FISHERS, Ind. – A mild winter is making a heavy impact in the City of Fishers.
The streets are filled with way less snow than normal, meaning the Department of Public Works can focus on other projects and save money.
That photo at the top of this story? It’s not snow. It’s the thousands of tons of salt that aren’t getting used by the city during the easy winter we’ve been having.
The workers at Tire Central and Service in Fishers are feeling it, too, as they put the brakes on some of their winter business.
“We’ve had about a 25-percent decrease to 50-percent decrease in bent wheels (and) blown-out tires due to potholes,” Tire Central and Service’s Erik Burgess said.
Those costly repairs have been rare this winter, and the DPW says it’s saving both money and frustration for most people.
“I would say lack of snow definitely helps,” DPW Director Eric Pethtel said. “I would also say the city is doing a wonderful job in keeping those potholes filled.”
Pethtel says more than 60 trucks are out plowing and salting the roads this week, but the long periods without snow means crews can accomplish other tasks during weeks unlike this one.
And he says they’ve seen a big effect on the department’s bottom line.
“This season we're down about $70,000 on wages, about $10,000on our seasonal snow plow force and about 12 to 13-thousand dollars less on salt consumption,” Pethtel said.
The savings can go toward future labor, street maintenance or parks. The extra time this winter can be spent patching potholes that do exist, which has been noticeable to drivers who work in Fishers.
One issue, though, going forward for Fishers: The city is contractually obligated to purchase 900 tons more of salt by May 1, but even if it doesn’t all get used, the city can store it and use it next winter.
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Follow Mike Pelton on Twitter: @mikepeltonrtv6
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