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Buffalo Grove has enough salt, official says

Buffalo Grove's public works director told the village board this week there is enough salt to get through the remainder of a rough winter.

Michael J. Reynolds said the village has used just under 3,000 tons of salt, up 46 percent from last year and 114 percent more than two years ago.

"We have about 1,000 tons, give or take, in the dome right now, so we should have plenty of salt to take care of any snow we have coming through the rest of the year," he said.

The village last week took one last delivery of 400 tons, all of which, he emphasized, is at the contract rate. The village did not have to pay a premium as some other suburbs did.

Reynolds said the village has measured 63 inches of snow this year, 110 percent more than last year and 164 percent more than the previous year.

Village crews have been out 33 times, 18 percent more than last year and 83 percent more than two years ago.

The crews have logged considerable overtime. "Most of the storms unfortunately have come after hours and on holidays and times when you would prefer them not to occur," he said.

Village President Jeffrey Braiman said people often don't understand how unpredictable employees' hours can be.

"These guys work a full day and have to be called back in the middle of the night a lot of times and have to work another day," he said. "So my hat's off to them."

Reynolds said the goal while plowing is to cycle down each street about once every five hours.

Village Manager Dane Bragg said the village tries to avoid plowing during rush hour.

"We have found that it's more dangerous to have them (the plows) in the middle of the traffic to not only our plow operators and our equipment, but also to the drivers on the road," he said.

Total expenditures so far are $500,000 for snow and ice removal, Bragg said.

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