Trevor Lewis, Dufferin County's director of public works and the county's treasury department are unfazed by the record snowfalls of the past few weeks, in part because of its winter maintenance stabilization fund and in part because of its giant new snowblower.

As well, the costs are generally close to equal whether it's cold snowy weather or mild and damp. Mr. Lewis said it's somewhat a case of either clearing snow or sanding and salting.

The blower, to be named in honour of former Melancthon deputy mayor D.C. Broderick, was delivered in early December at a capital outlay of about $200,000 but will not have its formal unveiling until the storms pass.

That is not to say it hasn't been out there clearing windrows built up by the plowing of unusual depths of snow. Public Works Director Trevor Lewis says it have been active on parts of County Roads 124 and 3 in particular, and elsewhere as needed.

In previous years, the county contracted out the blowing. This resulted in an annual outlay of $40,000-$50,000, and the contractor might not always have been available when needed on short notice.

Mr. Lewis said the blower has not entailed the hiring of additional staff.

They're either on the road or working around the shop, he said.

The blower, which enables the county to provide "a different level of service," is generally used to reduce drifting by clearing windrows of maybe three feet in depth or more creating what one might think of as a snow fence by the side of the road.

Without the blower, the plows would simply push the windrows further back from the shoulder.

The stabilization fund is something of a reserve into which funds are placed in the good winters and taken out in the bad. The budget for winter maintenance, however, is such that the relative costs on a year-to-year basis aren't generally calculated until budget time.

"Ask me next December (about the costs of this year's maintenance)," Mr. Lewis joked when asked about the last few weeks.