Salt trucks hit the streets for the first time this season, while public works' winter costs continue to climb.
Chatham-Kent's fiscal year runs January 1 to December 31. The budget has allocated $4.3 million to maintain roads and streets during the winter months. After last year's harsh winter, public works has already gone $1.3 million over budget for winter control.
"I'm sure if there's no more funding left in [reserves] then the municipality will look in the rest of its budget," says Public Works Director Miguel Pelletier. "Because they hold more than one reserve."
Pelletier adds they plan for an average winter each year, and are in the process of figuring out their budget for 2015. "That's the challenge...if you go back sometimes it [costs] $2 million and other years its $6 milllion." Chatham-Kent has 10 salt and sand stations across the municipality in the event of a winter weather emergency.
