Drivers discuss the first big snow and the city talks about the good and bad of a mild winter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dennis Gagnon of Kansas City, Missouri’s Public Works Department said the mild winter is a mixed blessing.

Gagnon said this year the city has a $2.75 million dollar snow budget. So far, the city has spent $1.6 million dollars mostly on salt, chemicals, and some cold nights where bridge crews worked.

He said they won’t know if there will be excess until April or May when the chances of snow disappear. So where the city is saving, that’s good. But Gagnon said the bad news comes from a small tax the city makes on heating bills. Because it’s been a mild winter, the city is not cashing in on those taxes. Gagnon explains the city’s budget will likely even out.

Some drivers said with the mild winter so far, they think some have forgotten how to maneuver in the snow.

“The first time of the year and everyone thought they could go faster than they should have slowed down. I thought they [the roads] were very treacherous this morning. Last year, when we had all that snow, we had more traction this year, no,” explained Missouri driver Debbie Tyler.

But Robert Gillum, also a Missouri driver, disagreed.

“They got a lot better during the day. Early this morning, it was a little slow but after a while it's pretty good,” said Gillum.

In Kansas, some drivers said the roads were better, but they would still like even better conditions.

“I was driving on my way back from class today and my car completely the back tires lost control - and thing god no one was there because my car just kind of turned and went into a parking lot,” said Kansas driver Cassandra Thompson.