Council reviews snow-plowing policy and operational costs; storage and salt mix discussed

Lennox city council spent a substantial portion of its Dec. 22 meeting on street-plowing policy, operations and associated costs after recent storms highlighted equipment wear and community confusion about responsibilities.

Superintendent Brian explained the current plowing approach, the 2019 policy background and why the department focuses on emergency routes, high-traffic corridors and school zones first. He described equipment limits and said two machines that use heavier cutting edges are costly to maintain: "It cost me about $56,000 to get cutting edges for everything," he said, noting that repeated hard-packed snow events accelerate wear.

Brian discussed the potential for a covered salt/salt-sand storage area, including a rough estimate for a 24-by-30-foot pad and partial enclosure. He said construction and containment (k-rail or bunker blocks) would be required and estimated the project could cost "probably 20, somewhere in there" (thousand dollars), while also noting salt is roughly 40% more expensive than current sand mixes and that storage without cover leads to material clumping.

Council and staff clarified the street-maintenance fee's purpose: it is intended for pavement work (slurry seal, milling, overlays), not routine snow removal or salt purchases. Brian urged residents to clear sidewalks and hydrants and to avoid pushing snow back into roadways, and council discussed potential citations for repeat offenders who block plow work. The presentation included an updated zone map dividing the town into four plow zones to reflect staffing and equipment availability.

No formal vote was required for the discussion. Staff said they would return with implementation details and possible budget requests if council decides to pursue covered salt storage or other operational changes.