Snow preparations underway

Despite the recent warm weather, Valley Stream’s Department of Public Works employees are busy readying their fleet for snow removal. A surplus of 150 tons of sand from last winter is in stock, and 212 tons of sand were ordered in preparation for this season’s snowfall.

“We’re fully stocked as of right now,” said Christopher Vela, deputy highway supervisor for the village.

This winter’s allocated snow removal budget is $265,000, calculated by averaging the costs of labor and materials over the last five years. Last winter’s pummeling was costly — more than $500,000, with more than 2,300 tons of salt and 400 tons of sand purchased. While last year’s expense was an outlier on the high end, 2011 was the opposite, with just $17,468 spent. It’s anybody’s guess what winter holds, so the budget is somewhat fluid.

“Whatever we don’t spend goes back into the general fund,” Mayor Ed Fare said.

“[Planning for the weather] takes a hybrid fleet that’s multi-purpose.”

The fleet has four new Ford F-350 Super Duty trucks this year, the second-largest pickup truck the company makes, which are capable of yielding more power than the trucks they are replacing, said Fare.

“Valley Stream has 90 miles of roads,” he said. “That’s [the distance] from New York to Philadelphia.”

Significant equipment repairs were needed after last year’s frequent snowstorms, according to Fleet Supervisor Robert Laino. “The wheels themselves, they wear,” he said of the wheels that the plows ride on to keep them from catching on sewer covers and other obstructions.

The plows’ edges also experience a lot of wear and tear. Replacing a plow could cost more than $60,000, Vela explained, so keeping up with maintenance on the blades saves money. The damage sustained last season has been repaired throughout the course of the year, but if a forecast threatens the area, the plows become the top priority, Fare said.

The village purchased salt treated with magnesium chloride this year instead of the traditional rock salt, which is usually mixed with chemicals before it is put down on snowy roads.

Even with no impending winter weather, Fare said workers are getting everything in place to be as ready as possible.

“When we don’t know the situation, we try to be prepared for a little bit of everything,” Fare said.

How you can help:

The Village of Valley Stream provides tips for residents that make clearing ice and snow easier and safer:

• Use ice melt with calcium chloride or potassium chloride. It’s better for the environment, and only a small amount is required to melt ice. Avoid rock salt or sodium chloride as it kills plants and trees. Sand makes hard ice more slippery.
• Instruct children to avoid snowplows. Snow banks make it difficult for motor vehicle and snow plow operators to spot children.
• Snowplowing begins when three inches of snow have fallen on the pavement.
• Vehicles left on the street during snowplowing will be issued a summons and towed at the owner’s expense.
• Keep the adjacent sidewalks clear of snow and ice. If you are out of town, make arrangements for someone else to clear the sidewalks.
• Snow should not be shoveled or blown into the street.
• Residents who have catch basins in front of their homes should keep the area clear so water from melting snow can drain freely.
• If you have a fire hydrant near your property, please remove snow from the area around the hydrant for easy access in case of emergency.