Recent Snows Have Gobbled Up Much Of Township's Storm Budget

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - No more snow.

That's Mayor Carmen F. Amato's wish for the rest of the year.

Berkeley has used up nearly half of its 700 tons of sand and salt, after just three relatively small snowstorms in December, the mayor said.

Last weekend's snow cost roughly $9,000 in overtime and supplies. Yesterday's storm costs are almost twice that - close to $18,000.

"We are hopeful it will be a mild winter, " Amato said. "With last week and this weekend storm, we will just about exhaust our storm budget for 2017."

It costs the township roughly $100,000 for every eight hours when full snow removal operations - including plowing - are in effect, he said.

It takes between 24 to 36 hours to clear a snowfall between five to inches off the township's 271 miles of roads, cul-de-sacs and dead ends. Berkeley also has to hire private contractors to help with plowing operations, the mayor said.

It will stay cold today, with a high near 40 degrees. Tonight the temperature will dip to 23 degrees. Expect a high of 38 degrees on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures will slowly warm up to the 40s by mid-week.

Photo: Double Trouble State Park - by Patricia A. Miller