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Winter snows to cost city more this year
(by Mike Klimko - October 01, 2008)
Winter snows to cost city more this year
By MIKE KLIMKO
The cost of fending off the effects of winter are on the rise in Solon, according to action pending this week before City Council's public works committee.
A 60-cent increase is being seen in the charge for clearing senior citizens' driveways of snow, according to proposals by plowing contractors, Service Director Thomas G. Bandiera said in a report to the committee.
The cost of rock salt for the city to clear the streets has been set at $39.57 per ton delivered to the service department on Cochran Road, which is up from last year's $32.98, Mr. Bandiera said.
Contractors proposed a charge of $12.60 per push of snow for seniors, an increase of 5 percent, the first hike since the $12 rate took effect on Nov. 21, 2005. A previous rate of $11 was set in 2003.
The increase of 5 percent is necessary to offset the increase in fuel costs, in addition to cost-of-living increases, according to seven contractors representing three landscaping companies.
"Our current contractors provide these services to over 300 of our senior residents with minimal complaints," Mr. Bandiera said in the report to the committee. "They provide more complete cleaning that is required of them by our agreement and respond directly to our needs and the seniors' concerns," he said.
"For these reasons, I feel that their request is appropriate and request the committee's concurrence and recommendation to city council for legislation to approve the cost increase for these services," Mr. Bandiera said.
The rate of $39.57 per ton of rock salt was locked in for the 2008-09 winter season earlier this month by the Ohio Department of Transportation, according to city records.
State officials awarded the contract and the specified rate for Cuyahoga County to the Cargill Salt Co., Mr. Bandiera said. The previous charge of $32.98 per ton was in effect from Sept. 1, 2007, to Sept. 1, 2008.
"Earlier this year, the service department filled our stockpile barn up with 4,000 tons of salt under the existing contract and estimates we will require an additional 10,000 tons of salt for the 2008-2009 season," he said.
Solon received a deduction of $2 per ton as part of the new contract, according to Thomas Pannett, acting administrator of the office of contracts for ODOT.
On a related matter, the service department recommended the bid of $41,173 by Concord Road Equipment to provide carbide blades for municipal plows, fleet manager Ronald Hradesky said in a report.
"Last winter, we installed a carbide blade on one of our snowplows, which performed well and lasted all winter, while plows using the traditional high-carbon, heat-treated blades were changed on the average of eight times during the winter," he said.
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