WILLOW CREEK — The town’s winter roads committee held its final meeting of the season Tuesday, reporting a notable drop in resident complaints compared to the previous two winters.
The committee credited the improvement to a revised plowing route implemented last fall, which prioritized school bus routes and the Route 11 corridor. Complaints filed with the town clerk’s office totaled 23 for the season, down from 41 and 39 in the two preceding winters, respectively.
“I don’t want to jinx it, but that might be the best winter we’ve had since I joined this committee,” said Julia Chen, who serves as the committee’s non-selectmen representative. Chen, who also sits on the recreation commission, noted that the improved routes benefited her winter work as a cross-country ski instructor in Mars Hill.
The only sour note was the cost: the town spent $7,200 more on road salt this season than budgeted, a 14% increase driven by supply chain pricing. First Selectman Pendelton said the overage would be covered by the contingency fund, but that next winter’s budget would need to account for the higher price.
“Is there any indication salt prices are coming back down?” Pendelton asked the committee.
There was no affirmative answer.