Rockville Centre is ready — if it snows

While an early-October dusting of snow on Long Island seemed to portend a cold and difficult winter, Mother Nature has had other plans.

But even though winter is nearly half over without any major snowstorms, Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray says the village remains prepared.

“We prepared for the winter back in June, when we loaded up with sand and salt, and purchased a new dump truck,” Murray said. “We are very prepared, though I’m happy that for the first six weeks of the cold season, there has been virtually no precipitation of freezing ice or snow.”

The village also made deals with three snow contractors in addition to its own Department of Public Works, which employs nearly 50 full-time workers and operates 20 vehicles.

“It’s saving the taxpayers a lot of money,” Murray said of the mild winter so far. “We did budget [for snow removal], but we haven’t had to use it.”