Carter County Hit with $200,000 Expense in January Winter Storms

The notable winter storms in Carter County that occured during January left an estimated expense of $204,962.23 on the county’s budget. Carter County Highway Department confirmed the costs, naming labor, equipment usage and salt deployment as the primary costs attributed to the week-long road clearing efforts.

Expensive Salt Usage

Interim Highway Superintendent, Shannon Burchett, revealed that the Carter County Highway Department utilized an astonishing total of 953 tons of salt during the eight-day period. With the current market price for salt standing at $113.90 per ton, this implies an expenditure of $108,546.70 used only for salt. This cost contributes to more than half of the total expense of the winter storm operations.

Inclement Weather Preparedness

While the expense may be considered staggering, the necessity of the operations was critical for the safety of the county’s motorists during the severe weather conditions. Precautionary measures such as pre-treating roads with salt are vital for reducing the risk of accidents as well as other traffic disruptions. Burchett emphasized the importance of ensuring public safety during such severe weather events.

In his address to the Highway Committee of the Carter County Commission, Burchett defended the expenditure mentioning, “Salt and other equipment costs during inclement weather are part of county obligations to maintain safety for motorists during winter. Our commitment is to keep roads as safe as possible and this sometimes requires significant resources.”

Dealing with the Aftermath of the Storm

Weeks after the winter storm, Carter County is still counting the cost. Beyond the immediate expense of snow removal and road treatment, the county has also been facing the additional costs of repairing road surfaces damaged by the snow and ice, and by the traffic of heavy snow removal machinery. The freeze-thaw cycle has led to increased potholes throughout the region, further escalating the expenditure.

Facing Future Weather Challenges

As weather events continue to become increasingly severe, counties such as Carter are grappling with how to budget for these unanticipated expenses. These costs are often not highlighted in annual budgets and can result in budget overruns. Despite the challenges, local government and the highway department are determined to keep residents safe and traffic flowing during future weather events.

Community Involvement

Involved residents were encouraged to report potholes and other road damage to the Department of Public Works. The faster these issues can be addressed the lesser the burden will be on the community. Every bit of support from community members is essential in maintaining safer roads.