Snow season and area resources

OSHKOSH - So far this winter, snowfall is above average.   So how are area resources needed to keep us safe holding up?

Love it or hate it, snow is a regular part of life in Northeastern Wisconsin.  Well, this winter anyway.

"It's about where we've been in the past, we got spoiled last year!" exclaimed driver Brett Hencley.

"This is more of a typical Wisconsin winter compared to last year.  Last year was obviously somewhat of a fluke," said Kevin Uhen the Field Operations Manager for the Oshkosh Public Works Department.  He told FOX 11 last winter the city saved up resources because of a lack of snow, but this year it's a different story.

"You use more salt during the small storms we've been getting," explained Uhen.

Uhen told us it's sometimes easier to get larger snowfall amounts less often, but when it comes to salt, he said, there's no reason to panic.

"Slightly ahead of last year's pace, but we're fine," said Uhen.

Uhen told FOX 11 so far this season the city's used about 3,000 tons of salt and they have 3,000 more stored up.  And at about 60 dollars a ton, that's nearly $180,000 dollars for salt out of the public works budget, which he told us isn't unusual.  Last year the city used several hundred tons less than in an average winter, so the savings rolled over.

"Oh it's always nice to save the taxpayers money!" exclaimed Uhen.

And the city crews are putting in more time clearing the roads than last year.  Uhen explained the day time hours are a little lighter than the overnights.

"We have a partial crew in then everyone will be in at midnight to do a final cleanup," said Uhen.

Work area drivers appreciate.

"I think they're doing a great job.  I mean they're doing the best they can trying to stick to budget constraints, I'm sure and it's a hard job," said Hencley.