A lot of people are dreading winter, but for the Beaver Dam Unified School District it has already caused its share of headaches.
District building and grounds coordinator Paul Buchholz is having a tough time finding businesses to remove snow and provide salt for the district property.
Of the five companies that provided bids to plow the school parking lots, sidewalks and playgrounds last year, only one provided a bid for snow removal this year. Another new contractor provided a bid to clear the sidewalks of snow off of five schools.
"Typically we get four to six firms that provide bids," Buchholz told the board. "This year we got two bids."
Buchholz said there is the additional problem that he has not been able to find anyone to provide salt for the district.
Ads were placed for companies willing to provide snow removal and salt for the district in early September. Buchholz said as the closing date neared he attempted to contact the companies and found there was very little interest in plowing the school grounds this year.
Buchholz said he attempted to contact contractors he knows personally as well.
The cost of salt has also drastically increased, Buchholz said.
"It's not a pretty picture right now," said Buchholz.
The building and grounds department may consider using less salt and salting playgrounds only when necessary. Parking lots and sidewalks will be salted.
Last year, the district used 232 tons of salt at the 11 school sites.
"This year, we plan to tone that down to 100 tons," Buchholz said.
Last year was not a typical winter season, Buchholz said
"We used 40 percent more salt than we do on average," Buchholz said.
Johnny's 66 provided a bid to plow the parking lots of Prairie View, Trenton, South Beaver Dam elementary schools and Beaver Dam Alternative School. Craig Smith, Beaver Dam, provided a bid to clear the sidewalks of snow for Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, Wilson elementary schools and Beaver Dam Middle School.
There have been no bids to clear the lots at Beaver Dam High School and the Educational Service Center.
Buchholz said he is continuing to look for snow removal businesses and places to provide salt for the district.