by Amanda Harnocz
Reporter
Tallmadge -- As the deadline for seniors and other eligible individuals to sign up for free snow removal approached, less than half the number of residents from last year had registered, according to Public Service Director Dave Kline.
As of Oct. 2, the day before the registration deadline, 118 senior citizens and disabled residents were signed up to have their driveways plowed this winter.
If that trend held up, the city would save about $14,800 for the plowing program this year compared to last year, Kline said.
The deadline, he said, will not be extended, noting the service was advertised in the Tallmadge Express for weeks, as well as being placed on the community bulletin board.
Last year, the city's snow removal contractors plowed 583 driveways in the city per each snow emergency, said Kline, who speculated the drop in registration may be due to a new rule instituted this year.
An affidavit proving the handicapped or senior resident could not afford the service on their own needed to be signed and presented to the city this year, explained Kline.
Precipitation from last season's snow events were removed with 24 hours of the snowfall, he said.
A snow event, Kline explained, is when it snows more than 4 inches. As service director, it's Kline's call as to when the snow plowing contractors are sent out to remove snow from registered residents' driveways.
This year, as well as last year, Kline said he expects each driveway to cost the city about $10 to $15 for one driveway pass.
It cost about $22,000 from the city's general fund to get all of the driveways plowed during last year's four snow emergencies, he said.
The total cost does not include $8,000 that was not paid to a business because of a conflict of interest with a former city employee, Kline said.
Because Kline estimates the cost will be about $7,200 from the general fund for this year's program, the city will not be required to go out for competitive bids.
Instead, Kline said he will advertise a request for quotes and choose how many and which snow contractor he will need this season.
The senior snow program was started last year by Mayor Christopher Grimm as a safety measure to ensure handicapped or elderly residents would be able to leave their residence or have someone come to their home if there was an emergency.
E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3911