BEMIDJI-Since the start of the year the Bemidji region has received plenty of snow, but local officials say that even years with above average weather events are well budgeted for.
For both the Beltrami County Highway Department and the Bemidji Public Works Department, though, snow removal isn't a separate item that's specifically budgeted on a yearly basis.
"We don't have a separate snow removal budget, instead we just have a general street maintenance budget that covers all of our work in the year," Public Works Director Craig Gray said. "We don't break it down with snow and street sweeping. Our annual maintenance is also separate from our budgets for fuel and salt."
The process is similar at the county department.
"We don't have anything in our budget specific to snow removal. Our budget comes down to employee time, whether they're in the shop or in a snowplow," County Engineer Bruce Hasbargen said. "We also budget a percentage of overtime, so that covers the early morning plowing operations."
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According to Hasbargen, if there are more snow weather events, it can be a concern for overtime. However, the department budgets on a calendar year, splitting the winter season.
"We have had higher amounts now, so that might come into play later in the calendar year," Hasbargen said. "Other budget items we have is fuel usage and salt usage. The more events we have that require salt, that's where we really see an issue."
Hasbargen said the average amount of snow events in a winter season is 30, and this winter the area has had 37. Hasbargen said snow events are considered weather resulting in snow, sleet and ice.
"Right now, this winter has been above average for at least the last few weeks for snowfall," Gray said. "The last three or four years, though, the street department has finished under budget. We keep it constant with a number we feel will cover everything. Most years we're under that and in a really bad year we're probably at that number. When we do finish under budget, it becomes a surplus that the Council can do something else with."
Two major winter weather events took place last week. On Feb. 18, Turtle River reported 15 inches of snow, Pinewood reported 13 and reports from both Blackduck and Bemidji came in with 12. Roughly another 5 inches fell in Bemidji on Feb. 20.
