After a warm winter in 2012, last month was business as usual for Scranton's Department of Public Works.
Total Bureau of Highways' overtime for the first month of the year came to $22,696, said DPW Director Mark Dougher.
"That's about typical for a normal January," Mr. Dougher said.
The bureau is responsible for "maintenance, sweeping and snow removal on public streets and alleys," the 2013 operating budget reads. According to the budget, the city has allocated $150,000 for the bureau's overtime for the year. Overtime figures for February are not available yet, Mr. Dougher said.
In January 2012, overtime came to $14,696, according to information provided by the controller's office. Through the end of September, overtime had amounted to only $87,056,
City Councilman Pat Rogan said he is always concerned about how much overtime the DPW uses, but added that "it all depends on the weather."
"I think it's incumbent upon the department heads to stick within the budget," Mr. Rogan said.
Mr. Dougher said crews had drawn overtime 11 times in January, having to salt and plow roads even during brief snow squalls, but the city has planned for that, he said.
It isn't squalls that he worries about most - it's black ice and massive snowfalls.
"It's stuff like that you can't predict," Mr. Dougher said.
So he makes sure there are at least two trucks filled with salt each night ready to go out at a moment's notice. Each morning, he has workers drive around the city and look for ice patches. Workers are familiar with which areas typically need attention first; newer employees are accompanied by a seasoned worker.
"Everybody doesn't know every nook and cranny," Mr. Dougher said.
While the rest of the year will likely not shape up to be as inexpensive as 2012, he is not concerned about the city busting its $150,000 budget.
"If in mid-March there's still snow on the ground, that's when I would worry," Mr. Dougher said.
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