TRAVERSE CITY - Community leaders in Northern Michigan are evaluating winter spending and planning for next season following a winter marked by heavy snowfall and consistently cold temperatures. While some cities report managing the season without major strain, others are preparing for higher costs next year.
The varying impact of the winter season has prompted municipalities to review their infrastructure and operational budgets. In Charlevoix, officials credit a decade of infrastructure upgrades for minimizing service disruptions, while Cadillac leaders report an increased workload that will require more resources for the next winter cycle.
In Charlevoix, city leaders say long-term infrastructure upgrades have helped limit the strain from this year’s snow and cold. These preparations over the last decade were designed to make municipal systems more resilient during winters that last longer than usual. Charlevoix city leaders noted that investments specifically targeted areas where water lines were smaller or shallower in their construction.
“I know our folks recall the last burst of especially cold weather,” Charlevoix city manager Mark Heydlauff said. “That’s when we had a lot of issues with frozen water pipes and situations like that. This winter we have not struggled with those nearly as much or as much as was the case back then.”
Charlevoix officials also attribute their stability to a specific maintenance strategy involving road materials. The city uses a mix of sand and salt to conserve its salt supplies while maintaining the ability to order more if needed. Heydlauff said this approach “has probably kept us in a more normal operating condition than what you might see otherwise.”
Cadillac City Manager Marcus Peccia described the season as more demanding for city crews. Maintenance teams have repeatedly responded to consecutive waves of snow, wind, and cold temperatures. Peccia also described the workload as a constant struggle to keep up with the weather.
“This winter certainly has been challenging,” Peccia said. “I would say from an operational perspective, we have had to have our guys out given the amount of snow and then the wind and the cold, trying to sort of beat back old man winter, because it just seemed to never give up.”
Because of the high workload and material usage, Cadillac is already adjusting its procurement plans for the coming year. The city is looking at increasing its salt purchase from 2,000 tons to 2,300 tons for next winter. Officials say the increase is necessary based on current projections.
City leaders will continue monitoring costs and conditions as winter winds down in northern Michigan. Officials in both cities say they will use the remaining weeks of the season to finalize plans for next winter.