As the snow continues to accumulate, the bills from the first major snowstorm of the winter are still being tallied.
District of Muskoka Engineering and Public Works Committee recently received a staff report on the storm, which began Nov. 29.
According to the report, in a 72-hour period, the area received a roughly 5 ft 6 accumulation of snow, with the highest accumulations in Gravenhurst. The town of Gravenhurst estimates expenditures in excess of $2 million for additional operational expenses between the beginning of the storm and Dec. 19.
District staff indicate that the final cost of the storm event is still being determined as invoices are still being received from each of Muskoka’s municipalities.
The District estimates the cost of road maintenance during the significant weather event cost approximately $750,000. Staff peg those costs at roughly 37% more than during the same time period in a typical year.
The cost of maintaining water and wastewater systems also spiked significantly, as emergency snow removal was required to access critical facilities and fire hydrants. Wow those duties are typically assigned to District staff; the extraordinary snowfall required contracting services to be used at a cost of roughly $230,000.
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