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Public works cites higher salt use and conveyor rental for snow‑removal cost increase
Summary
Public works told the finance committee that snow‑removal costs increased because the city is using more salt and renting a specialized conveyor belt more frequently; staff said the unit contract price from ODOT did not change but the frequency of use did.
Public works officials told the finance committee on Feb. 18 that a request to increase snow‑removal funding stems from higher usage, not higher unit prices.
"The price went up due to more use... the contract price from ODOT is still the same. But we just use more salt, so that's why the cost expenditure went up," said Charles Sasha, explaining that the city is renting a specialized conveyor belt to deliver salt more frequently and that it would not be economical to purchase the equipment for limited use.
The committee discussed that the conveyor is specialized and used only a handful of times each year. Staff said they had not yet put the work out for contract under the original $50,000 threshold and that increased frequency of storms drove the need for a higher appropriation.
The committee advanced the request for consideration by the full council.
