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Peoria's Snow Fighters Face Diminishing Salt Budget

The view from Inside the city of Peoria's salt dome, February 25, 2019.
Kristin McHugh/WCBU
The view from Inside the city of Peoria's salt dome, February 25, 2019.
The view from Inside the city of Peoria's salt dome, February 25, 2019.
Credit Kristin McHugh/WCBU
The view from Inside the city of Peoria's salt dome, February 25, 2019.

Cuts to the city of Peoria's salt budget make it difficult sometimes to deal with snow and ice removal. That's according to Sie Maroon, the city's superintendent of operations. 

"We're budgeted $150,000 this year for salt. We were budgeted $175,000 in 2019. We spent all that money. There was a time here, just a few years ago, we were budgeted $250,000,” said Maroon.

Maroon said the city started this snow season with some reserved salt. He adds the current salt supply must last through this winter season and cover snowfall during the final months of 2020. 

Maroon reminds drivers to patient when plows are out. 

"If we could only ask one thing is that when you see a plow truck, give us the space, slow down. It's a matter of seconds and we'll be out of your way and that'll help you get where you're going," Maroon said. 

Maroon said arterial streets are plowed once there's two inches of snow on the ground. The city then uses what it calls the "A-B-C" system to determine which residential streets are plowed first. Maroon said the plan rotates through the city’s 21 snow routes for each storm to be fair to all neighborhoods. 

WCBU’s Kristin McHugh sat down with Sie Maroon as the city was preparing for a storm. He explained each storm brings has unique challenges.Kristin McHugh discussed snow removal with Sie Maroon, the city of Peoria's superintendent of operations on February 25, 2020.People like you value experienced, knowledgeable and award-winning journalism that covers meaningful stories in the Peoria area. To support more stories and interviews like this one, please consider making a contribution. 

Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU.

Kristin McHugh is an experienced radio journalist and nonprofit manager. Most recently, she served as executive director of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council.
Dana Vollmer is a reporter with WGLT. Dana previously covered the state Capitol for NPR Illinois and Peoria for WCBU.