One way to gauge the severity of the season is to monitor the amount of snow plowing needed.  After last year's warm winter, Lansing is back to a more normal season, at least as far as plowing is concerned.  Last week Highway Superintendent Jack French reported on what it has taken this year to keep Lansing's roads clear.

"We're obviously well ahead of last year's winter," French said.  "Since January first we are at an average of 70 hours of overtime per man.  Last year we were at 49 and a half for the entire season."

French says that 70 hours is an average winter.  He says he is hoping to be under 100 hours by the end of this winter.  The year before last year's very mild winter the department spent around 130 hours per man.

French budgets for 150 hours per season.

v9i8

< Prev		Next >