Mixed feelings over snows no-show
Posted: 01.23.2011 at 7:56 PM
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JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- Sunday was another snowy day in Mid-Missouri.

However, it didn't turn out to be as bad as many originally thought.

Some were even pleasantly surprised.

"We were monitoring the weather during the night and just getting up and looking and not seeing anything made us all I think pretty happy,” Director of Cole County Public Works Larry Benz said.  “We were all planning on a long night and long day today trying to get everything cleaned up so we all got a bunch of extra sleep so it was well welcomed."

The storm which dumped anywhere from 5 to 8 inches of the white stuff in northwest Missouri fizzled out as it came through our neck of the woods.

In the end, Benz said the lack of snow helped the county budget.

“Anytime we don't have the trucks out running, ya know being the weekend, it's all overtime so any material we can save and don't have to put down on the roads is definitely a cost savings to the county," Benz said.

As some were happy the snow stood Mid-Missouri up, others were a little disappointed.

"The snow this week on Thursday really helped us,” Jimmy John’s owner Kyle Raymer said.  “Our delivery business was up probably I'd say 100% than normal."

Raymer scheduled more drivers than normal in anticipation of the flakes but wound up sending them home.

But he said he's ready to deliver anytime, sun, or in this case, snow.

"We have a Hummer for our delivery vehicle so we'll deliver in anything," Raymer said.

Another Mid-Missouri eatery that prospers in the snow is Pizza Hut.

"Our drivers like to go in the snow,” General Manager Patty Distler said.  “They seem to make better money and they're out there alone.  They like working on the snow days.  It does help our delivery business when it does snow."

While the snowfall may help his business Raymer dreams of warmer days.

"I'd rather it be 80 degrees and sunny personally," Raymer said.

As the temperatures continue to linger around the freezing mark, the county said drivers should watch for re-freezing on roadways, and remember to slow down and allow plenty of extra time to get to your destination.

The city of Columbia Public Works Department said they have spent $250,000 of their allotted $355,000 for salt and treatment materials. 

They said they will most likely have to move funds around within the street division budget to finish out the fiscal year.

The street division has an annual budget of nearly $6.5 million.