DPW reports 37 inches of seasonal snow, $236,000 storm cost submitted to OEM

Dan Bush, director of the Department of Public Works, briefed the Board of Commissioners on March 3 about the county’s winter operations and storm costs.

"As of today, snow total for the 2025–2026 season are approximately 37 plus or minus inches depending on where you live in the county," Bush said, and he described staffing and material use during recent storms. He told the board the county has eight vacancies in roads-and-bridges staffing and has relied on overtime and coordinated crew rotations during long-duration events.

Bush provided operational numbers for a recent storm: 1,130 tons of rock salt used, 390 gallons of calcium (calcium chloride), and public-works overtime of 856.5 hours for that storm; he also said year-to-date overtime reached 3,554.9 hours. He added brine usage of more than 14,900 gallons this season and that each garage keeps about 5,000 gallons of calcium on hand. Bush said the department is working to limit rock-salt application to between 300 and 800 pounds per lane mile to reduce environmental impact.

On equipment and costs, Bush said fuel use during the storm included 325 gallons of gasoline and 1,769 gallons of diesel, vehicle and equipment hours are extensive (for example, 28 snowplows operating 24 hours each), and reported equipment repairs of about $14,000 covering plow blades and spreader repairs. He said a storm-cost package totaling $236,000 has been submitted to OEM for potential FEMA reimbursement.

Bush also described operational changes: a new SOP for snow-and-ice preparation and removal in 2026, brine and calcium usage protocols, and a temporary municipal limit of 10 tons of salt per event during earlier shortages. He asked for the board’s recognition of staff efforts during an unusually heavy winter.

Next steps: DPW will continue implementing SOPs, pursue possible FEMA/OEM reimbursement for qualifying storm costs, and report back as reimbursement decisions materialize.