Twp. Ready For First Substantial Snow of 2012

The first substantial snowfall of the winter is expected to hit Washington Township overnight from Friday, Jan. 20 into Saturday, Jan. 21, according to the National Weather Service.

Accumulation of 1 to 3 inches of snow is forecast after 1 a.m., with an additional 2 to 4 inches expected throughout the morning, ending around 10 a.m., the service reported.

Aside from the foot of snow that blanketed the area in late , the past few months have been mild as far as precipitation is concerned in Long Valley.

The lack of winter weather has been nice, though, for the , according to Superintendent Scott Frech. The department’s crews will be ready for this one, he said.

“It should be pretty light snow, since it’s been so cold out,” Frech said. “Being that it’s a Saturday morning and there’s no school buses and less traffic on the roads, it will make our jobs that much easier.”

Plows were connected to the fleet of vehicles yesterday, and all of the department’s personnel will be available, Frech said.

There will be two crews of nine, plus Frech and assistant Roger Read, operating plows and salt machines throughout town overnight and into the morning.

The crews have salted twice this winter, according to Washington Township Mayor Ken Short, which has taken from the budget, but financially the department is fine for now.

There was approximately $7,000 remaining in last year’s budget for snow removal heading into the fall of 2011, Short said, which was chewed up immediately by the October storm.

“We have a winter trust fund with some back up money,” Short said. “Heading into this winter there was about $40,000 available, and we’ve salted twice. We should be ready to go for this one.”

As always, the Department of Public Works advises residents to stay off the roads until they are free and clear of snow and ice.