Beynon delivers snow removal presentation to Watertown City Council (Audio)

November 1, 2021
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Watertown Street Department Superintendent Rob Beynon (pictured) gave the city council a report Monday night on snowplowing operations in the city last winter.

Beynon says there were a total of 21 events that required sanding, plowing, or both, at a total cost of just under $292,000.

The street department eliminated the use of snow gates on snowplows last winter. The snow gates prevent a ridge of snow from forming across the width of the end of the driveway when the plow comes by.

Beynon was asked how the elimination of snow gates was received by the public…

The city has budgeted $7.5 million for a new street department headquarters. Beynon say getting their big equipment into heated buildings, which they don’t have now, should reduce maintenance costs greatly….

Beynon says when it comes to manpower, about 60-percent of the plowing is done by street department staff. The other 40-percent is done by outside contractors.