No rest for the DPW

This winter has been keeping the Village of Rockville Center pretty busy.

It seems like the snow just doesn’t end. So far, there has been a total of more than 31 inches, according to the National Weather Service. And every time the snow starts falling, the village DPW rolls out.

“This year we’ve been challenged repeatedly by winter storms and frigid temperatures,” said Mayor Francis X. Murray. “Each time we receive an accumulation of snow or ice, the men and women in our DPW have to clear our 53 miles of village roads, 30 parking fields and all village-owned sidewalks as safe as possible for our residents. The duration of some of the storms, high winds and extreme temperatures have added to that challenge. I’m proud of their dedication to our residents and the work that they perform each and every day on our behalf.”

Every year, the village prepares for snow. During budget discussions at the beginning of the year, officials budget money for snow removal. But since the spending plan isn’t finalized until May, exactly how much to budget is usually an educated guess based on previous years.

This year, the village budgeted $256,500. Much of that is spent on salt — the village allocated $167,000 for salt this year. So far, it has stayed within that budget, having spent $116,218 on snow removal as of this Tuesday.

“This number is anticipated to increase as we process our remaining invoices,” said village spokeswoman Julie Scully. “We do, however, expect to finish the season within our allotted budget.”

The village has also begun filling the potholes that have appeared in recent weeks. Potholes form when water finds its way into cracks in the pavement and freezes. Since water expands as it freezes, it makes the cracks wider, and erodes the material under the roadway. When cars drive over them, the cracks widen and eventually the road gives way, creating potholes.

Fixing them in cold weather is challenging because the DPW’s road resurfacer needs to be hot in order to fill the holes properly. But the village has a portable hot box it uses for the job.

Positives of the powder

The snow has not been bad for everyone. Though many people tend to stay in when the snow flies, the bad weather can be a boon for some.