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-/Town hoping for, less snow to take pressure off budget *By JASON MISNER The Champion The Town of Milton is thankful this holiday season winter started two weeka later thia year than laat year becauae its 2003 anow plow- mng budget is already $300,000 over budget. The budget is set for the calendar year and with nearly a month remaining, it will balloon even fur- ther given the good chance there'lli be more snow to be plowed and roada and sidewalka to be salted and aanded. Doug Thompson, Milton's man- ager of operationa in engineering services, aaid this year's budget waa approved at $740,000, but the extra costa have to do with the tough winter season that plagued anow plowing crews and the mont ardent of shovellers earier this year. The 2002-03 winter was espe- cially long, stretching into April when the region was hit by a naaty ice atorm. I the firat four months there waa a lot of anow - a 25 per cent increase versus the year before - and the temperatures were colder with many windy days causing blowing snow. Lt required snow crews to be on the roada longer to clear dhe white stuif, and they had to apread more aalt to melt away icy patchea. "Lt waa an exceptional year," Mr. Thompson said, noting the extra conta will be covered by Town reservea. The Town'a snow-plowing; arse- nal consis of 15 trucks that plow and spread aalt/sand. The Town also bas 11i contractors to help with the anow-clearing load. Many of them were out December 1 when a bst of winter rolled through town. Winter arrived in mid-November st year, Mr. Thompson aaid. When it's timne to plow, he said, the Town has a priority liat with 1l identified routes - including the rural and urban areas - that firat get attention. They include thse main arterial roadways like Guelphs Line, Main Street, Steeles Avenue and Trafalgar Rond. Next on the liat are aide sutret and secondnry rural roada, like Eighth Line. Alan, the Town only salta side- walka in thse urban core ares and sidewalka around schools. Tise reat are the responaibility of property owners. The way anow remnoval is struc- tured in Halton is the lower-tier muicipaliflea are responaible for clearing the roada owned by Halton Region, and then bill them for the costa. Salt is a big cost in snow plowing budgeta. Milton averages about between 3,500 and 4,500 tonnes. By next month, ail of Milton's 15 trucks will have computerized sait- apreaders - costs were part of the 2003 budget - that mensure how much sait is to be sprend compared to the speed of the truck. The idea ia an efflciently use the sait by pre- venting it from being dumped on the rond in big, uselesa piles. The trucks on contract will also be looked at having the machines added, Mr. Thompson said. But sait isn't the best for the envirornent. Lt also enta away at concrete, aaphalt, vehicles and, annoyingly, at pant cuifs and shoes. As part of ita sait management plan, Milton wiil be looking at using a salt-water brine next year. Lt huras through the ice and snow more quickly than conventinnal rock sait to provide better traction for vehiclea. Lt'a also effective in applying to ronds before the onslnught of anow an it doesn't bond to the rond and is ensier tn remove, reducing plowing time on thse rond. Burlingaon and Oakville are teating the brine mixture on selected routes this winter. And here'a anme gond news for municipalities trying to balance anow plowing budgets - Environmnent Canada's forecast shows near-nonnal precipitation and temperatures this winter. Jasaon Misner cas be reached at jmisner@miltoncanadianchampi- on.com. The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, December 9, 2003-3 * ~ ~ o ~ULUÇ) *"RING IN AND WIN" * winner oRoncon Wiftper Cri uln Jose Rancan Bab Fe guson NwCrMngr Winner Sales *YOD COULO WIN SYOUR VEHICLE!. It's time again