Mid-Michigan has had clear streets and warm weather.
"It's been great so far. Really, really great," Lansing resident Richard Bogan said. "It's nice and warm, no snow. I'm loving it."
The snow plows and salt trucks have only had to go out once this winter. The Ingham County Road Commission's Bill Conklin says that has saved the county money. "As far as salt we're at about half of where we were this time last year," Conklin said. "Which was about half of where we were the year prior."
The money that county has saved will go toward fixing the roads next summer. "More paving, more chip sealing, more patching, more repairing of our roads in the summer time," Conklin said.
While the snowfall for the same period of time last year was less, the number of days it snowed was seven times what it has been this winter.
"It's easier to get around, instead of having to tramp through all the slush and all the snow and no sidewalks," Bogan said.
The better weather is easier on the roads, too. "If we have a light winter, we'll have less frost penetration, less break up in the spring, less ice working on the pavement during the winter so that's another bonus," Conklin said.
He says the commission stocks up on the same amount of salt regardless of the forecast for the winter. If they have extra, they can save it for next year - it doesn't tend to go bad.
