Substantial cost of snowstorm

The snowstorm that brought St. Joseph County to a standstill earlier this month came with a substantial price tag.

Christopher Bolt, engineer/manager for the St. Joseph County Road Commission, said it’s estimated the agency spent nearly $225,000 during the seven-day period that began with the start of the storm Jan. 4.

An average winter week will cost the agency about $65,000 in manpower, materials and fuel, he said.

Bolt said the storm required about 1,300 tons of a dirt/salt mixture, which accounted for about $36,000 alone. Bolt said labor was a major cost, at $56,000, as the storm peaked on a Sunday, a day when drivers receive premium pay.