Snow Removal Efforts Putting City Over Budget

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OMAHA (KPTM)- The city of Omaha's snow removal budget is estimated at being $2.5 million dollars over budget.

The first blizzard we saw back on December 8th, cost the city half a million dollars. The last one we saw on Christmas day, cost $1.5 million. Leaving the city's snow removal budget an estimated $2.5 million dollars in the hole.

"The snow removal budget is $4.5 million for 2009. But, that's part of the overall budget for street maintenance. Street resurfacing, pot holes, all that," said Mayor Jim Suttle's spokesman, Ron Gerard.

Since the last storm fell on Christmas day, crews were paid "double and a half" in overtime pay, which set the city back $700,000.

"We've had guys on 12 hour shifts through Christmas. Going above and beyond the call of duty," said Gerard.

Over the drifts in Council Bluffs, it's more of the same story.

"Everybody is looking at snow removal budgets because we've had two major events. It's become an issue," said Jeff Theulen, with Pottawattamie County's Emergency Management Agency.

The two combined storms cost the city $600,000 in snow removal fees, putting them also over budget.

"Obviously it's taxing it heavily."

Even declaring Pottawattamie county a disaster area, to allow for more resources from the state, especially along country roads.

"Because of the December 8th storm, and this storm, there's no place to put snow anymore. Now you need snow blowers to move snow over fence lines, so they don't come back and drift every night," said Theulen.

And with 18 foot drifts covering roads in some parts of the county, asking for federal aid, is a strong possibility.

"To give you some perspective, in 2007 it was a federal declaration in March, and my county engineer says, this is worse than what he saw in 2007," said Theulen.

Omaha may also look to the federal government for some extra cash. But officials say, the odds of them getting any money, are slim to none.

Omaha officials say, if we continue to get more snow this winter, they'll have to scale back on filling pot holes, and resurfacing roads this upcoming spring.