The warmer weather has been easy on the budgets of counties when it comes to getting rid of snow and ice. Hamilton County engineer Dan Waid says the truck and plows haven’t had much to do in his north-central Iowa area. He says they’ve been fortunate to have good weather and that has helped on the budget for fuel and salt. Waid says the warm weather has had some drawbacks with rain and thawed ground.
Waid says the gravel roads have thawed and the added rain has caused muddy areas that need maintenance with the motor graders. Waid says the warm weather has allowed the crews that would normally be pushing snow to get other things done.
Waid says the weather has allowed them to get some construction projects finished. Most other counties in the state found themselves in the same boat, as there were few measurable snowfalls, and the warm temperatures quickly melted the snow that did fall.