As the Golden Belt experienced its latest snow storm Tuesday, the Barton County Road and Bridge Department shared with the Great Bend Tribune information on the cost of this winter season. Since Nov. 22, 2019, the department has dispatched snow plows 12 different days to plow/salt and sand roads and they have logged 18,749 miles for the 14 plow trucks. In all, 1,591 tons of salt/sand was applied at a cost of $33,878.90. 

The snow plows pictured are 2016 Peterbilts equipped with certified power hydraulics and lidar (like radar, but using laser pulses) dispensing salt and sand. The additional cost of the technology has paid for itself in two years. The system tracks miles driven, miles treated and pounds of material used. 

The last picture is a John Deere motor grader “shouldering” the roads. Graders remove the snow from the roadway for storage in the ditch.