City, county over budget on snow removal

Both the city and county have gone well past what they originally budgeted for snow removal this year, with the only good news being that the year is finally over today.

The snow, unfortunately, keeps falling.

“We were probably roughly $50,000 over budget (as of last week), but we still have another payroll, we’re still working and we still have bills to pay for December that will come due in January,” said Shawano director of Public Works Rick Stautz. “It’s difficult to say exactly where we’ll end up.”

The DPW ended up with a positive balance in street maintenance, giving the department a $69,000 surplus, but the overage in snow maintenance could easily eat up that and more by the time December’s bills are paid.

“The real killer is overtime,” Stautz said, “and contracted services.” The city contracts for additional help with hauling the snow for storage.

After a busy start to 2008, the DPW put an extra $30,000 into its 2009 snow removal budget. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough.

“That was based on what happened in the early part of 2008,” Stautz said. “We didn’t know we were going to get such a bang-up finish to the year.”

Meanwhile, Shawano County Highway Commissioner Randy Zastrow estimates the highway department is now about $200,000 over its 2008 winter maintenance budget.

That could mean having to cut back on some highway projects, such as reducing the blacktopping budgeted for in 2009.

“Some projects would have to be cut,” Zastrow said.

However, Zastrow said there was some money saved this year due to projects not done for one reason or another, including a delay in getting permits from the DNR or Army Corps of Engineers.

Also, some projects came in under the expected cost, he said.

Zastrow said the highway department will do some number crunching when the dust settles on 2008 expenses.

“We’ll see where we’re at,” he said.

Storm keeps plows busy

Snow that was expected to taper off by the afternoon persisted into the evening Tuesday, leaving at least 3 to 4 inches on the ground by rush hour to further bedevil motorists, patrol officers and road crews.

City, county over budget on snow removal

Both the city and county have gone well past what they originally budgeted for snow removal this year, with the only good news being that the year is finally over today.

Deadline Jan. 6 to file for spring election

The deadline is fast approaching to file as a candidate in a host of local races that will be on the spring election ballot.

Waste hauler dispels confusion over contract

Residents in Wolf River Region communities which have their garbage and recyclables picked up by Wittenberg Disposal have nothing to be concerned about, the company’s president said Tuesday.

The year that was

As 2008 comes to a close, it’s worth noting the past 365 days (remember, it was Leap Year) included significant developments with area businesses, misery for loved ones who died, shocking homicides and the stunning allegation that dozens of people were threatened.