine Operator 2 = 20
Street Machine Operator 3 = 21
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 3
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 150
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
$447,730
Equipment
Capital Budget – $110,000 Construction of a 1,500 ton capacity addition to the salt storage building for the East side site located at 4602 Sycamore Avenue.
Fixed Assets – Snow Blower 1 700
2004
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $4,171,318 (23% Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control $2,458,595
Budget Notes
– Continuation of overtime scheduling for Crosswalk Snow Removal, for which $54,685 is provided.
– Under normal conditions, a major plowing effort is completed in 12 to 14 hours. Snow removal from crosswalks, school crossings and bus stops is performed after each plowing operation.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2002-2003 28.8 in. 2 9,010 3,163
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 43.81 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 4.98 per year
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 97
Street Machine Operator 2 = 24
Street Machine Operator 3 = 22
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 2
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 151
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
$447,730 (the document actually says 0, but I think it wasn’t updated.)
Actual – $268,536
Equipment
Capital Assets – None
Capital Budget – $210,000 Construction of a new salt storage building at the West side site located at 1501 West Badger
2005
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $4,277,434 ( % Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control $4,063,489
Budget Notes
– Continued funding of contracted equipment used in a full-scale snow plowing, to maintain the current 10 to 12 hour plowing goals for a major snowfall event.
– Continued funding of $50,361 for overtime-based crosswalk snow removal.
– Under normal conditions, a major plowing effort is completed in 12 to 14 hours. Snow removal from crosswalks, school crossings and bus stops is performed after each plowing operation.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2003-2004 31.6 in. 4 7,853 4,909
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 44.03 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 5.04 per year
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 97
Street Machine Operator 2 = 24
Street Machine Operator 3 = 22
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 2
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 151
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
Budgeted $436,200
Actual $587,177
Equipment
Capital Assets – None
Capital Budget – $106,000 Dump Truck
2006
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $4,120,311 (22% Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control $2,441,778
Budget Notes
– Funding of $50,069 for overtime hours for the clearing of snow and ice from cross-walks, before all plowing, salting, and sanding operations have been completed.
– In addition to the City’s 85-90 pieces of equipment available for plowing, the City employs private contractors capable of furnishing graders and endloaders for emergency plowing operations. Under normal conditions, a major plowing effort is completed in 10 to 12 hours. Snow removal from crosswalks, school crossings and bus stops is performed after each plowing operation.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2004-2005 43.9 in. 5 12,037 3,926
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 44.13 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 5.08 per year
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 92**
Street Machine Operator 2 = 24
Street Machine Operator 3 = 22
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 2
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 146
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
**Note: A total of five Street Machine Operator 1 positions are eliminated due to efficiency improvements. Two of the positions are deleted as a result of efficiencies related to the new streets patching equipment (see 2006 Streets Capital Budget), and a further three positions are eliminated as a result of implementing the new automated collection system for recyclables.
Supplies
Budgeted $514,362
Actual $358,609
Equipment
Capital Assets – None
Capital Budget – None
2007
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $4,515,548 (23% Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control $5,913,758
Budget Notes
– Restoration of $153,620 in funding to maintain current standards for snow plowing operations.
– Restoration of $84,863 in overtime funding used for snow and ice sanding operations after midnight.
– Restoration of $46,324 in funding for overtime hours for clearing of snow and ice from crosswalks.
– In addition to the City’s 85 – 90 pieces of equipment available for plowing, the City employs private contractors capable of furnishing graders and endloaders for general plowing operations. Under normal conditions, a general plowing effort is completed in 10 to 12 hours.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2004-2005 43.9 in. 5 12,037 3,926
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 44.13 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 5.08 per year
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 92
Street Machine Operator 2 = 24
Street Machine Operator 3 = 22
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 2
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 146
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
Budgeted $555,000
Actual $731,213
Equipment
Capital Assets – None
Capital Budget – None
2008
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $4,889,264 (23% Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control $6,921,229
Budget Notes
– Restoration of funding for maintenance of current standards (three inch accumulation) for general snow plowing ($158,473).
– Funding for post midnight sanding operations on side streets ($88,239).
– Restoration of overtime funding for the clearing of snow and ice from cross walks ($52,280).
– In addition to the City’s 85 – 90 pieces of equipment available for plowing, the City employs private contractors capable of furnishing graders and endloaders for general plowing operations. Under normal conditions, a general plowing effort is completed in 10 to 12 hours.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2004-2005 43.9 in. 5 12,037 3,926
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 44.13 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 5.08 per year
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 93
Street Machine Operator 2 = 24
Street Machine Operator 3 = 22
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 2
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 147
*Other employees may ork on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
Budgeted: $571,650
Actual: $868,079
Equipment
Capital Assets – None
Capital Budget – $187,400 This is a continuing program to replace aging or outmoded equipment and acquire new equipment to implement operational improvements. Expenditures in this category may include an additional dump truck with a wing and plow, a salt conveyor with a loading hopper, and a pair of portable 15,000 lb. hydraulic jacks.
2009
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $5,285,613 (24% Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control – Not yet available
Budget Notes
– Funding for public education (advertising) in the amount of $75,000. Of this amount, $25,000 is dedicated to providing education on winter parking regulations.
– In addition to the City’s 85 – 90 pieces of equipment available for plowing, the City employs private contractors capable of furnishing graders and endloaders for general plowing operations. Under normal conditions, a general plowing effort is completed in 10 to 12 hours.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2007-2008 101.4 in 14 17,946 15,626
– 50 Year Average Snowfall – 44.71 in. per year
– 50 Year Average No. of Plowings – 5.12 per year
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 93
Street Machine Operator 2 = 24
Street Machine Operator 3 = 22
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 2
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 147
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
$698,000
Equipment
Capital Assets – None
Capital Budget – $175,000 This is a continuing program to replace aging or outmoded equipment and acquire new equipment to implement operational improvements. Expenditures in this category may include a snow blower that can be mounted onto an endloader, a one-ton dump truck equipped for a second graffiti eradication crew, a John Deere tractor to assist with leaf collection and with crosswalk snow removal, an additional Jeep with plow to assist with leaf collection and snow sidewalk/bike path/crosswalk snow removal, four 10-yard lugger bins to replace worn-out bins, and a small blacktop roller and tow-behind gravel spreader to assist in street repair.
2010
Budgeted Snow and Ice Control $5,751,171 (25% Total Streets Budget)
Actual Snow and Ice Control – Obviously not yet available
Budget Notes
– An increase of $109,100 for snow and ice control supplies expenditures, to reflect an increase in anticipated market prices.
– In addition to the City’s 85-90 pieces of equipment available for plowing, the City employs private contractors capable of furnishing graders and endloaders for general plowing operations. Under normal conditions, a general plowing effort is completed in 10 to 12 hours.
– Winter Season – Year – Snowfall – Plowing – Salt Tonnage – Sand Yardage
2008-2009 72.0 in. 9 9,379 10,701 29,456
Workers
Street Machine Operator 1 = 91
Street Machine Operator 2 = 22
Street Machine Operator 3 = 22
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 1 = 2
Street & Sewer Maint. Wkr. 2 = 6
Total Streets Employees* = 143
*Other employees may work on snow removal as well, but this is the base
Supplies
$807,100
Equipment
Capital Assets – None
Capital Budget – $334,000 This is a continuing program to replace aging or out moded equipment and acquire new equipment to implement operational improvements and keep pace wit a growing City. Expenditures in this category may include a snowblower that can be mounted on to an endloader for snow removal purposes, a tilt bed trailer to ferry articulating tractors and small equipment to and from fieldwork, and a trailer with sides to assist in automated refuse and recycling cart exchanges, repairs and maintenance. An additional automated refuse/recycling truck is also requested to assist in the preventative maintenance program of the automated fleet.
CONCLUSION
So, as far as I can tell, over the past 10 years, here’s the changes:
– Budgeted Snow and Ice Control has gone from 22% of the Street budget to 25%.
– The lowest amount budgeted was $3,887,050 in 2001 and the highest was 5,751,171 in 2010 with the largest increases in the past few years with it only being $4.1 in 2006, $4.5M in 2007, $4.8M in 2008, $5.2 in 2009 and $5.5 in 2010. Previous to that there were minimal increases.
– The lowest actual amount spent was $2.1M in 2002 and the highest through 2008 was $5.9 in 2007.
– Workers have decreased in the last 10 years from a high of 151 to a current low of 143.
– Supplies budget has doubled in 10 years. Actuals are only available for a few years but range from a low of 268K in 22004 to a high of $868K in 2008. Actual data only available 2004 to 2008 where it nearly quadrupled.
– Very little equipment has been added.
– Plowings ranged from 3 to 14 in 2009.
– I didn’t look at salt and sand usage and in 2010 they added info for the past 5 years about salt brine usage, but I didn’t add that in.
The best info on added streets comes from Madison Measures, but its not very usable in its format.
– 50 miles of new streets have been added 2000 – 2005.
– 44 miles of new streets have been added 2001- 2006.
– 37 miles of new streets have been added 2002 – 2007.
– 28 miles of new streets have been added 2003 – 2008.
So, to sum it up, less workers, more contracted work, more salt, more sand, much larger budget and more plowings and more streets. I’ll have to work on some better conclusions, but the raw data is here for you to draw your own conclusions.
