Brockport village still in line with snow budget

Even with the additional "snow events" the area has seen in the recent months, Brockport Department of Public Works Superintendent Bradley Upson said they are still under budget.

"Our budget looks good even though we have logged a lot more road hours this year than last because of the weather," he said. "We’re quite a ways into our salt and sand supply but we’re still in good shape."

The area has been hit with five snow events this year compared to three at the same time last year, he said. Village workers have 17 street miles, or 34 lane miles, to keep up with during snowfalls. "We have two guys working the overnight shift … and if it’s a light snow it can be handled with sanders," Upson said.

If significant accumulations are expected, Upson said the drivers come in between three and four in the morning and begin plowing streets, sidewalks and parking lots. As a cost saving measure, village employees only salt intersections and hills. "We salt the critical areas and that helps us save money."

Upson said residents appear satisfied with the village’s snow removal efforts and he said January 7 was being spent hauling snow out of the downtown area to keep visibility sight lines clear.

A mild winter would have been welcomed, he said, so the department could have concentrated on completing tree removal and inside upkeep and repairs to village buildings.

Upson also presented a resolution to board members for the approval of a canal wall reconstruction contract. The contract was awarded to Crane-Hogan Structural Systems, Inc. for $535,217. The money is coming from a grant received from the NYS Canal Corp., he said.

The project, which should begin soon, involves the refacing of the south side of the canal wall with a new concrete face. "The wall is deteriorating from age and wear and tear," Upson said. The construction will be on the canal wall between Main Street and Park Avenue.