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Updated: 2:44 PM Feb 10, 2010
Winter Storms Busting Road Salt Budget in Charleston Area
This winter's snow and ice have landed a serious blow to the bottom line in the Charleston area.
Posted: 11:02 PM Feb 9, 2010Reporter: Kallie Cart Email Address: kallie.cart@wsaz.com |
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20 Comments 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- This winter's snow and ice have landed a serious blow to the bottom line in the Charleston area.
With another storm moving in, road crews are preparing to fight back again. But that fight has come at a large price -- already busting some budgets.
While the salt budget is already depleted in Charleston, the good news is that the city still has a significant salt supply.
Now, however, if they want more they will have to get creative and rework the budget to figure out how to pay for it. That's because big storms like the ones we've seen wreak havoc on the bottom line.
So far, Charleston has gone through the first supply of 5,000 tons, which is more than 700 truck loads. The city has ordered that much more, but if the winter storms continue it may not be enough.
Adding salt to the wound is overtime for crews working around the clock during the storm.
Gary Taylor, Charleston's director of public works, says the city manager is looking for money elsewhere -- in the public works department and the general budget to keep the salt in high supply.
The West Virginia Division of Highways is in a bit better shape. Spokesperson Brent Walker says as of last Thursday the state had used about 72% of its snow removal and ice control budget. Walker says that's right on par with last year at this time.
But Walker says the big snow storms are "budget busters."
If the state goes over budget it could mean cuts elsewhere such as mowing or paving programs. Those decisions will be made at a later date if necessary.
The Parkways Authority, which controls the West Virginia Turnpike, is already well over its budget when it comes to salt. As of last Thursday, they'd spent $1.6 million dollars on salt -- $400,000 more than expected. But they say that won't keep them from salting the roads.
The message from all the road crews is they're working around the clock during these storms, and they ask that drivers be patient and only go out if you must.
Latest Comments
I dont know about the rest of the people but where I live in lincoln county when the roads are cleared it's us people that drive over them and beat the snow off you dont see the salt trucks over in here until we have already cleared the roads with our cars and I dont understand why they dont have money for salt???? Because they have used very little over in here......
Id much rather pay for salt than peoples welfare who are more than able to get up and work!
Seems odd, with all the snow we have had this winter, the worst roads I have been on are the ones inside the city limits of Charleston. King Danny is just wanting another increase of his illegal user fee. And FYI "smalltown" King Danny is a greedy (conserve it all for me) conservative republican.
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