Town is plowing county roads again

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January 5, 2012

DENISE A. RAYMO Press-Republican The Press Republican Thu Jan 05, 2012, 10:15 AM EST

BELLMONT — Three years after declining a snow-removal contract, the Town of Bellmont is again plowing some Franklin County highways within its boundaries.

"There is a little bit more money, and they're giving us some salt, so we decided to go ahead," said Highway Superintendent Kenneth Marshall. "Plus, it's only a one-year deal to try it out."

The town will plow 14.4 miles of road at a rate of $5,115 per lane mile for a total payment of $73,656.

The county also provided 300 tons of salt for road care.

Marshall said he had already purchased what the town needed for its own roads in 2012, and the extra from the county will be stored and used as needed.

BOUGHT NEW TRUCK

When Bellmont was negotiating a contract in 2008 to plow and sand 23 miles of roads, the county was prepared to pay $4,400 per lane mile.

But the Town Council declined that deal, saying the reimbursement rate was too low because calculations done by Town Supervisor H. Bruce Russell and Marshall showed that it cost Bellmont $6,000 per lane mile to do the work.

Under the new contract, the county will still plow the northern portion of Brainardsville Road (County Road 24), but Bellmont will take over from Perham Road into Brainardsville, cover Forge Road (County Road 54) and plow from Frenette Road (County Road 27) into Mountain View.

When Bellmont opted out under former County Highway Superintendent Gary Lewis, the county hired an extra full-time motor-equipment operator and purchased a new $165,000 snowplow truck to do the work.

Current Highway Superintendent Jonathan Hutchins said a second person was also added to the staff to cover both plowing shifts. He is not sure if the County Legislature will let him keep both people now that Bellmont has resumed plowing county roads.

"That's going to be up to the board," he said.

ADVANTAGE TO BOTH

Legislator Gordon Crossman (D-Malone), chairman of the Public Works and Services Committee, said legislators will continue to look at staffing, even though much was trimmed during workshops for the 2012 budget.

Layoffs "are always a consideration," he said. "But we also have to consider the people involved. There have already been a number of cutbacks in the Highway Department."

Crossman said he is glad Bellmont is back plowing roads "because it is to the town's and the county's advantage to do this."

Marshall said Bellmont has already hired a temporary part-time person to help with plowing, since the new contract with the county went into effect Sunday.

Email Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com