City administrator gives update on snowstorm clean-up efforts

Newton Independent

Newton City Administrator Tom Wardlow on Wednesday provided council members with an overview of the efforts expended by city street crews in response to the Dec. 8 storm that dumped nearly a foot of snow on Newton.

Specifically, Wardlow noted that the Public Works Department:

• Used approximately 150 tons of salt out of 1,200 tons stockpiled
• Used approximately 200 tons of sand
• Had 179.25 hours of overtime
• Used 2,289 gallons of diesel fuel and 1,065 gallons of gasoline to date on the storm, with cleanup ongoing
• Had to hire a contractor to push off the snow behind the Public Works building with a bulldozer for a day (at $140 per hour), a situation that might arise again unless the Landfill can get its dozer fixed.

Wardlow went on to note that cleanup - including the lesser efforts involved in clearing the light snows over the Christmas weekend - proved hard on the equipment, with three snowplows breaking down last week.

The city administrator noted in his report to the council that one of the plows is beyond repair and in need of replacement.

"I have authorized the purchase of a new plow that provides directional plowing ability," Wardlow reported. "It may take until mid-February for delivery. All of the vendors who provided quotes are out of town companies."