Huntley Seeks Federal Monies for Snow Plowing Costs

Huntley spend more than $50,000 plowing the 20 inches of snow which fell during last week’s blizzard, but it hopes to get some federal dollars to cover the cost.

McHenry County, along with surrounding counties, declared a state of emergency due to the storm, which makes cities and villages able to apply for federal emergency grants, Village Manager Dave Johnson said Thursday night following the village's board meeting.

Huntley is filing its paperwork today with the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency to start the request process, he said.

“Hopefully, we’ll get something,” Johnson said.

Staff didn't have a final cost because the clean up continued Thursday. Public Works crews were still plowing some of the village’s 100 miles of roads and 160 cul-de-sacs, he said.

Crews last week focused on clearing the main roads immediately, following by major neighborhood streets and, lastly, cul-de-sacs, Johnson said. The cul-de-sacs were cleared within 24 hours after the snow stopped falling around 1 p.m. Feb. 2.

Overall, the village board praised public works and its efforts to clear the roads. Trustee Harry Leopold thanked the department and mentioned a few residents passed on their thanks to him. Trustee Pam Fender said she didn’t get lots of complaints.

Mayor Charles Sass, too, thanked the crews and said public works had to deal with rude residents at times.

“It’s easy to sit there...and moan and take shots,” Sass said. “That’s the kind of society we live in.”

The village did make mistakes that will be corrected for the next storm, he said.

Johnson felt a major mistake was leaving the cul-de-sacs last on the list to plow.

 “We couldn’t have opened the cul-de-sacs sooner,” he said. “It’s something we will definitely review and change our policies” if necessary.